We love Phil Steele at JMU Sports News. His annual college football preview magazine brings us tremendous joy before (and at times, during) the season. 

He’s also proven to be adept at projecting JMU football starting quarterbacks. He had Alonza Barnett beating out Jordan McCloud in 2023. I didn’t see that coming — although McCloud quickly took over the job. Steele also had Barnett winning the job in 2025 over Matthew Sluka and Camden Coleman. I was stunned 

My projected leader in the clubhouse after spring ball this year? Coleman, the experienced and reliable Richmond transfer. Well, Steele once again has me scratching my head. 

He has redshirt sophomore JC Evans as the Dukes’ starting QB. This comes after his conversation with head coach Billy Napier overviewing the roster. 

Consider me intrigued. 

Is Steele right?

We’ll know if Steele is correct in September, but there’s reason to believe his projection. He, of course, spoke with Napier about the position. 

And if we think back to the abbreviated spring game, Evans trotted out with what looked like the first-team offense. He was out there throwing the ball to star transfer wide receiver Corey Scott for 50 yards. Others on the “gold” offense included RBs George Pettaway and Nick Herman, offensive linemen Tyler Brown and Zach Greenberg, and tight end Cole Keller. Wide receivers Jeremiah Harrison and Braeden Wisloski were also on that team. 

It sure looked like the first-team offense, and the likely first-team defense — headlined by Amar Thomas, KJ Flowe, and Gannon Weathersby — was on team purple. 

Between Steele and Evans’ spring game teammates, it’s easy to speculate that Evans is a decent summer camp away from starting Week 1 against Liberty. Given his size and athleticism, if Evans has truly transformed his passing from his freshman season, the path to him being an elite Sun Belt QB isn’t hard to imagine.

What to expect in camp

You’ll likely see headlines and online chatter about the Dukes feeling like they can win with four quarterbacks — Davi Belfort and Arrington Maiden being the other two. That’s all fine and dandy, but it’s not how fall camp works. 

JMU will immediately need to pick a guy (or two, at most) and split the first-team practice reps accordingly. The Dukes love their skill players, including wide receivers Corey Scott and Jeremiah Harrison, both transfer additions. For them to develop chemistry with the new quarterback before Week 1 against Liberty, which is not a guaranteed victory, reps in August camp are crucial. 

JMU can’t afford to split reps between four guys, and Napier has been a coach for long enough to recognize the importance of giving his starter a full practice workload. 

Evans has thrown three career college passes. If he’s the guy, he needs passing reps with the first team. If Coleman wins the job, he’ll need the reps to remove rust after not seeing the field in 2025 during a redshirt season. The same philosophy is true if Belfort/Maiden shock us all and win the gig. 

JMU has players with significant 2025 game reps at running back, receiver, tight end and along the offensive line. The same is not true at QB. 

The Dukes might not publicly declare a starter until late August, but the team will be aware of the top dog early in camp. And from reading the tea leaves, it looks like JC Evans has the inside track to the job. 

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications