JMU football starts fall camp this week, so let’s take an early look at the Dukes’ projected starters chart entering camp.

Note: This is our estimation of the Dukes’ starting lineup and not an official team depth chart.

Offense

QB – Cam Coleman or JC Evans
RB – George Pettaway
WR – Jeremiah Harrison
WR – Braeden Wisloski
WR – Corey Scott
TE – Cole Keller
RT – Deacon Rawls
RG – Evan Bushong
C – Zach Greenberg
LG – Tyler Brown
LT – DJ Fox

I’m flummoxed by the quarterback battle, which should be a two-horse race, but I feel confident that Pettaway will be the starting running back. It’ll likely be a committee approach at the position, however, with Seth Cromwell and Nick Herman among the first off the bench.

I also feel good about my three wide receiver picks, although Noah Grevious (VMI) and Michael Scott should compete for time, too. Smoke Collins is another returner with upside as a deep-play threat. I’m high on Wisloski, who quietly led the Dukes in receiving in each of the team’s final three games of 2025. He’s an underrated returner.

The offensive line has a good starting group and decent depth. Reserve tackle Daniel Michel is massive and a potential rotational piece. The same goes for ETSU transfer tackle Frankie Tinilau, who could push for a starting spot. Brown and Greenberg are Day 1 starters. 

The offense is loaded with playmakers, especially at wide receiver. The biggest questions for me entering camp are as follows:

• Who wins the starting QB job and how does that influence the offense’s playing style?
• Does the O-line have enough depth to navigate a 12-game season?
• Who handles short-yardage carries? Seth Cromwell, Trashon Dye, and Phoenix Dhongia are the primary candidates, with Cromwell by far the most experienced. Dye and Dhongia are great athletes, though. Could either of them push for immediate playing time?

When it comes to the quarterback position, Coleman has by far the most experience. He was 13-1 as a starter across two seasons at Richmond, and he redshirted in Harrisonburg last fall. Evans, however, has elite rushing ability and is the projected starter in Phil Steele’s annual preview magazine. Coleman is the safest on paper pick, but Evans’ speed and size give him an impressive ceiling if he’s up to the task as a passer.

Defense (3-3-5)

F – Kei’Trone Simpson
NT – Rasheed Lovelace
DT – Kells Bush
JACK – Amar Thomas
LB – Nakian Jackson
LB – Gannon Weathersby
CB – DJ Kelly
CB – Damier Minkah or Ken Willis
Star or nickel – KJ Flowe
SS – Javis Mynatt or TJ McGill
FS – Chase Regan or Seth Gathers

It’s hard to project a depth chart without knowing exactly the scheme Bala and company will run, but the Gators ran a defense that was in the 3-3-5/3-4 mold. Like most college defenses, it’s a defense with the ability to operate out of multiple looks and formations.

A defensive front of Simpson, Lovelace, and Bush should be dominant against the run. The trio is a roughly combined 900 lbs. Beef!

I’m also high on transfer defensive tackle Kevin Roberts, who was dominant at West Florida. He should at least work into the team’s rotation up front. Cole Webster and Jakolbi Wilson could do the same. 

On the flipside, the Dukes have the bodies to build out a speed rush package. Fast edges like Danny Royster and Mason Purham playing in clear pass-rush scenarios would make a lot of sense. JMU has enough defensive line depth to mimic 2025 by trotting out different packages for different situations.

Amar Thomas will start, and the JACK spot perfectly suits him. He’s dropped into coverage regularly throughout his JMU career, and he’s a good bit smaller than Simpson. He fits the hybrid DE/OLB position well.

Weathersby and Jackson are other obvious starters, but there should be significant competition at most other spots defensively, especially in the secondary. It’ll be an entertaining summer of camp battles.

I’m high on TJ McGill and Chase Regan and think both could earn starting time, but it’ll be a fight for every spot in the secondary. Toledo’s DJ Kelly should factor into the mix at cornerback. Mynatt can move around the defense, making him an invaluable portal addition.

To be elite, the Dukes need their returning stars to be great. If Thomas, Flowe, and Weathersby play well, JMU’s defense should be fine.

Here are major questions surrounding the unit:

• The likely starting edge rushers are best at stopping the run. Can they generate consistent pass rush on early downs when their speed rushers are on the bench?
• Do the Dukes trust their corners? Mynatt is an awesome run defender. Can they afford to leave corners one-on-one to bring him/others into the box, or will they regularly need his safety help?
• Can the linebackers dominate? JMU’s duo/trio of Jailin Walker, Taurus Jones, and Aiden Fisher was elite in 2023. Trent Hendrick and Gannon Weathersby were standouts last season, and Drew Spinogatti was a pleasant surprise. Jacob Dobbs was solid in 2024, although at times in 2024 and 2025 opponents picked on the Dukes’ linebackers in pass coverage. I love the unit’s depth this season, with guys like JT Hooten, Jayden Studio, and Lathan Croley behind the projected starters. If that unit is elite, especially in passing situations, the defense can afford some inconsistencies from the new-look secondary.

As for special teams, Patrick Rea (punter) and Morgan Suarez (kicker) are penciled in as starters. Look for Baylen Woodman to handle kickoff duties, and Mitchell Dietzel should be the starting long snapper. Punt returner and kickoff duties will likely feature an open competition. Michael Scott and Nick Herman are a pair of names we’d like to see in that return competition, given their speed and shiftiness. Wisloski is also a proven returner, if the Dukes don’t mind the injury risk of playing him on those units.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications