JMU football is officially back!

Bob Chesney and the Dukes take on Charlotte in Week 1. To preview the upcoming season, Bennett Conlin and Jack Fitzpatrick of JMU Sports News were joined by Taylor Adkins of JMU Sound Off for our first roundtable discussion of the 2024 season.

What has you most excited about the upcoming season?

Bennett: Bob Chesney. I can’t match Bob Chesney’s energy, but I can certainly appreciate his day-to-day intensity. That’s not what has me most excited for Chesney, though. 

I think Bob Chesney is going to be an exceptional schematic coach for JMU. I expect him to find unique ways to spotlight his team’s strengths, perhaps even more consistently than the last coaching staff. What Chesney did at Holy Cross was not only an accomplishment rooted in culture building, but also one that stems from excellent schematics and game plans.

Jack: I am excited to see what a new coaching staff is able to do. It is no secret that Curt Cignetti won and won a lot. But at times watching his Dukes teams felt like hitting your head against the wall. Whether it was turtling in the second half, the lack of aggression or running it constantly on first down. Now, there is a breath of fresh air in Harrisonburg and I am pumped to see it. 

Maybe it is an end around, maybe it is a trick play, maybe it is going for it on 4th and 3 from the opponents 40 yard line. So many new things. The what-ifs with in-game play calling are super exciting. 

Taylor: I am excited for the first season with no NCAA distractions. JMU is eligible for the Sun Belt Conference Championship, bowl games, the College Football Playoff, and even NCAA records (in the event we have another player lead the country in sacks or any other stat). After four seasons of Covid, conference realignment, and NCAA transitional periods, the off field drama is gone and JMU finally gets to put all its focus into what happens on the field.

What makes you most anxious about this JMU football team?

Bennett: The road schedule gives me concern, especially given the coaching and roster turnover. I love the roster and staff, but will the team click fast enough to succeed in road games against Charlotte, UNC, Georgia Southern, ODU, and App State in Year 1 of Bob Chesney? 

Jack: The whole roster. On paper this roster is great. Loaded with potential stars, guys that produced at a lower level or players looking to prove themselves. Now, how does that all mesh together? The Dukes have played the name game, they have worked together outside of the field. What does it look like all season through the ups and downs of a full football season.

Taylor: The last three games of the season are going to be a mental and physical gauntlet. JMU will end the season with JMU’s three biggest rivals back-to-back-to-back. It starts on the road with ODU, who many predict to be near the bottom of the conference. However, last year ODU was also picked to finish last in the division. They came into Bridgeforth against a JMU team ranked in the top 25 and nearly pulled off an upset in front of the largest crowd in Bridgeforth Stadium history. ODU will do whatever they can to avoid a three game losing streak in the Royal Rivalry.

The following week, JMU heads to Boone to face App State. This game could possibly determine the winner of the Sun Belt East and also have College Football Playoff implications for the winner. The last four games between these two teams have been some of the most heart breaking losses for the losing team in their programs’ history. 

And finally, the Dukes return to to familiar confines of Bridgeforth Stadium to face the Thundering Herd of Marshall. Marshall will be battle tested having faced a tough Sun Belt East schedule in addition to out of conference games against Virginia Tech and Ohio State. The away team has played spoiler in the last two meetings between these teams. Will JMU be able to finish strong and reverse that trend to end the regular season?

Which player do you think will be JMU football’s MVP in 2024?

Bennett: Defensive end Eric O’Neill is my pick. He tallied a mind-blogging 44.5 tackles for loss for Long Island over the last two seasons, and I fully expect his skills to translate to the FBS level. I think he ends the season as a First Team All-Sun Belt performer. 

Jack: Ayo Adeyi. Easy. A star at North Texas, it is honestly insane to me that JMU was able to land him! He is going to tear up Sun Belt defenses this season behind a very experienced offensive line.

Taylor: I have to go with Jacob Dobbs. Just take a look at the long list of his accolades prior to JMU on his player profile. No matter how big your monitor is, you’ll still need to scroll to get through the whole list. And I’ll even take my predicition one step further…not only will Jacobs Dobbs be the team MVP, but he follows in the footsteps of JMU linebacker Stephon Robertson and wins the Dudley Award for best NCAA football player in Virginia.

What do you think JMU needs to do well Saturday to beat Charlotte?

Bennett: Pressure Charlotte quarterback Max Brown. The Florida transfer is supremely talented, but he’s a young prospect with minimal collegiate experience. If JMU can force Brown to make decisions under pressure from the defensive line, I think the Dukes can force a couple game-altering turnovers.

Jack: Not only pressure Max Brown like Bennett said, but contain the Florida transfer. We saw what pressuring does with no containment during the National Championship in Frisco against Trey Lance. Can’t have that! 

Taylor: Honestly…I don’t know? After the news coming out of half of Charlotte’s starters being out for the game, and so many new faces on this JMU roster, it’s hard to hone in on the strength and weaknesses of either team. With JMU not naming a starter at QB for Week 1, both Dylan Morris and Alonza Barnett will need to be prepared to execute the role of QB1. With a stable of new receivers as well, the passing game will play a critical role in a win for the Dukes against Charlotte.

What’s your record prediction for JMU this regular season?

Bennett: I’ll say JMU goes 10-2 with losses to UNC and App. I’m bullish on the Dukes, but road games with UNC, Georgia Southern, ODU, and App State could lead to a couple losses. I think JMU has a tremendous chance to go 6-0 at home.

Jack: JMU, on paper, can win every game on its schedule this season. The Dukes have high end talent with players like Ayo Adeyi, Jacob Dobbs, Cam Ross etc. that can help them throughout the season. They also have the role players that are so important in winning games in the middle of the season. I could see an 11-1 type of season. 

However my official prediction is 9-3. After a perfect 9-0 start JMU stumbles at the end of the season with losses in the final three. A final trio of games that features two games on the road, both against teams coming off a bye. 

Taylor: As Jack pointed out, there isn’t a single game on the schedule I don’t think the Dukes can win. My heart says we go 12-0 in the regular season, win the SBC Championship by three touchdwons at Bridgeforth, and become the first G5 team to win a College Football Playoff game knocking off the Hokies in Blacksburg! But…my head says 9-3. Winning in Chapel Hill will be tough and I think JMU could end up losing 2 of the four games against Georgia Southern, ODU, App State, and Marshall