It’s May 9, and JMU football has added a lot through the portal this spring. On paper, JMU looks like a Sun Belt title contender.

So what might a way-too-early depth chart projection look like? Here’s our best estimate of how the Dukes might look in Week 1, as of now. We’d expect some projected changes throughout the summer, of course, but this is a decent estimate of how JMU will look on paper come Week 1.

Editor’s note: This is our projection of JMU’s depth chart. We haven’t used any inside information to project this depth chart, and it’s just an estimation of what the Dukes might do come late August. This is NOT an official team depth chart.

Starting offense

Quarterbacks

QB1: Matthew Sluka (6’3 and 220 lbs, R-SR)
QB2: Camden Coleman (6’3 and 220 lbs, JR)
QB3: Alonza Barnett (6’0 and 207 lbs) or JC Evans (6’5 and 211 lbs)

You might be wondering why in the world would Alonza Barnett be QB3?? JMU’s starter last year, Barnett injured his knee in the Dukes’ regular-season finale against Marshall. He’s still recovering from the injury, and it’s a possibility he redshirts the 2025 season to preserve a year of eligibility (he could likely receive a medical redshirt from the NCAA). Even if he doesn’t redshirt, he might not be fully cleared for Week 1 and will be a step behind in the QB battle.

Sluka comes to JMU after a great career at Holy Cross and a tumultuous stint at UNLV. Sluka helped the Rebels start undefeated with a pair of Power Four wins in 2024 before sitting out the rest of the season because of an NIL dispute.

He knows JMU’s coaches well, having found tremendous success under Bob Chesney, OC Dean Kennedy and OL coach Chris Smith while playing at the FCS level. Sluka had 46 passing TDs (only nine INTs) and 20 rushing TDs over the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Holy Cross. Passing accuracy is a concern, however, as he’s completed over 60% of his passes in just one of his five college seasons.

Coleman, a Richmond transfer, originally planned to play for a different program in 2025. But an offensive coordinator change reopened his commitment and JMU came into the mix late. He’s worked with transfer wide receivers Landon Ellis and Nick DeGennaro at Richmond, among the many reasons he has a real chance to earn the job over Sluka. Coleman has completed over 64% of his passes in each of his two seasons as a Richmond standout. He’s a better pure passer than Sluka.

Sluka gets the nod because of his Holy Cross ties.

Running backs

RB1: Ayo Adeyi (5’8 and 193 lbs, R-SR) or George Pettaway (5’10 and 200 lbs, R-JR)
RB2: Jobi Malary (5’11 and 236 lbs, R-SR) or Jordan Fuller (6’ and 230 lbs, R-SR)
RB3: Wayne Knight (5’7 and 184 lbs, R-JR)

This room is deep. Splitting carries will be a challenge, but Adeyi and Pettaway are both Power Four caliber backs with 1,000-yard potential. Adeyi missed most of last season with a foot injury after transferring in from North Texas, while Pettaway ran for 980 yards and five scores for the Dukes in 2024. The UNC transfer also caught 24 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. It’s a moderate surprise he wasn’t poached by a P4 team this offseason.

Malary and Fuller are both big-bodied RBs (they’re each 230+ lbs) who should handle the majority of the short-yardage work. Of note, however, is that each RB can break long runs. They should be factors in the offense, since they’re more than just short-yardage backs. Fuller comes to JMU with 44 career rushing TDs during his time at Holy Cross.

Knight is a third-down back with good speed and elusiveness who could also play a role on special teams. 

Wide receivers

WR(X): Isaiah Alston (6’4 and 205 lbs, R-SR)
WR2 (X): Landon Ellis (6’3 and 185 lbs, JR)

WR(Z): Nick DeGennaro (6’1 and 190 lbs, R-SR)
WR2 (Z): Za’Ron Collins (6’2 and 170 lbs, R-SO)

WR(slot): Jaylan Sanchez (6’ and 200 lbs, SR)
WR2(slot): Michael Scott (5’9 and 160 lbs, FR)

There’s a lot to like about this group, which includes five transfers and a true freshman (Michael Scott). Alston, an Army and Iowa State transfer, has size (6’4) and big-play potential. Ellis and DeGennaro rarely drop passes and are ideal possession receivers who run crisp routes. Collins is a Tusculum transfer with elite speed, while Sanchez is a bigger slot with good FCS production (Villanova). Scott is shifty and drew rave reviews during spring ball.

This position group is simply better than JMU’s 2024 unit, even with Yamir Knight leaving for SMU and Cam Ross departing for UVA. The Dukes are deeper and have more reliable hands in 2025.

Tight ends

TE1: Logan Kyle (6’3 and 233 lbs, R-SR)
TE2: Josh Phifer (6’6 and 240 lbs, R-SO) or Lacota Dippre (6’4 and 275 lbs, R-SO)

The tight end group is a bit of a wild card, as the guys listed have loads of potential but not a ton of proven experience outside of Kyle. JMU doesn’t need a lot of receiving production from this unit, given the increased depth at WR. Dippre played DE at Charlotte, but he’s played TE before and his brother was recently signed as an undrafted free agent by the Patriots at TE.

Offensive line

LT1: Joseph Simmons (6’6 and 308 lbs, R-JR)
LT2: James Pogorelc (6’8 and 300 lbs, R-JR)

LG1: Carter Sweazie (6’2 and 324 lbs, R-JR)
LG2: Josh Toner (6’3 and 323 lbs, R-SR)

C1: Zach Greenberg (6’5 and 305 lbs, R-SR)
C2: Kyle Davis (6’4 and 302 lbs, R-SR)

RG1: Riley Robell (6’3 and 290 lbs, R-SO)
RG2: JaKobe Campbell (6’3 and 300 lbs, R-FR)

RT1: Patrick McMurtrie (6’5 and 303 lbs, GR)
RT2: Cam McNair (6’5 and 325 lbs, SR)

The offensive line looks respectable, and Toner’s ability to play both guard positions well really helps with the depth. Greenberg also has experience at guard. Freshman tackle Trent Wilson as well as redshirt sophomore tackle Griffin Hart are both capable of earning time, too. Pogorelc (Stanford/Duke) and McNair (Holy Cross) are nice additions for tackle depth.

This unit should be a strength of the team in 2025, although keeping Sweazie and Robell healthy is important.

Starting defense

Defensive line

DE: Aiden Gobaira (6’5 and 250 lbs, R-SO) or Turner Schmidt (6’4 and 250 lbs, SO)
DE2: William Robinson (6’5 and 275 lbs, R-SO)

DT: Immanuel Bush (6’1 and 315 lbs, R-SR)
DT2: Kells Bush (6’3 and 310 lbs, R-JR)

DT: Mychal McMullin (6’1 and 285 lbs, R-SO) or Andrew Taddeo (6’2 and 275 lbs, SR)
DT2: Terry Lockett (6’2 and 280 lbs, R-SR) or Robinson

DE: Xavier Holmes (6’2 and 235 lbs, R-SR) or Sahir West (6’4 and 253 lbs, R-FR)
DE2: Amar Thomas (6’1 and 251 lbs, R-JR)

This group is stacked, thanks to a big portal haul. Holmes, Taddeo, Schmidt and Robinson were all FCS standouts with high motors and production levels. Robinson, a Holy Cross product, can play both defensive end or tackle given his size at roughly 280 lbs. Schmidt and Holmes are both really gifted edge rushers who do well to stop the run and create pressure in the passing game.

Gobaira is a wild-card, as he comes to JMU after a Notre Dame career marred by injuries. The Virginia native has great physical tools and could be an impact player if healthy. Immanuel Bush should handle the nose tackle duties, with LSU/Louisiana Tech transfer Kells Bush (no relation) a worthy backup.

We expect West to be a force after watching him in the Boca Raton Bowl and hearing good things about his play this spring. He’s a potential star.

Could Thomas move to LB or play a hybrid role? He dropped into coverage on 14.5% of his snaps last year, per PFF. His coverage grade (62.5) exceeded both his pass rushing (58.7) and run defense (54.2) grades. We’d like to see JMU use him creatively as an OLB/edge to keep teams off balance.

Linebackers

LB: Trent Hendrick (6’0 and 231 lbs, SR)
LB2: Jayden Studio (6’1 and 225 lbs, SO) or Drew Spinogatti (6’1 and 230 lbs, JR)

LB: Gannon Weathersby (5’10 and 206 lbs, JR)
LB2: JT Kouame-Yao (6’0 and 215 lbs, SR) or Trashon Dye (5’11 and 220 lbs, R-FR)

This group looks a whole lot better than it did at the start of spring ball. The additions of Spinogatti (Holy Cross) and Studio (Kent State) gives the Dukes improved depth at the position. The starters should be impactful, while the newcomers add valuable depth. Spinogatti and Studio combined for over 100 tackles last season.

Weathersby is due for a breakout season after recording 3.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery in his lone start in 2024 (Boca Raton Bowl win over WKU). Kouame-Yao has great ball skills and should play well as an athletic LB with safety-like ability.

Dye, a redshirt freshman, is an incredible athlete who should break into the rotation sooner rather than later.

The secondary

CB: Mekhi Rodgers (6’2 and 195 lbs, SR)
CB2: Elijah Culp (5’11 and 190 lbs, R-SR)

Nickel: DJ Barksdale (5’9 and 177 lbs, JR)
Nickel2: KJ Flowe (5’10 and 168 lbs, SO)

S: Jacob Thomas (6’1 and 217 lbs, SR)
S2: Chase Regan (6’0 and 187 lbs, SO) or TJ McGill (6’0 and 185 lbs, R-SO)

S: Curtis Harris-Lopez (6’1 and 205 lbs, R-SR)
S2: Kye Holmes (5’11 and 190 lbs, R-SR) or Tyler Brown (5’11 and 188 lbs, SO)

CB: Chantz Harley (6’1 and 195 lbs, R-SR)
CB2: Justin Eaglin (6’1 and 179 lbs, R-JR) or Ken Willis (5’11 and 190 lbs, JR)

Don’t be surprised if Culp ultimately earns a starting spot at cornerback, as the Charlotte transfer received major P4 interest during the offseason before ending up at JMU. The safety and nickel rooms are led by JMU returns, although Curtis Harris-Lopez (Holy Cross) figures to earn a starting nod next to Thomas to begin the season.

This might be JMU’s most athletically gifted secondary since 2017, when the Dukes had guys like Jimmy Moreland, Rashad Robinson, Raven Greene, D’Angelo Amos, and Jordan Brown.

Losing Chauncey Logan to Memphis stings, but the addition of Culp and Willis (Cincinnati) helps make up for Logan’s departure.

Special teams

LS: Logan Ketcham (6’0 and 225 lbs, SR) or Josiah Kennard (6’2 and 230 lbs, R-SR)
K: Morgan Suarez (5’10 and 180 lbs, R-JR)
P: Patrick Rea (6’3 and 195 lbs, R-JR)
KR: George Pettaway and Braeden Wisloski (5’9 and 185 lbs, R-JR)
PR: Wisloski

The special teams unit has more questions than expected with placekicker Noe Ruelas and punter Lexington Matthews entering the portal this spring. Look for Maryland WR transfer Braeden Wisloski to play a big role in the return game, and the additions of Rea (Louisiana Tech) and Suarez (FAU) help shore up the kicking game.

Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications