It’s transfer portal season! The Dukes went 8-4 in the 2024 regular season, and they’ll hope to build on their successes in 2025. A big 2025 season will come down largely to roster management. Can the Dukes retain their best players? Can they add new contributors? 

Let’s track the portal. 

Transfer Additions

Curtis Harris-Lopez, S (6’1 and 205 lbs), Holy Cross – Harris-Lopez checks all the boxes in an ideal transfer acquisition. Familiarity with Bob Chesney and other coaches? Check. A team captain in 2024? Check. A run-stopper at safety? Check, as he had 9.5 TFLs in 2024 and 56 total tackles. Skills in coverage? Check, as Harris-Lopez had two interceptions and seven pass breakups last season. He played well in the team’s lone FBS matchup, posting six tackles and two tackles for loss against a 10-win Syracuse team. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the Crusaders. Expect him to play significant snaps in 2025 for the Dukes, perhaps even starting alongside Jacob Thomas. He has one year of eligibility left.

Kells Bush, DT (6’3, 310 lbs), Louisiana Tech – Bush began his career at LSU before moving to the G5. Liberty and WKU also recruited the defensive tackle. He needs to improve his consistency — he was the lowest-graded defender on Louisiana Tech’s team, per PFF — but his talent and size make him an interesting developmental prospect with high upside. He has two years of eligibility left.

Josiah Kennard, LS (6’2 and 230 lbs), East Texas A&M – The Dukes added a long snapper with one year of eligibility left.

Chantz Harley, CB (6’1 and 188 lbs), Maryland – Harley began his collegiate career at Villanova and spent the last three seasons at Maryland. He will be a redshirt senior with one year of eligibility remaining. Harley was one of the few bright spots in the Terps’ secondary in 2024, recording a 66.8 PFF grade in 185 snaps over eight games. 

Xavier Holmes, DE (6’3 and 245 lbs), Maine – This is a MASSIVE get for JMU. Holmes posted 72 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks in 2024. This helps make up for the loss of Eric O’Neill, as Holmes is a big-bodied edge with elite potential. He should immediately play meaningful snaps at DE for JMU, which likes to rotate at the position.

Zach Greenberg, OL (6’4, 300 lbs), UNC – An interior offensive linemen from UNC, Greenberg began his career at the D3 level. He played in four games for the Tar Heels in 2024, posting a PFF grade above 75. He’s a potential starting center or guard for JMU in his final year of eligibility.

Za’Ron Collins, WR (6’2 and 185 lbs), Tusculum – The Dukes added a Tusculum (DII) transfer last season in CB Jordan Taylor. Maybe this will become annual tradition. Collins played just four games for Tusculum in 2024, but made a big impact. He caught 10 passes for 228 yards, averaging more than 20 yards per catch. He was offered by multiple G5 teams, including Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina. He has three years of eligibility left.

JT Kouame-Yao, LB (6’0 and 215 lbs), Shepherd – The Division II standout had 62 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in 2024. The year prior, Kouame-Yao posted 66 tackles and three interceptions. He’s solid in coverage and a sound tackler with one year of eligibility remaining. He adds valuable depth to the linebacker room, which loses multiple contributors. He’s potentially a hidden gem, receiving mostly FCS offers during this cycle in addition to UTEP. He has one year of eligibility left.

Jamir Conn, CB (6’0 and 180 lbs), Southern Illinois – With a PFF grade in the mid 70s and 57 tackles to his name in 2024, Conn gives JMU a proven talent at CB to go along with Rodgers. The duo are significant FCS additions and should compete for playing time immediately. Conn, who was also offered by ODU, has two years of eligibility left.

Mekhi Rodgers, CB (6’2, 195 lbs), St. Francis – Rodgers posted a 72.3 PFF grade in nearly 500 snaps in 2024, recording 25 tackles and seven pass breakups. The former DIII star is a potential contributor for the Dukes. He has one year of eligibility remaining and should compete for a starting CB spot with Terrence Spence, Jordan Taylor, and Ray Williams graduating.

Lacota Dippre, TE (6’3 and 255 lbs), Charlotte – 24/7 Sports reported that Lacota Dippre is joining JMU. The defensive end had 25 tackles for Charlotte last season, including three tackles for loss. Interestingly, Dippre will play tight end for JMU in 2025. He began his Charlotte career at TE before becoming an impact player at DE in 2024.

Landon Ellis, WR (6’2, 185 lbs), Richmond – The Dukes added a star WR from the area. Ellis caught 50 passes for over 500 yards and 4 TDs in 2024, posting a 69.2 grade on PFF. That would’ve been the highest of any JMU wide receiver in 2024. Ellis is likely an immediate contributor, and with two years of eligibility left, he could become a Sun Belt star. Ellis stands at 6’2, giving him better size than most of the Dukes’ returning receivers.

Lexington “Kick-Fil-A” Matthews, P (6’5, 200 lbs), Savannah State – The D2 punter told JMU Sports News he’s joining the Dukes and will be enrolled for the spring semester. Matthews had 10 punts of 50+ yards in 2024, including a 70-yard boot. He’s a likely replacement for Ryan Hanson, who is graduating. Matthews has three years of eligibility left.

Transfer Departures

Tyshawn Wyatt, LT – Wyatt is the second LT to enter the portal after Jesse Ramil entered earlier this offseason. Wyatt was a three-year starter and an all-conference caliber player. He missed all of 2024 while rehabbing an injury suffered near the end of the 2023 season. He has one year of eligibility remaining. 

Eric O’Neill, DE – By far the biggest loss in this portal cycle, Eric O’Neill was a dominant defensive end. He had 13 sacks for the Dukes this fall, earning a PFF grade over 90. He graded out as a top-10 DE in the entire FBS, per PFF. He’ll draw significant P4 interest.

Darold DeNgohe, DT, Rutgers – This one stings. DeNgohe, a redshirt freshman, tallied 28 tackles and six tackles for loss in 2024. He’s a rising star at the position, and he’ll play in the Big Ten for Rutgers in 2025.

Jesse Ramil, OL, Mississippi State – JMU’s starting left tackle is headed to the SEC. Ramil came to JMU from St. Francis and was highly productive in his first FBS season. Joseph Simmons and Tyshawn Wyatt (if Wyatt returns) are internal candidates to start at LT in 2025.

Jamari Somerville, S – The defense back played at JMU in 2023 and 2024, but didn’t see the field. He should find increased playing time elsewhere.

Kalin Jean, DB – A veteran backup DB, Jean will play elsewhere for his final year of eligibility. It’s unlikely he would’ve played a major role in 2025.

Ke’Marion Baldwin, RB – The redshirt freshman announced on Instagram that he is entering the portal. He played in 6 games across two years and redshirted in 2023. He will have three years of eligibility. 

Maxwell Moss, WR, Hampton – Moss played two seasons for the Dukes, recording three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown. There were hopes he would blossom into an impact player, but Moss struggled to earn playing time in a crowded receiving room.

Chris Lofton, WR – The wide receiver came to JMU with high expectations (he was a highly regarded prospect from South Carolina), but he never received significant playing time. He’ll look for a spot where he can see the field more regularly.

Erick Harris, WR – Like Moss and Lofton, Harris will likely seek increased playing time elsewhere. 

Andrew VanSlyke, P – The Dukes backup punter hopped in the portal prior to the Dukes’ bowl win.

Transfer Portal Targets

These are players JMU has offered in the transfer portal. These aren’t additions, but rather players JMU is looking to add. We’ll try to update this list daily, at a minimum.

Braden Siders, DE (6’3 and 250 lbs), Wyoming – Siders posted 23.5 TFLs and 14 sacks over three seasons with Wyoming. He’s an athletic end who could dominate in the Sun Belt. He had a 73.2 PFF grade in 2024, among the best marks on Wyoming’s defense.

Tavian Coleman, DT (6’1 and 300 lbs), Texas State – Coleman posted a 70.8 PFF grade in 2024, as he’s an impressive run stopper. Would immediately work into JMU’s DT rotation, if he signs with the Dukes.

Gregory Allen Jones Jr., OL (6’4 and 315 lbs), West Alabama – JMU has offered Jones Jr. per The Portal Report. The DII product was an all conference and first team all-region player. He has two years of eligibility and holds offers from Akron & Tulsa among others. 

Cole Kozlowski, LB (6’2 and 230 lbs), Colgate – A star linebacker at the FCS level. Last season he was named first team All-Patriot League and was the third highest rated defender for Colgate per PFF with a 79.6 grade. Over 3 years at Colgate he racked up 201 tackles, 16 TFLs and 2 INTs. 

Davis Watson, OL (6’6 and 285 lbs), Cornell – A left tackle, Watson has one year of eligibility left. He would add depth at a position losing both Jesse Ramil and Tyshawn Wyatt.

Justin Stevenson, WR (6’1 and 190 lbs), Wyoming – The standout wide receiver caught 17 passes for 204 yards and three TDs in 2024 as a freshman. With three years left, it’s no surprise that UCF and Utah are among the other programs courting Stevenson.

Reginald Vick, WR (6’3, 190 lbs), Virginia Union – The DII standout posted over 1,000 receiving yards in 2024, and he’s received multiple P4 offers. 

Blaine Spires, DE (6’3, 230 lbs), Utah State – The Dukes offered Spires, according to The Portal Report. Spires started his career at Bowling Green before moving to Utah State. He had five sacks in 2023 and one sack in just four games in 2024. He was second on the team with 27 pressures in 2023.

Cedric Woods, CB (5’11, 185 lbs), Louisiana Tech – There aren’t many CBs in the portal with Woods’ experience. He’s played 2,481 snaps over five seasons with Louisiana Tech, but he’s redshirted once and 2020 doesn’t count against his eligibility, so he still has one year left. He has 112 career tackles and four INTs over 46 career games. 

Denzel Lowry, DT (6’1, 280 lbs), ODU – The interior defensive lineman earned Sun Belt Honorable Mention in 2023 and 2024. He finished with a whopping 51 tackles in 2024.

Simeon Evans, WR (6’1, 200 lbs), Sam Houston – Evans caught 43 passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. He’s a potential impact player at WR.

Parker Jenkins, RB (5’11, 200 lbs), Houston – The Houston native ran for 464 yards and three touchdowns in 2023 before seeing a reduced role under a new coaching staff in 2024. Would add RB depth for 2025, if he commits to JMU.

Jalen Emery, DB (5’9, 180 lbs), Houston – Emery recorded 26 tackles and seven pass breakups in 2022 before seeing a reduced role for the Cougars in 2023 and 2024 when they moved to the Big 12. He’s a potential G5 starter.

Melvin Siani, OT (6’6, 300 lbs), Temple – One of the best players JMU has offered, Siani has three years of eligibility remaining and is being courted by P4 teams, including Oklahoma State. Siani posted a 76.9 pass blocking grade in 2024, one of the top marks in the AAC. He could immediately play at LT or RT for JMU.

Cody Sigler, DT (6’3, 285 lbs), West Alabama – Sigler dominated at the Division II level, recording 37 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and six sacks for a 9-2 program. He’s been offered by a bunch of good G5 teams.

Sterling Berkhalter, WR (6’4, 200 lbs), Cincinnati – Berkhalter caught 11 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown in 2024. Prior to playing for Cincinnati, Berkhalter played for NC A&T. He has elite size, standing at 6’4. 

DJ Black, WR (6’3, 195 lbs), Limestone – The D2 prospect began his career as a walk-on at South Carolina before moving to the D2 ranks. He’s a productve WR, as he recorded 939 receiving yards and 11 TDs in 2024 at the D2 level. 

Dawan Martin, DE (6’4, 250 lbs), Youngstown State – Martin has posted PFF grades over 70 in three consecutive seasons. He’d add depth and talent at the edge position, if he ends up at JMU.

Former Portal Targets

These players were offered by JMU but will play elsewhere in 2025.

Malachi Hosley, RB (5’10, 205 lbs), Penn to Georgia Tech – This guy is a stud, rushing for over 1,000 yards in just 10 games in 2024.

Dejuan Lacy, RB (5’9, 200 lbs), Garden City CC to ECU – The JUCO prospect ran for over 1,000 yards last season.

Carson Kent, TE (6’4 and 245 lbs), Kennesaw State to Oklahoma – Kent visited JMU but ultimately opted to join an SEC team.

Sam Phillips, WR (5’9, 185 lbs), Chattanooga to Virginia Tech (?, he’s considered three schools, none are JMU) – Phillips is one of the best FCS wide receivers in the portal, as he averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game last season.

Isaiah Wadsworth, CB (6’0, 190 lbs), Wofford to Tulane – With 39 games played, Wadsworth would be a huge addition. He recorded 38 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one interception in 2024. He posted an incredible 85.9 PFF grade in 2024 across over 600 snaps. He’s a great pickup for Tulane.

Colin Weber, TE (6’4, 255 lbs), Charlotte to Rutgers – A productive tight end with over 500 receiving yards across the last two seasons, Weber posted an 81.2 PFF grade in 2023 before a dip in 2024. 

Levi Wentz, WR (6’2, 205 lbs), Albany to Kansas – The grad transfer out of Albany had 72.4 receiving grade for the Great Danes this past season, the best mark of all players. Wentz began his career at ODU and had 866 receiving yards the last two years with Albany.

Parker Mitchell, OL (6’4, 280 lbs), Richmond to Memphis – The Spiders’ starting right tackle has played over 1,000 career snaps and is a big get for the Tigers.

Chuck Nnaeto, DT (6’2, 295 lbs), Elon to Boston College – An interior defensive lineman, Nnaeto posted a 73.6 PFF grade for the Phoenix in 2024 across 409 snaps. He’s joining an ACC program.

Austin Gentle, OL (6’3, 295 lbs), Harvard to Memphis – With over 30 career starts, Gentle is a significant pickup for the Tigers.

Jude McCoskey, OT (6’8, 300 lbs), Indiana State to Tulane – Was one of the top blockers for Indiana State last season. He had an average PFF grade of 67.3 this season. The rising junior has two years of eligibility remaining for the Green Wave.

Jaylen Bowden, CB, NC Central to Minnesota – One of the best FCS defenders in 2024, Bowden posted an 81.1 PFF grade this season. He’s Big Ten bound.

VJ “Rocket” Wilkins, WR, Campbell to Boston College – The Dukes lost a competitive recruiting battle to a P4 foe.

Chrishon McCray, WR, Kent State to Michigan State – McCray caught 40 passes for 705 yards and nine TDs in the MAC in 2024. He’ll play for the Spartans in 2025.

Nevaeh Sanders, DE, NIU to Mississippi State – Sanders is a pass-rushing specialist, recording 4.5 sacks in just 96 snaps this season. He’s headed to the SEC.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications