Letter from the sports editors
‘Gold
within reach’
Behind the scenes of the 2025 football preview
JMU football finally overcame the obstacles of its first two seasons in the FBS. The Dukes didn’t just make a bowl game — they won. But the victory didn’t come without adversity. Head coach Bob Chesney took over a roster depleted by the transfer portal.
Chesney and his staff assembled a squad that dominated early on in the 2024 season, scoring 70 points against UNC and 63 points against Ball State in back-to-back games. While the Dukes missed out on the Sun Belt Championship, Chesney lifted them from the ground up in just one offseason to capture the first bowl win in program history.
Now, JMU is hungry for more than a bowl game. The Breeze’s 2025 football special section, “Gold within reach,” highlights that the Dukes are looking to go further than a bowl game this season — and we aren’t just talking about the Sun Belt Championship.
With the new 12-team College Football Playoff structure always including a Group of Five team, JMU will look to soar through the East division, past the conference championship and onto the biggest national stage at the university level.
Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy have established their style of football as they enter their second season in Harrisonburg. The duo welcomes new defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler, who’s already made a mark on powerhouse teams such as Cincinnati, Wisconsin and Alabama.
The Dukes also return redshirt junior quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team. Despite a leg injury that’s sidelined him since Nov. 30, Barnett is now fully cleared for contact ahead of the regular season. JMU also brought in UNLV transfer and former Holy Cross quarterback Matthew Sluka. Who will get the starting nod? The predecessor, or the new face? Who will the Dukes and Chesney turn to in hopes of making a run to the postseason?
Check out “Gold within reach” to learn more about the 2025 Dukes, their quarterback situation and their opponents.
Thanks for reading,
Preston Comer
Gavin Avella Sports Editors
WHAT’S INSIDE
Names to know
• Transferred to JMU after three seasons at Villanova.
• Played in all 27 games for Villanova between two seasons (2023 and 2024).
• Combined for 66 catches for 1,238 yards and nine touchdowns during the last two seasons.
Matthew SLuka | R-SR. | QB
• Played four seasons under now-JMU head coach Bob Chesney at Holy Cross.
• Finished career at Holy Cross with 3,583 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns, while also throwing for 5,916 yards and 59 touchdowns.
• Threw for 318 yards and six touchdowns during three games with University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 2024.
14
Alonza Barnett III | R-JR. | QB
• Started for JMU in every regular season game last season, but missed the Boca Raton Bowl after sustaining a leg injury Nov. 30.
• Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.
• Threw for 2,598 yards and 26 touchdowns with just four interceptions in 2024.
• Named to Preseason All-First Team Sun Belt.
• Started 11 of JMU’s 13 games last season.
• Ran for 980 yards and five touchdowns on 162 carries, adding another 200 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
• Played the last three seasons with Richmond after spending his first two at Maryland.
• Caught 71 passes for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Spiders in 2023.
• Played in only nine games last season due to an injury, but tallied 576 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
• Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt
• Started all 13 games for JMU at right tackle in 2024, not allowing a single sack.
• Named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football.
George Pettaway | R-JR. | RB
Nick DeGennaro | R-SR. | WR
Pat McMurtrie | GR. | OL
First Team.
Jaylan sanchez | sr. | wr
The players to watch for in 2025
• Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.
• Started all 13 games for JMU during 2024, tallying four tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception.
• Named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, which is given to the best defensive player in college football, judged by the Football Writers Association of America.
• Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.
• Started in 12 of JMU’s 13 games in 2024.
• Finished last season with 54 tackles, three sacks and nine tackles for loss.
• Spent the last four seasons at Maine before transferring to JMU.
• Started all 12 games for the Black Bears in 2024, finishing with six sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception.
• Named to the All-CAA Second Team last season.
• Transferred to JMU after one season at Saint Francis and two at Division III Hobart College.
• Started all 11 games for the Red Flash last season, making seven pass breakups.
• Tallied at least three tackles in five different games in 2024.
• Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team.
• Started all 13 games for JMU last season, making 72 tackles — eight for a loss.
• Intercepted three passes in 2024, breaking up three more passes.
•
• Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt
Defensive
• Started all 13 games for the Dukes, accumulating 42 tackles and two interceptions.
Immanuel Bush | R-sr. | DL
Mekhi Rodgers | sr. | CB
Trent Hendrick | sr. | LB
Jacob Thomas | sr. | s
Xavier Holmes | R-sr. | DL
DJ Barksdale | JR. | Nickel
Second Team.
Named
MVP of JMU’s first bowl victory in Boca Raton after making two tackles for loss and forcing a fumble.
Photos courtesy of JMU Athletics
Offensive preview
By GAVIN AVELLA
The Breeze
JMU football’s offense looks a lot different than it did in 2024. Here’s what 2025 has in store for the Dukes’ offense.
Quarterbacks
Bob Chesney feels extremely confident in his quarterback room leading up to the 2025 swweason compared to his first season at the helm of the Dukes, and says that there is proven production in crucial games and competitive matchups from all three potential starting quarterbacks for JMU football this season.
The three guys Chesney is referencing — redshirt senior Holy Cross transfer Matthew Sluka, junior Richmond transfer Camden Coleman and the incumbent redshirt junior Alonza Barnett III — all are currently in the running to be the Week one starter for the Dukes.
The 2025 preseason has unfolded differently than in 2024 when the competition consisted of Power Four transfer Dylan Morris from Washington and a thenredshirt sophomore quarterback Barnett.
Barnett, now officially cleared for contact after suffering a leg injury on Nov. 30, is coming off a season where he produced 2,598 passing yards and 26 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Barnett also added 442 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
While Barnett is the incumbent, it would be silly to count out either of the other two quarterbacks added through the transfer portal over the offseason, even though he’s been cleared for contact.
Sluka comes in after a brief stop at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and four seasons at Holy Cross under both Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy. Sluka left Holy Cross ranking first in program history in career pass efficiency (147.4), second in rushing yards (3,583) and rushing touchdowns (38), and fifth in both passing yards (5,916) and passing touchdowns (59).
Similarly, Coleman has an impressive resume, posting 2,374 yards of total offense and 19 total touchdowns with just five interceptions last season for FCS Richmond.
Running backs
The Dukes are returning two key redshirt juniors in the backfield in George Pettaway and Wayne Knight. Pettaway made the Preseason All-Sun Belt First team after rushing for 980 yards and five touchdowns.
JMU will also return redshirt senior Ayo Adeyi, who started the first two games of 2024 before sustaining a
season-ending surgery. In 2023, Adeyi ran for 1,017 yards and six touchdowns for North Texas.
The Dukes also have two bulldozers in the backfield with redshirt seniors Jobi Malary (236 lbs) and Jordan Fuller (229 lbs). Fuller ran for 1,046 yards and 18 touchdowns for Holy Cross in 2023. Malary carried the ball 45 times for the Dukes last season, but averaged six yards per rush.
However, the sheer size and numbers in JMU’s running back room has led to variety that can be utilized in different ways to complement each other.
“I’ve never really been a part of a room that deep with that many guys who have played,” graduate offensive lineman Pat McMurtrie said. “It’s good because all the running backs, they each bring something a little different, but they’re all really good at what they do. So I think having guys that are all a little bit different, but also all effective like that, that’s exciting.”
Wide receivers
With the Dukes losing all three top wide receivers from last season — Omarion Dollison, Yamir Knight and Cam Ross, who combined for 1,681 of the Dukes’ 2,089 receiving yards, Chesney and company had to rebuild the room.
JMU football did just that, attacking the transfer portal and adding a whopping five transfer receivers; a class headlined by senior Jaylan Sanchez, redshirt senior Nick DeGennaro, junior Landon Ellis, redshirt senior Isaiah Alston and junior Braeden Wisloski.
While JMU didn’t have a starting wide receiver that stood at least 6-feet last season, Sanchez, DeGennaro, Ellis and Alston all stand over 6-feet tall.
While the Dukes’ receiver room seems poised to be led by a band of transfers, there’s also a true freshman who has the potential to contribute early on during his career.
True freshman Michael Scott, who stands at 5-foot-9, 165 lbs, has turned the heads of his coaches and teammates and had quite an eye-popping spring game performance.
“Every day he scares the hell out of the defense,” Sanchez said. “It’s one thing to just come out here and run routes, but it’s another thing to be intimidating.”
It’s safe to say the JMU offense will have no shortage of playmakers in 2025, and it will be exciting to see who comes out on top of the hill as the lead alpha receiver out of this talented bunch.
Tight ends
With five tight ends on JMU’s 2025 roster and two of them freshmen, it’ll be interesting to see how the room shakes out come midseason and even week one.
Redshirt sophomore Josh Phifer or redshirt senior Logan Kyle seem poised to earn the starting nod after each logging snaps for the Dukes last season.
Phifer saw action in 10 games, making three starts at tight end and recording two receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. Kyle played in all 13 games, making one start at tight end and logging 11 receptions for 132 receiving yards and one touchdown.
However, the addition of Charlotte transfer defensive end turned tight end Lacota Dippre shook things up a bit as he flashed some clear-cut athletic ability in one season at Charlotte, where he posted 25 tackles (15 solo) to go with three tackles for loss, one sack and one pass breakup.
The Dukes also have two true freshmen in Brian Hnat and Ethan Gurela, as well as redshirt freshman Ryder Post.
Offensive line
Even after losing two graduating starters from last season — center Tanner Morris and guard Cole Potts — JMU’s offensive line looks poised and ready to return to its 2024 form.
McMurtrie returns for his seventh year of college football after allowing no sacks during his first season with the Dukes in 2024. JMU also returns redshirt junior Carter Sweazie and redshirt sophomore Riley Robell, who both missed significant time last season due to injuries.
Redshirt senior Joseph Simmons also figures to see significant time with McMurtrie at one of the two tackle spots, and another returner from last year’s line, redshirt senior guard Josh Toner, figures to split time at the guard spots with Sweazie and Robell.
JMU also welcomed two upperclassman transfer offensive linemen — redshirt senior Cam McNair, who joins the growing line of Holy Cross to JMU transfers, and redshirt senior Zach Greenberg, who joins the Dukes after committing to Muhlenberg and making a stop at North Carolina — who figure to slide into the offensive line rotation in some way, shape or form this upcoming season.
“Obviously, guys played in games, whether they started or not; there were a lot of guys that played in games last year,” McMurtrie said. “So that experience is huge, because you’re not in a situation where someone’s new to playing in that atmosphere, everyone’s been there.”
CONTACT Gavin Avella at breezesports@gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Redshirt junior running back George Pettaway rushed for 980 yards and five touchdowns last season. Breeze file photo
Freshman wide receiver Michael Scott made his unofficial debut in JMU’s spring game. Breeze file photo
Redshirt senior quarterback Matthew Sluka played four seasons at Holy Cross. Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
HEY DUKES
New kids in the ‘Burg
Say hello to JMU football’s new offensive trio from Virginia’s capital
By PRESTON COMER
The Breeze
Just over two weeks after JMU football’s 2024 regular season had ended, junior wide receiver Landon Ellis decided to commit to the Dukes on Dec. 13. He spent just four days in the portal after deciding to transfer from Richmond.
Ellis said JMU’s winning culture drew him to the Valley, which is just over an hour’s drive from his hometown, Orange, Va.
“I’m a local guy, I’ve seen JMU win from across the way, so to be a part of it is amazing,” Ellis said.
One month and one day after Ellis announced his commitment, two other former Spiders in the transfer portal made the move to JMU — junior quarterback Camden Coleman and redshirt senior wide receiver Nick DeGennaro.
At first, DeGennaro was on the fence about whether he would commit to JMU but said he was “pushed over the edge” when Coleman committed.
Coleman spent just over a month in the portal and used three words to describe his experience: crazy, hectic and
hard. But he said when JMU offered it was “like a light at the end of the tunnel.”
“When I [visited] JMU, it just felt like home,” Coleman said. “They did everything they could — it was actually right before a dead period when I visited, and they were able to make it happen before that death period to give me more clarity on my decision.”
Coleman also said that since he was watching from just down Interstate 81, he was able to see what Chesney and the rest of JMU’s staff were capable of, prasing the Dukes success in 2025.
“What this staff did last year with this team was amazing,” Coleman said. “It’s something that draws you in; you want to be a part of it. So when the opportunity was there, it was hard to say no.”
DeGennaro said adjusting to Harrisonburg “isn’t much of a change” after coming from less than two hours away in Richmond. He also said that the returning Dukes welcomed the entire transfer class with open arms.
“The guys were really receptive, there really was no animosity or any kind of weird feelings towards the transfers,”
DeGennaro said. “The transition, as far as us three and everybody else, was pretty smooth.”
Even though the three didn’t plan on transferring from Richmond to JMU together, Coleman said the trio ending up together “couldn’t have worked out any better.”
“Those are two of my brothers; they’ll probably be at my wedding one day,” Coleman said. “The fact that we all get to play with each other, I can’t believe it. I’m so grateful I got that opportunity.”
Coleman and Ellis each have two years of eligibility remaining, while DeGennaro is suiting up for his final season of college football. They both started at Richmond when DeGennaro was already a junior, but said they’ve “always been great.”
“We’re all pretty close,” DeGennaro said. “I love having those guys here. I’m rooting for both of them; they’re both great kids, and they’re going to be studs.”
CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Junior quarterback Camden Coleman, redshirt senior receiver Nick DeGennaro and junior receiver Landon Ellis combined for 3,538 yards of offense in 2024 for Richmond.
Breeze file photo
Annabel Dewey / The Breeze Breeze file photo
Julia Tanner / The Breeze
looking ahead:
8/30 9/5 9/20
• Finished 4-8 in 2024 (3-5 Big Sky).
• JMU leads the all-time series 3-0.
• Picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky by coaches in 2025 and ninth by the media.
10/18
• Finished 5-7 in 2024 (4-4 Sun Belt).
• JMU leads the all-time head-to-head series 3-2.
• Picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt East in the preseason coaches poll.
• Finished 9-4 in 2024 (5-3 ACC).
• Louisville beat JMU in the only all-time matchup in 2022.
• Picked to finish fifth in the ACC by the media in 2025.
10/28
• Finished 8-5 in 2024 (5-3 Sun Belt).
• JMU leads the all-time head-to-head series 1-0.
• Picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West in the annual preseason coaches poll.
• Finished 8-4 in 2024 (5-3 CUSA).
• JMU leads the all-time head-to-head series 12-6.
• Ranked 70th in RJ Young’s Ultimate 136 and widely expected to be one of the main G5 schools contending for a playoff spot.
11/8
• Finished 10-3 in 2024 (7-1 Sun Belt).
• Marshall leads the all-time head to head series 4-1.
• Picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt East preseason coaches poll.
Courtesy of Weber State Athletics
Courtesy of Louisville Athletics
Courtesy of Liberty Athletics
Courtesy of Old Domion Athletics
Courtesy of Texas State Athletics Courtesy of Marshall Athletics
JMU’s opponents
9/27 10/4 10/11
• Finished 8-5 in 2024 (6-2 Sun Belt).
• Georgia Southern leads the all-time head to head series 9-2.
• Picked to finish second in the Sun Belt East in the annual coaches poll, and are returning nine players who picked up preseason All-Sun Belt selections.
• Finished 3-9 in 2024 (1-7 Sun Belt).
• JMU leads the all-time head to head series 4-0.
• Picked to finish seventh (last) in the Sun Belt East in the preseason coaches poll.
• Finished 10-4 in 2024 (7-1 Sun Belt).
• Oct. 11’s bout between the two programs will mark their first meeting.
• Picked to finish first in the Sun Belt West in the 2025 preseason coaches poll and qualify for its second consecutive Sun Belt Championship game.
11/15 11/22 11/29
• App State leads the all-time head-to-head series 14-5.
• Picked to finish third in the Sun Belt East preseason coaches poll.
• Finished 8-5 in 2024 (0-1 Pac-12).
• Nov. 22’s bout between the two programs will mark the first meeting between the two sides.
• Ranked 86th in RJ Young’s Ultimate 136 and will face an uphill battle after losing key pieces of its team.
• Finished 6-7 in 2024 (3-5 Sun Belt).
• JMU leads the all-time head to head series 4-1.
• Picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt East preseason coaches poll.
G E T Y O U R B O B O X T O D A Y !
Courtesy of Georgia Southern Athletics
Courtesy of Georgia State Athletics
Courtesy of Louisiana Athletics
Courtesy of App State Athletics
Courtesy of Washington State Athletics
Courtesy of Coastal Carolina Athletics
Return to the Commonwealth
By PRESTON COMER
The Breeze
Jan. 4, redshirt junior edge rusher Aiden Gobaira decided to bring his talents back to his home state of Virginia and commit to JMU from the transfer portal. He would’ve been one of the highest-rated recruits in JMU football history if he’d committed out of Chantilly High School, being a 4-star recruit, but he opted for Notre Dame.
Gobaira was the 17th nationally ranked edge rusher in the 2022 class as well as the sixth highest overall recruit in Virginia. Gobaira received offers from powerhouse football schools such as Virginia Tech, Penn State, Nebraska and Louisville.
Gobaira didn’t end up at any of those schools, but instead at the fourth-winningest team in college football history — the Fighting Irish.
“He’s extremely talented, you don’t end up at Notre Dame if you’re not extremely talented,” JMU defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said. “Aiden played for an elite group, and I’ve worked with some of them at Cincinnati — every single one of them called me when they found out I was coming here and he was coming here and said how special of a kid he is.”
Despite being a top-rated recruit and drawing interest from big-name universities, Gobaira has yet to accumulate a stat in college football, let alone played a snap in an actual game.
Gobaira decided to redshirt his freshman season at Notre Dame and learn behind the veterans on its defensive line. He specifically mentioned Justin Ademilola and former NFL second draft pick Isaiah Foskey.
“It was honestly just a great spot to be in,” Gobaira said. “I had a great defensive line coach and great defensive linemen to learn from and was able to really hone in on my craft.”
With a redshirt season of learning under his belt, Gobaira was ready to make a name for himself with the Fighting Irish. Gobaira said he was “doing a lot of good things” during spring practice, but then, to start fall camp, his Notre Dame career changed forever.
Gobaira tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus, causing him to miss the entire 2023 season.
The following spring, Gobaira hadn’t reached a point in his rehab where he could start participating on the field, leaving him and his coaches to sit down and make a tough decision.
“I made the decision to medically retire so Notre Dame had more availability,” Gobaira said.
Despite medically retiring, Gobaira said he had no doubts that he would return to the field at some point.
“It taught me a lot about working, keeping my head down and blocking out the outside noise,” Gobaira said. “I was more [focused] on what’s my next step to get back on the field, what’s my next step to help my next program.”
Even though Gobaira wasn’t on Notre Dame’s roster, he was still working with its trainers and in its facilities during his rehab. Gobaira said the staff used a lot of advanced technology while he was working out to test the power of his injured leg.
Once Notre Dame’s 2024 season started and Gobaira wasn’t able to work with its trainers anymore, he found his own trainer, Sudan Ellington, whom Gobaira had known since high school.
“He really made sure that if I was going to get back in this game, I was gonna be ready,” Gobaira said. “We did some MMA, jujitsu-type of training. On the field, I was bending corners and holding the edge, being powerful on my right and my left.”
Gobaira said one of the main reasons he committed to Notre Dame out of high school was because he could get an “elite degree.” Even though he couldn’t finish his playing career with the Fighting Irish, he was still allowed to finish his education.
“I was able to still get my degree and contribute what I could to that program,” Gobaira said. “I’m just so grateful that they let me stay there, graduate and get my degree and not shut me out even after I medically retired.”
Gobaira was just waiting for the right time to enter the transfer portal so everything worked out “smoothly,” and he officially entered Oct. 22, 2024.
“I just had to give it time so I was 100% healthy for recruiting coaches and giving them faith I could find my way back out there to the field,” Gobaira said.
Gobaira said that JMU stood out to him because it “competes at a very high level,” but also just appreciated that it would allow him to play the game he loves again. He also looks forward to being closer to his family, turning a 9-plushour drive to Notre Dame into less than a two hour commute down Interstate 81.
“It’s just a great opportunity to play the game I love with a great team and a great coaching staff, I’m really excited,” Gobaira said.
Hitschler isn’t worried about Gobaira’s injury during his time with the Fighting Irish, and said “he’s extremely talented.”
“He’s physical, he runs to the ball,” Hitschler said. “I think he just had some bad luck up at Notre Dame … He’s set for a big year and I can’t wait to watch him ball out.”
With the 2025 season right around the corner, Gobaira feels that this preseason he’s felt in shape and physically feels “really good.”
“At the end of the day, I’m just so excited to put a helmet on, put some pads on and finally hit somebody,” Gobaira said.
Gobaira knows that since he hasn’t yet competed in an actual game at the college level, there’s bound to be outside noise that questions how well he’ll be able to produce; but he said he’s ready to prove to himself and others that he can. “It’s finally time,” Gobaira said. “It’s been two years in the making. I’ve been thinking about this ever since I medically retired.” CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@gmail.com . For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
JMU redshirt junior edge rusher Aiden Gobaira returns to Virginia after posting 16 sacks in just eight games as a 4-star recruit at Chantilly High School. Photos by Annabel Dewey / The Breeze
Defensive PREVIEW
What to expect from JMU’s defensive position groups
By GAVIN AVELLA
The Breeze
JMU football’s 2025 defense will boast some new and familiar faces in every room, along with new defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler. Here’s a look into the Dukes’ 2025 defense.
Defensive line
In terms of edge rushing talent to replace the lost production of Khairi Manns and Eric O’Neill, the Dukes added redshirt junior Notre Dame transfer Aiden Gobaira and redshirt senior Maine transfer Xavier Holmes.
Gobaira is an intriguing addition. At one point in his career, he medically retired and has yet to appear in a football game at the collegiate level. However, he’s quite the talent when healthy, as he was the 17th nationally ranked edge rusher in the 2022 class as well as the sixth highest overall recruit in Virginia.
Holmes spent four years at the FCS level playing for Maine, and is clearly someone the Dukes watched their film on. Across his last two seasons at Maine (2023–24), Holmes started 23 straight games and tallied 123 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, an interception and 11 QB hurries, establishing himself as one of the FBS’s most productive defensive linemen.
In terms of returning Dukes who will look to establish themselves as key pieces of the defense and defensive line, the two main names to look out for are redshirt junior Amar Thomas and redshirt freshman Sahir West.
“So this game[plan], I feel like, will feature him a whole lot more than you’ve seen in prior years. But he’s ready. He’s been looking good this spring and this fall. You know he’s an aggressive kid, always ready to go in there and get his nose dirty. He has no problem with that. You just get him a job, he’ll go do it, you know, so I’m ready for him to ball out,” senior linebacker Trent Hendrick said when asked about Thomas.
During 2024, Thomas played in all 13 games, making one start at defensive line vs. Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl. Thomas made his presence known, tallying 20 tackles (seven solo) to go with 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups.
Similar to his counterpart on the defensive line, West also showed some flashes towards the end of last season in the bowl game and later during the JMU football spring game, where he unofficially tallied two sacks and disrupted plays at the line of scrimmage consistently.
In terms of the interior defensive line, the Dukes return one of the Sun Belt’s premier run stuffers in redshirt senior Immanuel “Manny” Bush. Bush’s breakout year for the Dukes came last season, where he posted 34 tackles (six solo) to go with four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one interception and one pass breakup.
With Bush only playing in 12 games and recording 11 tackles (three solo), the second interior lineman spot seems to be Taddeo’s to lose after appearing in 32 career games with 21 starts and recording 71 tackles, 12 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a First Team All Patriot league selection across four seasons at the FCS level with Colgate.
Linebackers
At the head of the room as the leader and unofficial captain of the defense, senior Trent Hendrick looks to build upon an impressive 2024 campaign and follow in the footsteps of former JMU linebacker turned coach Jacob Dobbs.
“Trent Hendrick is a phenomenal football player, and you’ll hear a whole lot more of him as this year goes on,” Chesney said. “We have competitor levels within our team, and he is the ultimate competitor. Whatever it is you are going to ask him to do or his group to do, he is going to take the lead and make sure the group does exactly that.”
While Hendrick played in 12 games and started five under former JMU head coach Curt Cignetti in 2023, his breakout season came last campaign in 2024, where he played in all 13 games, making 12 starts and recording 54 tackles (25 solo) to go with nine tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
“I’ve been sharing reps with Gannon Weathersby, as you can imagine,” Hendrick said. “He started to show a whole
lot … late in the last season. We’ve been trying to get our chemistry together, playing off of one another, and just really trying to feel each other out.”
Weathersby, a junior, also played in 13 games for the Dukes last season, but unlike Hendrick, took until his first collegiate start to break out, where he tallied 22 tackles (11 solo) to go with 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup in JMU’s win vs. Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl.
D2 standout senior Shepherd transfer JT Kouame-Yao totaled 169 tackles (91 solo), 18.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions, a fumble recovery and several pass breakups over three seasons (2022–24).
Sophomore Kent State transfer Jayden Studio also figures to carve out a role in the linebacker room at some point this season or the next after an impressive true freshman campaign during which he saw action in 10 games, making four starts at linebacker and recording 38 tackles (23 solo) to go with 2.0 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception and a pass breakup in 2024.
Last but not least, junior Holy Cross transfer Drew Spinogatti also figures to play a part in the Dukes’ linebacking rotation, having familiarity with Chesney and the coaching staff and starting all 12 games at linebacker for the Crusaders, tallying 71 tackles (44 solo) to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a pass breakup.
Secondary
After losing their two starting outside cornerbacks — Chauncey Logan via the transfer portal to Memphis and Terrence Spence to the NFL — as well as safety Chris Shearin, Chesney and company will look to lean on a few returners and transfers to anchor the secondary this upcoming season.
Senior transfer cornerback Mekhi Rodgers figures to factor into the Dukes’ cornerback rotation after contributing at Hobart from 2022–23 and recording interceptions in consecutive seasons before transferring to Saint Francis in 2024, where he started all 11 games and posted 25 tackles plus seven pass breakups.
Similarly, redshirt senior transfers Elijah Culp and Chantz Harley seem poised to play roles in JMU’s 2025 secondary. Culp posted 29 tackles, an interception and multiple pass breakups in two seasons between Troy and Charlotte, while Harley appeared in 26 games over three seasons for the Maryland Terrapins, where he totaled 24 tackles (19 solo) and a pass breakup across his career.
Returning redshirt junior cornerback Justin Eaglin is another option for the Dukes after seeing action in 11 games and making three starts at cornerback, tallying 12 tackles (9 solo) and one interception.
After serving as JMU’s primary kick returner in 2023, junior defensive back DJ Barksdale started all 13 games at nickel, recording 42 tackles (27 solo) to go with five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions (one pick-six) and three pass breakups en route to being named the Boca Raton Bowl Defensive MVP.
However, sophomore fellow nickel KJ Flowe has shown flashes of brilliance at the position, seeing action in all 13 games and tallying 18 tackles (11 solo) to go with 0.5 tackle for loss and three pass breakups, as well as recording seven career interceptions and five pick-sixes in his high school career.
In 2024, senior safety Jacob Thomas one-upped his previous campaign, starting in all 13 games at safety and recording 72 tackles (35 solo) to go with eight twwackles for loss, a half sack, three interceptions and three pass breakups. Returning redshirt senior Kye Holmes seems poised to step into the role vacated by Shearin, seeing the field in 10 games and making four starts at safety, where he recorded 21 tackles (11 solo) with one pass breakup.
Redshirt senior Holy Cross transfer Curtis Harris-Lopez could come in to start alongside Thomas after a highly productive career in four seasons at the FCS level with the Crusaders, which saw him total 131 tackles (76 solo)w, 15.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three forced fumbles, six interceptions including a 56-yard picksix, nine pass breakups and score two kickoff return touchdowns.
CONTACT Gavin Avella at breezesports@gmail.com For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
TOP: Junior linebacker Gannon Weathersby tallied 22 tackles during JMU’s Boca Raton Bowl victory. BOTTOM: Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Sahir West (left) recorded two sacks during JMU’s 2025 spring game . Breeze file photos
Barnett cleared for full contact
By PRESTON COMER
The Breeze
After sustaining a leg injury during JMU football’s regularseason Nov. 30 finale against Marshall, redshirt junior quarterback Alonza Barnett III was fully cleared ahead of the Dukes’ Aug. 30 matchup against Weber State.
Head coach Bob Chesney announced Barnett’s clearance during Monday’s press conference and said Barnett was cleared last week.
Barnett wore a regular black practice jersey during the Dukes’ Aug. 18 practice after wearing a red non-contact jersey earlier during fall camp — at the time, Chesney said Barnett wasn’t cleared for contact.
“I didn’t want him — and he didn’t want — to be the only guy out there not in a black jersey,” Chesney said after the Aug. 18 practice.
Chesney also said that he’s yet to name a starting quarterback for Saturday.
“We’ve got a lot of football left to play throughout this week,” Chesney said. “But I imagine, just like everything else, there’s competition in all of these rooms.”
Chesney ended the press conference saying Barnett didn’t miss a single day of his rehab and workouts, and Barnett was constantly working with Head Football Athletic Trainer Tyler Webb.
“He was fully locked into making sure he had himself ready to go,” Chesney said. “He’s done everything he possibly could to get himself cleared.”
Despite his injury, Barnett was named to the Preseason AllSun Belt Second Team. The Dukes’ quarterback room is also headlined by redshirt senior Matthew Sluka, who transferred from UNLV, and junior Camden Coleman, who transferred from Richmond.
CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Redshirt junior quarterback Alonza Barnett III was selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team. Breeze file photos
Shots of LAST season
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Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
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