JMU football starts spring camp Monday. The Dukes, who went 9-4 (4-4 Sun Belt) in Bob Chesney’s first season as head coach, are hopeful for more in Chesney’s second season. With a solid group of returners, the Dukes have their sights set on a Sun Belt title and possible College Football Playoff berth.

Here’s a look at five questions facing the team in upcoming weeks.

Any hints about QB Alonza Barnett’s future?

Alonza Barnett isn’t expected to fully participate in spring football after suffering a knee injury in the regular-season finale in 2024. What’s his future with the program, and will we get any hints this spring?

As for his recovery, Chesney was vague about Barnett’s 2025 availability.

“The exact date I think is moving,” Chesney told the media earlier this week. “He feels like he’s a little bit ahead, so I feel like by the time we get to camp, he’ll be in a really good spot.”

Will Barnett actually be ready to compete for the starting job in fall camp? That seems unlikely.

The additions of both Matthew Sluka (Holy Cross/UNLV) and Camden Coleman (Richmond) in the transfer portal suggest JMU has its focus on other options. Each guy would’ve had a legitimate chance to beat out Barnett in an offseason competition, even if ABIII was fully healthy in the winter, spring, and summer. With Barnett missing offseason strength training and spring practice reps after an inconsistent 2024 campaign, Sluka (75.4 PFF grade in 2024 after receiving 90+ grades in 2022 and 2023) and Coleman (85.2 PFF grade in 2024) have a huge edge in earning the QB1 and QB2 jobs.

It’s also possible Barnett opts to transfer. He played decent football (68.6 PFF grade) in 2024 and could generate interest from other G5s or even some low-end P4 teams this spring, especially if he’s ready to compete for a job in the fall. With Coleman and JC Evans holding multiple years of remaining eligibility and both guys having bigger frames with more power rushing potential, it’s hardly a guarantee that Barnett would be JMU’s starter in 2026, which makes his outlook in Harrisonburg fuzzy.

Who will start at QB?

Realistically, this comes down to Sluka and Coleman, although Evans and Billy Atkins are still on the roster.

Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy (he’s staying at JMU after interviewing for an assistant job with the Jacksonville Jaguars) know Sluka well from his time at Holy Cross, and he gives JMU a running threat at the QB position that few teams can match. He’s rushed for over 3,000 yards in his career, reaching the end zone 39 times. His passing accuracy (only one season with a completion percentage over 60%) is a weakness, although he rarely throws interceptions (16 on over 700 pass attempts).

Coleman, who can also extend plays and gain yards with his legs, is perhaps the more polished passer of the two. He’s less experienced, however, and has yet to start a game against an FBS opponent. Sluka went 2-0 against P4 teams at UNLV last season before leaving the program over an NIL dispute. Still, Coleman has good accuracy (65% career completion percentage) and a strong arm and he’s 13-1 as a starter at the FCS level.

“Nothing is handed to anybody,” Chesney said. “They’ve all got to battle for it.”

Who gets cut?

With roster limits expected to hit the sport starting on July 1, JMU will need its group cut down to 105 players. The Dukes are currently over that number.

“There will be guys that we really like a lot that we feel really confident could help us that we just don’t have room for,” Chesney said. “That’s just gonna be the nature of the beast at every single program across the country.”

JMU won’t cut its top scholarship contributors, but there will be walk-ons with the potential to develop into future contributors who will be cut. That’ll lead to competitive (and meaningful) spring practices, as players fight to keep their spot on the team.

Can the front six/seven be elite?

There aren’t too many questions about JMU’s secondary, which returns CB Chauncey Logan, Nickel D.J. Barksdale, and safety Jacob Thomas, among others. But the Dukes lost a lot of talent along the defensive line and at linebacker.

DE Eric O’Neill, DE Khairi Manns, DT Chris Fitzgerald, DT Darold DeNgohe, LB Jacob Dobbs, and LB Taurus Jones are among the players no longer with the program due to graduation or transfer — O’Neill and DeNgohe both left for Rutgers. How will JMU replace their production, and will they need more help in the spring portal window?

Adding Maine transfer Xavier Holmes and Notre Dame transfer Aiden Gobaira helps shore up the defensive end position, but questions linger about the linebacker and interior defensive line spots. Who will step into contributing roles alongside projected starters like DT Immanuel Bush and LB Trent Hendrick? It’s an important spring for JMU’s defensive linemen and linebackers, and there’s ample opportunity for playing time.

Keep an eye on LB Trashon Dye and DE Sahir West as potential stars. The two redshirt freshmen are among the most athletic underclassmen on JMU’s roster.

Any NFL prospects?

JMU could benefit from sending guys to the NFL via the draft, not just undrafted free agency. It’s helpful in recruiting to prove to players you don’t need to transfer to a P4 school to turn professional, but JMU hasn’t had a player drafted since 2020 (Ben DiNucci).

Are there any legitimate NFL prospects on this year’s roster? Will any start to stand out during spring camp?

It seems unlikely any Dukes will be picked in the 2025 draft, although CB Terrence Spence and LB Jacob Dobbs could get serious looks. As for the 2026 draft, there’s potential there.

Bush and WR Nick DeGennaro are two of the team’s most likely 2026 NFL Draft selections, and guys like K Noe Ruelas, OL Patrick McMurtrie, QB Matthew Sluka (likely as an offensive gadget player) and RB Ayo Adeyi are others who could work their way into the mix. The Dukes are overdue to start turning productive players into NFL contributors.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications