We are May 9 and JMU Football added a lot to the portal this spring. On paper, JMU looks like a competitor of the title Sun Belt.
So what could a graphic projection in depth and advantage look like? Here is our best estimate of the appearance of dukes during week 1 to date. We expect projected changes throughout the summer, of course, but it is a decent estimate of the appearance of JMU on paper in week 1.
Publisher's note: This is our projection of JMU's depth painting. We have not used any interior information to project this depth table, and this is only an estimate of what dukes could make at the end of August. It is not an official table of the depth of the team.
Starting offense
Rear quarter
QB1: Matthew Sluka (6'3 and 220 lbs, R-SR)
QB2: Camden Coleman (6'3 and 220 lbs, JR)
QB3: Alonza Barnett (6'0 and 207 lbs) or JC Evans (6'5 and 211 lb)
You may be wondering why in the world Alonza Barnett would he be QB3 ?? JMU's starter last year, Barnett injured in the knee in the final of the regular dukes season against Marshall. He is still recovering from the injury, and it is possible for him to have redeshirts the 2025 season to preserve a year of eligibility (he could probably receive a NCAA medical redion). Even if he does not reduch, he might not be completely erased for week 1 and will be a step behind in the Battle of the QB.
Sluka comes to JMU after a great career in Holy Cross and a tumultuous passage to the UNLV. Sluka helped the rebels to start undefeated with a pair of victories of Power Four in 2024 before sitting on the rest of the season due to a zero dispute.
He knows JMU coaches well, after having had a huge success under Bob Chesney, Oc Dean Kennedy and OL coach Chris Smith while playing at the FCS level. Sluka had 46 TDS passers -by (only nine int) and 20 TDs during the 2022 and 2023 seasons in Holy Cross. Passing precision is however a concern, because it has finished more than 60% of its passes in one of its five university seasons.
Coleman, a transfer from Richmond, was originally predicted to play for a different program in 2025. But a change of attacking coordinator reopened his commitment and I entered the mixture late. He worked with the broad transfer receptors Landon Ellis and Nick Degennaro in Richmond, among the many reasons for which he has a real chance of winning the post on Sluka. Coleman completed more than 64% of his passes during each of his two seasons as a Richmond star. He's a better pure passer than Sluka.
Sluka gets a sign of the head because of his holy ties.
Back-back
RB1: Ayo Adeyi (5'8 and 193 LBS, R-SR) or George Petaway (5'10 and 200 lbs, R-JR)
RB2: Jobi Malary (5'11 and 236 LBS, R-SR) or Jordan Fuller (6 'and 230 lbs, R-SR)
RB3: Wayne Knight (5'7 and 284 lbs, R-JR)
This room is deep. The separation races will be a challenge, but Adeyi and Petaway are both Power Four caliber back with a potential of 1,000 yards. Adeyi missed most of the last season with a foot injury after the Northern Texas transfer, while Petaway ran on 980 yards and five scores for dukes in 2024. UNC transfer also caught 24 passes for 200 yards and two touchdown. It is a moderate surprise that it was not poached by a P4 team during the offseason.
The mallances and more complete are both rb to body (they are each of 230 pounds) which should manage the majority of short-yarding work. However, it should be noted that each RB can break long tracks. They should be factors in the offense, because they are more than short-short backs. Fuller arrives at JMU with 44 TDS harmful in career during his stay in Holy Cross.
Knight is a third setback with good speed and insane that could also play a role in special teams.
Wide receivers
WR (x): Isaiah Alston (6'4 and 205 lbs, R-SR)
WR2 (x): Landon Ellis (6'3 and 185 lbs, JR)
WR (Z): Nick Degennaro (6'1 and 190 lbs, R-SR)
WR2 (Z): Za'ron Collins (6'2 and 170 lbs, R-SO)
WR (slot): Jaylan Sanchez (6 'and 200 lbs, SR)
WR2 (niche): Michael Scott (5'9 and 160 lbs, FR)
There is a lot to love in this group, which includes five transfers and a real recruit (Michael Scott). Alston, a transfer of the state of the army and the Iowa, has a size (6'4) and a large game potential. Ellis and Degennaro rarely fall off and are ideal possession receptors that exploit crisp routes. Collins is a transfer of Tusculum at elite speed, while Sanchez is a larger slot machine with a good production of FCS (Villanova). Scott is clever and attracted complimentary criticism during the spring ball.
This position group is simply better than the unit of JMU 2024, even with Yamir Knight who leaves for SMU and Cam Ross leaving for UVA. The dukes are deeper and have more reliable hands in 2025.
Tight bits
Te1: Logan Kyle (6'3 and 233 lbs, R-SR)
TE2: Josh Phifer (6'6 and 240 LBS, R-SO) or Lacota Dipre (6'4 and 275 lbs, R-SO)
The final group tight is a bit of a joker, because the guys listed have a lot of potential but not a ton of experience experienced outside Kyle. JMU does not need a lot of production of this unit, given the increased depth to WR. Dipppre played to Charlotte, but he played you before and his brother was recently signed as a free agent not drafted by the Patriots to Te.
Offensive line
LT1: Joseph Simmons (6'6 and 308 lbs, R-JR)
LT2: James Pogorelc (6'8 and 300 lbs, R-JR)
LG1: Carter Sweazie (6'2 and 324 lbs, R-JR)
LG2: Josh Toner (6'3 and 323 lbs, R-SR)
C1: Zach Greenberg (6'5 and 305 lbs, R-SR)
C2: Kyle Davis (6'4 and 302 lbs, R-SR)
RG1: Riley Robell (6'3 and 290 lbs, R-SO)
RG2: Jakobe Campbell (6'3 and 300 lbs, R-FR)
RT1: Patrick McMurtrie (6'5 and 303 lbs, GR)
RT2: Cam McNair (6'5 and 325 lbs, SR)
The offensive line seems respectable, and the ability to toner to play the positions of the guard really helps depth. Greenberg also has experience at Guard. The first year Trent Wilson platform as well as the second tracking of Redsirt Griffin Hart are both capable of saving time too. Pogorelc (Stanford / Duke) and McNair (Holy Cross) are beautiful additions for the depth of the platform.
This unit should be a strength of the team in 2025, although the maintenance of Sweazie and Dress in good health is important.
Defense of departure
Defensive line
De: Aiden Gobaira (6'5 and 250 lbs, R-SO) or Turner Schmidt (6'4 and 250 lbs, therefore)
De2: William Robinson (6'5 and 275 lbs, R-SO)
DT: Immanuel Bush (6'1 and 315 lbs, R-SR)
DT2: Kells Bush (6'3 and 310 lbs, R-JR)
DT: Mychal McMullin (6'1 and 285 lbs, R-SO) or Andrew Taddeo (6'2 and 275 lbs, SR)
DT2: Terry Lockett (6'2 and 280 lbs, R-SR) or Robinson
De: Xavier Holmes (6'2 and 235 lbs, R-SR) or SAHUR WEST (6'4 and 253 lbs, R-FR)
De2: Amar Thomas (6'1 and 251 lbs, R-JR)
This group is stacked, thanks to a large portal transport. Holmes, Taddeo, Schmidt and Robinson were all fc competitors with high engines and production levels. Robinson, a Holy Cross product, can play both the defensive or the tackle given its size at around 280 pounds. Schmidt and Holmes are both really good on -board rushers that make it possible to stop the race and create pressure in the game of passes.
Gobaira is a joker because he comes to JMU after a career of Notre Dame tainted with injuries. The native of Virginia has great physical tools and could be a healthy impact player. Immanuel Bush should manage the tasks of the nose, with the transfer of LSU / Louisiana Tech Kells Bush (no relationship) a worthy backup.
We expect West to be a force after looking at him in the Boca Raton Bowl and heard good things about his game this spring. It is a potential star.
Could Thomas go to LB or play a hybrid role? He went to the coverage of 14.5% of his shots last year, by PFF. Its coverage (62.5) exceeded its two precipitation (58.7) and De la Défense (54.2). We would like to see JMU use it in a creative way like OLB / Edge to keep the teams unbalanced.
Seconds
LB: Trent Hendrick (6'0 and 231 lbs, SR)
LB2: Jayden Studio (6'1 and 225 lbs, therefore) or Drew Spinogatti (6'1 and 230 lbs, JR)
LB: Gannon Weathersby (5'10 and 206 lbs, JR)
LB2: JT Kouame-Yao (6'0 and 215 lbs, SR) or Trashon Dye (5'11 and 220 lbs, R-FR)
This group looks much better than at the start of the spring ball. The additions of Spinogatti (Holy Cross) and Studio (Kent State) gives dukes an improved depth in the position. Beginners should have an impact, while new arrivals add a precious depth. Spinogatti and Studio combined for more than 100 plated last season.
Weathrsby is due for a season of small groups after having recorded 3.5 TFL and a recovery escaped in its only departure in 2024 (Boca Raton Bowl victory against WKU). Kouame-Yao has big ball skills and should play well as athletic LB with security capacity.
Dye, a red shirt recruit, is an incredible athlete that should enter the rotation as soon as possible.
Secondary
CB: Mekhi Rodgers (6'2 and 195 lbs, SR)
CB2: Elijah Culp (5'11 and 190 lbs, R-SR)
Nickel: DJ Barksdale (5'9 and 177 lbs, JR)
Nickel2: KJ Flowe (5'10 and 168 lbs, therefore)
S: Jacob Thomas (6'1 and 217 lbs, SR)
S2: Chase Rejea (6'0 and 187 lbs, therefore) or TJ McGill (6'0 and 185 lbs, R-SO)
S: Curtis Harris-Lopez (6'1 and 205 lbs, R-SR)
S2: Kye Holmes (5'11 and 190 lbs, R-SR) or Tyler Brown (5'11 and 188 lbs, therefore)
CB: Chant Harley (6'1 and 195 lbs, R-SR)
CB2: Justin Eaglin (6'1 and 179 LBS, R-JR) or Ken Willis (5'11 and 190 lbs, JR)
Do not be surprised if CULP finally wins a starting place at the corner, because the transfer of Charlotte received a great interest P4 during the offseason before finding himself in JMU. The safety and nickel rooms are led by JMU Returns, although Curtis Harris-Lopez (Holy Cross) has obtained a starting head next to Thomas to start the season.
It may be the most athletic secondary secondary in JMU since 2017, when the dukes had guys like Jimmy Moreland, Rashad Robinson, Raven Greene, from Angelo Amos and Jordan Brown.
Losing Chauncey Logan in Memphis Stings, but the addition of Culp and Willis (Cincinnati) helps to compensate for Logan's departure.
Special teams
LS: Logan Ketcham (6'0 and 225 lbs, SR) or Josiah Kennard (6'2 and 230 lbs, R-SR)
K: Morgan Suarez (5'10 and 180 lbs, R-JR)
P: Patrick Rea (6'3 and 195 lbs, R-JR)
KR: George Pettay and Braeden Wisloski (5'9 and 185 lbs, R-JR)
Pr: Wisloski
The special team unit has more questions than expected with Placekicker Noe Ruelas and the Lexington Matthews bettor entering the this spring portal. Look for the Maryland WR Transfer Braeden Wisloski to play a big role in the return game, and the additions of Rea (Louisiana Tech) and Suarez (FAU) help consolidate the kick game.
Image Gracious JMU Athletics Communications
