JMU football begins fall camp on Tuesday.

The Dukes have a new coaching staff, and they’ll have a new starting QB in Week 1. After an offseason of change, JMU hopes to quickly build chemistry in advance of Billy Napier’s first game as the Dukes’ head coach.

Here are three major questions facing the Dukes during camp.

Who wins the starting QB job?

JMU has three starting options: JC Evans, Camden Coleman, and Arrington Maiden.

Evans and Coleman generated the most buzz this spring, and I’d be shocked if one of those two isn’t the Week 1 starter. Phil Steele has Evans as QB1, and he’s been spot on in recent years. Coleman has all the meaningful experience, though, going 13-1 as a starter at Richmond.

Both players will join an offensive unit with a good line and high-end G6 skill players. Whoever gets the job is set up to win games. So who will get the gig?

If it’s Evans, expect designed QB runs to be a big part of the offense. If it’s Coleman, the short and intermediate passing game should be a strength, especially with wide receivers who are good after the catch.

New offensive coordinator Cam Aiken has options, but it’s about time to make an official decision on who gets to lead the offensive attack. The Dukes can’t afford to have two or three guys getting first-team reps deep into camp, not with a solid Liberty team as the season opener.

What’s the defensive identity?

The Dukes’ FBS defenses have used elite front sevens to overwhelm opponents. They’ve ranked in the top 20 nationally in sacks in each of their four FBS seasons. They’ve also ranked in the top five nationally in rushing defense in three of four seasons.

JMU has achieved these results despite having different coordinators in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Robert Bala inherits the unit in 2026, and the fanbase will expect similar production. Is that possible?

On paper, the Dukes’ secondary has the most questions of any defensive position group. The front seven, however, looks built to stop the run.

There’s huge size up front, with Kells Bush and Rasheed Lovelace both over 300 pounds as projected starting defensive tackles. There’s some depth at the position, too, with Kevin Roberts coming in from West Florida. Edge rushers Amar Thomas and Kei’Trone Simpson are both stout against the run, too.

Of note, however, is that returning defensive tackle Mychal McMullin is not listed on the team’s online roster. A rising redshirt junior, McMullin played in all 14 games last season and had a sack in the Sun Belt title game. His status is an important early camp question, as he’s a likely contributor with All-Conference upside when available.

But where are the sacks coming from?

If speed rushers like Mason Purham and Danny Roster pop and Thomas grows in a bigger role, there’s reason to believe the Dukes could again be a top-25 team in sacks. If they don’t, however, JMU might need its secondary to step up more than in years past on passing downs. Given the questions and inexperience in the secondary, that’s concerning.

Who replaces Wayne Knight?

The obvious answer is George Pettaway, right? Well, I’m somewhat skeptical that it’s a one-for-one replacement.

Pettaway is fantastic. He ran for 980 yards in 2024 and was a projected starter in 2025 before injuries pushed him aside and thrust Knight into a feature role. Knight is now at UCLA with Bob Chesney.

And while Pettaway should stack up plenty of stats if he’s healthy, can he be a home-run hitter? Knight ranked first nationally with eight runs of 40 or more yards last season. Pettaway has never had a rush over 40 yards in his career.

Pettaway is an All-Sun Belt performer when healthy, but he’s a different back than Knight. He’s not built to bounce off tackles like Knight, who had a rare combination of strength and speed for an undersized Group of Six back. Pettaway is shifty, and he has what it takes to hit home runs, but he didn’t hit them in 2024 or 2025. Can he take that next step and turn 15-yard runs into 50-yard game-altering plays?

If he doesn’t, it’ll be up to guys like Drake transfer Nick Herman and the quarterbacks to create explosives in the running game. JMU’s 2025 offensive success was predicated on rushing explosives — it led the nation with 36 runs of 20 yards or more. Are those same explosive plays available in 2026 with Knight in California?

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications