Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications

By Bennett Conlin & Jack Fitzpatrick

For the JMU recruiting junkies out there, we’ll track JMU football’s 2025 recruiting class as it takes shape under head coach Bob Chesney. We’ll provide live updates as the class takes shape, which includes interviews with some of the commits.

Be sure to follow @DukesRecruits on Twitter for all the latest JMU Recruiting news.

Offensive additions

JD Rayner, OL – Rayner, a Massachusetts prospect, plays tight end and defensive end, but he’s moving to offensive line in the fall. He’ll join JMU as an offensive lineman when he comes to Harrisonburg in 2025. FCS schools and UMass were among those also seeking Rayner’s services. Rayner signed after the first 14 recruits signed. He was waiting to make it official after his state championship, a game in which his team won.  

Trent Wilson, OL – JMU beat out SMU and Memphis (among others) for Wilson’s commitment. Tulsa also made a strong push for the Texas prospect, but the three-star recruit verbally committed to JMU. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024. 

Ethan Gurela, TE – An athletic tight end prospect from Georgia, Gurela picked JMU over Marshall, Georgia Southern, and Georgia State, among others. Florida Atlantic made a strong push for Gurela as well, but he landed on the Dukes. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024. He told @DukesRecruits the reason he chose JMU was because of the winning culture that JMU has cultivated, “I plan on keeping that going,” Gurela said. He also cited the love and support for the team by the community. 

Brian Hnat, TE – A Connecticut prospect, Hnat has experience playing multiple positions, but he’ll be a tight end for JMU. He also received FBS offers from UMass, Army, and Temple. At 6’5 and 225 lbs, Hnat has intriguing size for an incoming tight end prospect. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024. 

Parker Cunningham, OL – An offensive lineman from Pennsylvania, Cunningham was highly recruited by FCS programs and also earned an offer from Buffalo, a MAC team. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Jamarcus Smith, WR – A 6’1 wide receiver from South Carolina, Smith picked the Dukes over several Sun Belt East programs, including App State. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Michael “Mikey” Scott, WR – The 3-star WR from Pennsylvania verbally committed to JMU in late October, shortly after decommitting from Arizona State. Numerous Power Four programs, including Cincinnati, Maryland, and West Virginia, offered Scott a scholarship, per 24/7 Sports. The 5’8″ WR is a speedy player who could play as a true freshman. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Jackson McCarter, RB – JMU flipped the running back from Villanova. A Virginia prospect, McCarter ran for over 1,300 yards and 25 TDs in eight games this season. He’s a talented athlete with good speed, who could develop into a contributor in the backfield. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024. He told @DukesRecruits via Twitter DM “Fans can expect to see some more touchdowns scored because that’s what I’m here to do!” 

Defensive additions

Seth Gathers, DB – A defensive back out of Maryland. Gathers was a first team all conference selection at North Point High School in Waldorf, MD. He had offers from Charlotte, Kent State and a handful of FCS programs. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Jerald James, DE – An edge rusher from Florida, James received notable offers from Maryland, SMU, West Virginia, and Liberty. He opted to commit to Bob Chesney and the Dukes, giving them young help on the edge. He committed to JMU days after visiting. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Kai Callen, DB – The 3-star prospect out of Carrollton, GA committed to JMU after taking his official visit over the June 15 weekend. Callen committed to JMU over schools like UConn and Washington State and the ATH had offers from a plethora of FCS schools. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Cole Webster, DL – The 6’3, 280-pound defensive line prospect out of Cuthbertson High School in Waxhaw, NC announced his commitment on June 19. Webster held offers from ODU, several Ivy League schools and other FCS programs. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Grayson Gilmore, DE – FAU and Toledo were among the G5 programs courting the Florida defensive end prospect. He’s a solid, athletic pickup. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Roy’Marr Thomas, EDGE – Toledo, FAU and USF all had Thomas to campus for a visit, but the 3-star EDGE defender out of Florida announced he is verbally committing to the Dukes on June 30. Thomas also had offers from Louisville and ECU. The EDGE defender is the third Florida DE to verbally commit to the Class of 2025. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Roddrey McWilliams, DB – A Richmond prospect, McWilliams plays WR and DB in high school, although he’s expected to play defense in college. He’s an exceptional athlete, who also received offers from ODU and Temple, among others. McWilliams stands at 6-foot-1, giving him top-end size for a DB. He made it official by signing on National Signing Day on December 4, 2024.

Decommits

These players were verbally committed to JMU, but ultimately changed their minds:

Dylan Villarouel, OL – A 6’4 and 300-lb lineman from Georgia, Villarouel picked JMU over offers from Air Force, Georgia State, and Middle Tennessee, among others. He flipped on signing to Kansas State. He was on campus for the season finale against Marshall but ultimately decided to take his talents to Manhattan (Kansas). 

Jonathan Williams, WR – A 3-star WR from North Carolina, Williams originally committed to ECU but when Mike Houston was fired, he reopened his recruitment and landed on JMU. Now, with the staff he committed to at ECU being largely retained, he decided to return to the Pirates. 

Jamarice Wilder, RB – A standout running back from Florida, Wilder decided to decommit from JMU and instead commit to Louisville, an ACC program with significant financial backing.

Weston Sturzinger, S – An Ohio prospect, Sturzinger received heavy interest from MAC schools. Toledo, Kent State, and Akron all recruited Sturzinger, but he ultimately chose the Dukes. He had his scholarship offer rescinded per the Sandusky Register.

William “Trey” Dudley III, LB – Dudley received an offer from Syracuse in late November and flipped his commitment to join the rising ACC program. 

Be sure to follow @DukesRecruits on Twitter for all the latest JMU Recruiting news.