With a mandatory NCAA dead period (coaches can’t contact recruits in person) ending, schools like JMU are about to bring plenty of players to campus for visits. The Dukes have a packed few days ahead, as they try to bolster their roster ahead of the 2025 season.

Here’s another edition of our “JMU football transfer portal intel.”

Upcoming visitors

Joey Zelinksy, a defensive end from Eastern Michigan, will visit JMU this weekend. He has 67 tackles and 11.5 TFLs combined over the last two seasons. He had two TFLs, his 2024 season-high, in a loss to Washington. At 6-foot-4 and 250 lbs with three seasons of playing experience at the G5 level, Zelinksy would likely work into JMU’s defensive end rotation in 2025 if he commits to join the Dukes. Texas State, Memphis, USF, and Coastal Carolina are among the other programs to offer him. He’s one of the top targets on campus over the next few days.

Villanova WR Jaylan Sanchez is among this weekend’s visitors. Sanchez has 66 catches for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns over the last two seasons at the FCS level. At 6-feet and 200 lbs, Sanchez has above average size and would immediately compete for playing time. He has good ball skills and is particularly adept at creating chunk plays. He’s received interest across the G5, including from high-powered passing attacks like Texas State and Western Kentucky.

Jake Russell, a Valparaiso offensive tackle, will visit JMU this week. Russell has three years of eligibility remaining and posted a 59 PFF grade in 2024 over 600+ snaps. He’s a particularly talented pass blocker at 6’4 and 295 lbs, posting four games with a pass-blocking grade above 85 on PFF. He could help replace Tyshawn Wyatt and Jesse Ramil at left tackle.

Gregory Allen Jones (6’4, 315 lbs) also plans to visit JMU this weekend, as he’ll be in town Sunday. The West Alabama transfer offensive tackle has received interest across the FCS and Group of Five, and he has two years of eligibility remaining.

Valdosta State offensive tackle Jerermiah Mawali will visit JMU this week, per The Portal Report. Mawali is a 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman drawing G5 and FCS interest. He has one year of eligibility left.

Cornell tackle Davis Watson (6’6, 285 lbs) also plans to visit this weekend, per The Portal Report. Watson, a graduate transfer, has played over 800 career snaps per PFF. He’s battled injuries, but could be a valuable depth piece at tackle. Louisiana Tech and Western Michigan also offered Watson.

UNC QB Michael Merdinger will visit JMU this weekend, according to 24/7 Sports. Merdinger, a true freshman in 2024, would add depth to the Dukes’ QB room. He’s a promising prospect, as a former 3-star recruit from Florida, but he’s only thrown 12 career passes. Merdinger could be a developmental prospect for the Dukes with high upside, although it’s hard to say he’d be in a competition with Alonza Barnett for the starting job in 2025.

General notes

JMU will come out of this weekend with increased depth at left tackle. The Dukes are prioritizing the position with Wyatt and Ramil leaving, and we’d expect them to land a commitment from a tackle or two in the very near future given the group of visitors this weekend.

The Dukes are looking at quarterbacks, but there hasn’t been much noise about them adding a potential replacement for Alonza Barnett. This means that either 1) Barnett is expected to be healthy in time for the start of the 2025 season after suffering a significant knee injury at the end of the 2024 season or 2) the Dukes are quietly recruiting quarterbacks. Former Holy Cross and UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka has still yet to announce a transfer home, as has former Holy Cross quarterback Joe Pesansky. Both are potential JMU targets, given their familiarity with offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy.

There are several other uncommitted Holy Cross transfers worth keeping an eye on, including safety Jake Jarmolowich, running back Jordan Fuller, and tight end Jacob Petersen. All three would receive ample playing time for the Dukes in 2025, if they choose to rejoin Chesney’s staff.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications