Quarterback Jamison “JT” Kitna enters his 2024 high school season uncommitted, but the class of 2025 Ohio prospect currently has his eyes firmly on JMU and UAB.

He’s visited both programs this summer, his only two visits of the summer. Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, is leaning toward picking one of those programs despite originally committing to Houston and receiving interest from other Power Four programs. He won’t rule out joining a Power Conference program if they connect with him this fall and make a strong recruiting push, but he’s currently leaning toward the two Group of Five schools.

“They recruited me the hardest,” Kitna said of JMU and UAB. “Love where you’re wanted. They both want me there.”

Learning from Dad

Kitna, who is listed as a 3-star recruit by 24/7 Sports, says he connects well with both coaching staffs. He has NFL aspirations, which will play a role in his decision.

UAB head coach Trent Dilfer is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, and he’s known for developing young quarterbacks both as a high school head coach and through Elite 11. Dilfer’s presence makes UAB an intriguing fit, and Kitna’s older brother Jalen is a redshirt junior with the Blazers.

JT Kitna currently receives NFL-level coaching from his dad, who is JT’s head coach in high school. Jon Kitna, in addition to playing in the NFL, worked as the Dallas Cowboys’s QBs coach in 2019.

“Literally everything I know about the game is from him,” JT Kitna said.

JT Kitna considers himself a pro-style quarterback, like his father. While JT has rushing ability and does well to extend plays, his strength comes when dissecting a defense through the air. He sees defenses well, knows where to go with the ball, and boasts a strong and accurate arm.

Inside the Decision

On the field, it’s hard to compare UAB’s recent success to JMU’s. The Blazers have one 10-win season since 2000, which came in 2018.

JMU, on the other hand, appeared in the AP Top 25 in each of its first two seasons in the FBS and has seven 10-win seasons since 2000. The Dukes won 11 games last fall, and new head coach Bob Chesney has led his programs to nine straight seasons with first or second-place finishes in their respective conferences.

Dilfer and UAB’s coaching staff boast NFL credentials, though. UAB offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen worked for the Rams in 2013 and spent nine years with Alabama, including serving as an offensive analyst from 2017-22. During those seasons, Mortensen worked mostly with the quarterbacks, playing a role in the development of players like Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa.

“Trent’s been where I want to be, but then on the other side, JMU has won in the past,” Kitna said. “Dean and Coach Chesney, they won at Holy Cross. They have a platform to keep on winning.”

JMU’s offensive staff includes some NFL credentials of its own, with wide receivers coach Justin Harper playing a few seasons for the Ravens. New offensive line coach Chris Smith was an assistant for the Giants last year. New quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy also aided in Kyle Trask’s development at Florida, and Trask plays for the Buccaneers.

Kitna expects to make his college decision following his final high school season this fall.

Header image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications