The biggest unanswered question surrounding JMU football: How serious is Alonza Barnett’s injury?

The Sun Belt Honorable Mention QB suffered what appeared to be a right leg injury on the final offensive play of a loss to Marshall. He’s out for the bowl game, but JMU didn’t give an official injury update. Could he miss spring ball? Will he be ready for summer camp? Will the injury keep him out for the 2025 season? Non-contact leg injuries can often be serious. If he’s not ready by August, the Dukes need serious QB help in the transfer portal.

And if Barnett only misses a few weeks with his injury, the Dukes still need depth at the position with Dylan Morris, Billy Atkins, and Brett Griffis not expected to return to the team in 2025. That leaves Barnett and true freshman JC Evans as the lone scholarship QBs on the roster.

Here are 10 QBs who could be JMU targets in the portal.

Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross/UNLV

Sluka captivated the college football world when he left UNLV because of NIL issues — he claims he wasn’t paid what he was promised. But he’s an obvious candidate to end up at JMU because of his ties to the coaching staff. He played for head coach Bob Chesney and OC Dean Kennedy at Holy Cross, becoming one of the most dynamic QBs at the FCS level. A better runner than pure passer, an offensive coaching staff needs to tailor their system to Sluka’s specific skills. JMU’s coaches know how to do that. Also, JC Evans possesses similar traits, making him a logical backup if Barnett’s injury proves to be serious.

During his Holy Cross career, Sluka passed for 5,916 yards and 59 touchdowns. He also added an incredible 3,583 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns. He’s an efficient passer (just 15 career interceptions over 706 pass attempts) and an elite scrambler and rusher. At UNLV, Sluka struggled as a passer, but ran for 124 yards in a win over Kansas. Sluka can win big at the G5 level. 

Joe Pesansky, Holy Cross

Pesansky started for Holy Cross in 2024, leading the team to six wins. He completed 60% of his passes this season, throwing for 2,399 yards, 19 TDs, and six INTs. If the quarterback is interested in joining a Group of Five team, JMU would make sense as a landing spot given the Holy Cross ties on the coaching staff. He would likely serve as a backup or rotational QB at JMU, but he could compete for a starting role during the offseason. His ability to limit turnovers is a strength. 

Ta’Quan Roberson, Penn State/UConn/Kansas State

JMU offered Roberson last year before he went to Kansas State as the backup. He’s started games at UConn and has years of college football experience. He could serve as a veteran backup who competes for playing time in camp. The Dukes’ staff liked him enough to offer last year before he added a year of experience at another P4 program.

At UConn, Roberson threw for 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. He’s a capable starter and a high-level backup. He’s a valuable addition to any QB room given his experience and previous production in 2023.

Reese Poffenbarger, Albany/Miami

If JMU wants to bring in a legit starting candidate to push Barnett and add meaningful depth, Poffenbarger could be a target. He backed up Heisman contender Cam Ward at Miami this season after an illustrious FCS career at Albany. If he looks to the G5 level, JMU makes sense as a landing spot.

Poffenbarger threw for 5,969 yards, 56 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions for Albany in 2022 and 2023. He’s a really talented passer — he also ran for five touchdowns in 2023 — who could immediately start for just about any G5 team. Could JMU make a run at him? 

Dexter Williams, Indiana/Georgia Southern

Williams looked tremendous in limited action for the Eagles in 2024. He sparked comebacks against Marshall and South Alabama, and he’s reportedly been in contact with JMU. He’s proven to be a high upside player within the Sun Belt. Could JMU land him from a division rival?

Even if Williams isn’t JMU’s starter, he’s clearly a reliable and good backup. But would he come to a school without expecting to be the starter?

Kadin Semonza, Ball State

Put on your tin foil hat for a second, please. Semonza, who threw for 2,900 yards to go with 25 TDs and 10 INTs this season, was stopped by Chesney for a long conversation after the Dukes’ thrashing of the Cardinals earlier this season. We’re not saying Chesney was talking portal with the QB, of course, but we bet Semonza remembers an opposing head coach stopping to praise/encourage him after a loss. He’s played in a sold out Bridgeforth and saw how dominant the Dukes can be. Would a chance to either start or develop behind Barnett at a G5 power bring him to the Burg? JMU would have to beat out P4 opposition to land him, though.

Cameron Edge, Maryland

Edge was in a competition to be the Terps’ starter before losing the job to Billy Edwards Jr. He went to the same HS as the Knight brothers, so there’s a JMU connection that could interest him. At the very least, Edge is a high upside player who would add experienced depth behind Barnett and could start if Barnett’s injury is a long-term issue.

Grant Jordan, Yale

Jordan was highly efficient for the Bulldogs in 2024, completing 66% of his passes for 1,900 yards in nine games. He threw 22 TDs and just 3 INTs. He’s an experienced player who would add valuable depth to the room.

Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina

He’s coming off season-ending injury, making him a risk, but he was a star when healthy. Gonzales averaged 317 passing yards per game before an injury sidelined him for the last four games of the year. When healthy, he’s a standout.

Emmett Morehead, BC/ODU

Morehead didn’t play for ODU in 2024, but the Virginia native received meaningful snaps at Boston College and threw 10 TDs in 2022. If he wants to stay in Virginia, Morehead could be an ideal depth piece in a QB room in desperate need of depth.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications