How will JMU football replace All-American defensive end Jalen Green, who posted 15.5 sacks in 2023?

It’ll take multiple people to make up for Green’s production, according to new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill.

“You’re not replacing Jalen Green,” Hemphill told JMU Sports News in mid-August. “What he did last year is stupid.”

Green led the country through nine games with 15.5 sacks before suffering an injury. He even recorded an incredible five-sack game against Marshall, willing the Dukes to a 20-9 victory on the road. 

With Green graduated and hoping to sign an NFL deal as he works back from a major leg injury, the Dukes have several new transfers eager to fill his role.

JMU added Long Island’s Eric O’Neill, who amassed an incredible 44.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at the FCS level. The Dukes also brought in USF’s Lloyd Summerall, a talented edge rusher. Khairi Manns, a Colorado transfer who plays the edge, shined at the FCS level (Maine) before spending a season with Deion Sanders’ program. 

Editor’s note: Our full interview with Lyle Hemphill can be found in our fall camp Master Guide.

Better than Expected

The Dukes targeted players in the portal with specific traits likely to translate to at least one down. 

“We knew we weren’t going to replace it all with one guy,” Hemphill said. “It’s a little bit like Moneyball.”

Hemphill and the Dukes, doing their best Billy Beane impression, brought in transfers who could replace players like Green in the aggregate, rather than individually. JMU added O’Neill because the coaches believed he was a top-tier run stopper, who would shine on first and second down. Pro Football Focus gave O’Neill an 81.8 rushing defense grade in 2023, which would’ve led all JMU defensive linemen last season.

The Dukes added Summerall and Manns with the hope they’d be excellent pass rushers in third-down situations.

Hemphill told JMU Sports News he was “pleasantly surprised” with guys like O’Neill, Summerall, and Manns during camp. They’re exceeding expectations and proving they’re more well-rounded than Hemphill expected. O’Neill is a better pass rusher than anticipated, while Summerall and Manns look like they could play on first and second downs if needed, given improvements to their run defense.

Manns was second on Maine’s team in 2021 with a pass rush grade of 77.5 on PFF, flashing elite ability to pressure the quarterback. Summerall began his career at Florida and flashed in limited action at USF in 2023.

“I want to be Defensive Lineman of the Week every week,” Summerall told JMU Sports News. “To be that, you’ve got to be a playmaker.”

Summerall believes 2024 will be the year his elite traits and athleticism show up on the stat sheet for a full season.

Depth a Strength

That trio isn’t the only group of defensive linemen playing well during camp. Hemphill mentioned Youngstown State transfer Chris Fitzgerald as a standout at defensive tackle, who should complement Immanuel Bush well at nose tackle. Fitzgerald posted a run defense grade of 86.6 last year, the sixth-best mark of any interior defensive lineman at the FCS level.  

“Luckily, there’s a lot of reps to go around at D-tackle,” Hemphill said. “I think Bush and Fitz would tell you, they’re not ready to play 65 plays a game. I think they’d be happy to split 85 [plays] 50-50.”

Redshirt freshman Mychal McMullin is considered a rising talent along the interior of the line as well, and Syracuse transfer Terry Lockett will also play inside. Lockett played defensive end at Syracuse, but he’ll move to the interior for the Dukes. That’s a more natural position fit. The Dukes also return Amar Thomas at edge, who earned a start in the team’s 2023 bowl game.

The volume of talented veteran additions coupled with promising inexperienced returners should help alleviate the pain of losing not only Green, but also Jamree Kromah, James Carpenter, and Mikail Kamara.

“We’re trying to make up for the loss of three guys by bringing in like six or seven guys,” Hemphill said.

O’Neill likes how the plan of regularly rotating linemen and overwhelming offenses with 7-10 guys is playing out during camp. Green might be gone, but the overall talent across JMU’s defensive line figures to test even the best offensive lines on the Dukes’ schedule.

“We’re going to be one of the deepest D-lines in the country,” O’Neill said.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications