JMU fans know all too well the dangers of succeeding in modern college football as a Group of Five team. Coach Bob Chesney knows, too.

“There are major college football programs that are absolutely studying every single kid on our roster,” Chesney said Wednesday at his National Signing Day press conference. “When you play good football, that’s what they’re going to do. They’re going to take some of the better teams and they’re going to dissect it, and they are hunting these kids. They will find their high school coaches, they will find their parents, they will do all those things and they will find who they want.”

Last season, it was former JMU coach Curt Cignetti who “hunted” the Dukes’ 11-2 roster. He took over a dozen Dukes with him to Bloomington, and the Hoosiers are a near-lock to make this year’s College Football Playoff after going 11-1 in the regular season.

Boasting a solid 8-4 record this year, the Dukes have another good roster with several players who could be on their to Power Four programs. That leaves Chesney handling uncertainty. Who might leave? Who will stay? That’s still up in the air.

At least two underclassmen players — wide receivers Chris Lofton and Maxwell Moss — have announced plans to transfer. Neither player broke into the starting rotation at the position this year.

“We have guys that have decided to step away at this time that just didn’t like the playing time, didn’t want to go through bowl prep … whether it’s not enough confidence in themselves or in their ability stacked up against everybody else out here to really stick it out and really fight to get a spot and get yourself in that bowl game and then see what happens in the spring,” Chesney said, not referring to any players specifically. “Some guys aren’t willing to do that. And I wish them nothing but the best.”

Losing backup wide receivers isn’t an issue for the Dukes. In fact, it opens up roster spots as the Dukes look into the portal to add new players later this month.

Still, with Power Four teams lurking in the portal, JMU is in danger of losing players. Defensive end Eric O’Neill finished the regular season with 17.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. His season-long PFF grade of 90.4 ranks sixth nationally among players at his position, suggesting he’s one of the most productive DEs in all of college football. If he transfers, O’Neill will command a significant NIL deal from a Power Four team.

Running back George Pettaway might be the most sought after player on JMU’s offense. Just a redshirt sophomore, Pettaway eclipsed 1,000 total yards for the Dukes. He led the team with 880 rushing yards and added 200 receiving yards. A capable kickoff returner, too, Pettaway’s skills would translate back to the P4 level — he began his career at UNC.

Other potential portal entrants include quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who wasn’t always consistent but finished the season with 33 total touchdowns and only four interceptions. Safety Jacob Thomas (80.2 PFF grade), DB DJ Barksdale (75.6 PFF grade), and DT Immanuel Bush (74.4 grade) could also generate P4 interest, among others. O’Neill and Pettaway appear to be the two players who would draw the most P4 interest, though. 

“You pray you hold onto everybody, but we all know that’s probably not going to happen,” Chesney said.

He counters that by 1) limiting the size of the high school recruiting class to leave room for transfers and 2) focusing on retaining a core unit from the 2024 team. Who are the players likely to stay that have All-Sun Belt potential? Players like Barnett, Thomas, Barksdale, Bush and others will likely be easier to retain than O’Neill. If Chesney keeps those players and supplements the potential loss of a star or two through the portal, the Dukes should still be poised for a special 2025 season.

“I think nowadays, you’ve got to focus on that middle group of your team, that middle chunk of your team that best represents your team,” Chesney said. “And then you have those elite guys at the top that you are hoping stay. And then there’s guys at the bottom that are probably going to leave.”

It’s hunting season for Power Four teams, but the Dukes aren’t helpless.

Armed with more NIL money than low-end G5s and FCS teams, quality facilities, a passionate fan base and winning coaches, the Dukes offer transfers plenty of reasons to come to Harrisonburg. Yes, the Dukes will likely lose players to the P4 in the coming weeks, but the portal gives and takes. Once the P4 teams finish their hunt, G5 teams will begin reloading with P4 dropdowns, other quality G5 players and elite FCS talents.

It’ll be hunting season for the Dukes soon, too.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications