JMU football faces extreme roster turnover ahead of the 2026 season, with ESPN determining that the Dukes have only 30% returning production from the 2025 team that made the College Football Playoff. Only two FBS teams (San Jose State and Southern Miss) have less returning production.

No pressure, Billy Napier, but fans expect a good season despite nearly every key piece of the 2025 team leaving in the portal or via graduation. Thankfully for the Dukes’ new coach, the team’s transfer portal haul looks solid on paper.

As JMU gets into its spring practices, let’s take a look at three major questions Napier and company need to answer.

Who will gain an early edge in QB competition?

With Alonza Barnett off to UCF and Matthew Sluka graduated, JMU needs a new starting quarterback. Four primary options enter spring practices with a chance to win the job, although the list will quickly get whittled down.

• Camden Coleman
• Arrington Maiden
• JC Evans
• Davi Belfort

Coleman and Evans spent 2025 with the Dukes, although neither played a major role. Coleman has starting experience in 2023 and 2024 at Richmond, while Evans has been used as a runner early in his JMU career.

Maiden and Belfort have exciting tools, with Maiden’s game being the more college-ready of the two.

I’d anticipate Coleman and Maiden being the two guys with the best shot of earning the gig, but the coaching staff needs to find someone capable of maintaining JMU’s high level of FBS play. If Evans or Belfort flash early in spring practices, they’ll get a chance. Coleman’s experience and Maiden’s athletic traits make them likely candidates to earn the job, but this is one of the more wide-open competitions in recent program history.

Who emerges along the defensive line?

Make no mistake, the Dukes’ Sun Belt success has been team-wide. But the defensive front has been perhaps the biggest reason why JMU has smoothly transitioned to the FBS.

Guys like James Carpenter, Mikail Kamara, Jalen Green, Eric O’Neill, Khairi Manns, Aiden Gobaira, Immanuel Bush, and Sahir West are among the many defensive linemen who have played at elite levels compared to G5 peers.

Who is ready to carry that torch moving forward?

Amar Thomas returns as an OLB/edge rusher who should play a major role, and the Dukes added a lot of bodies in the portal at edge. Kei’Trone Simpson (Lamar) is an elite run stuffer, while other edge guys like Mason Purham (Emory & Henry) and Danny Royster (University of Indianapolis) have high-end pass rushing juice.

The interior of the defensive line should be stout with Mychal McMullin returning and additions like Kevin Roberts (West Florida) and Rasheed Lovelace (Nicholls) among those joining the fray. Jakolbi Wilson, a D2 transfer over 300 lbs, has great tape against the run.

Can the special teams unit be special?

For all of JMU’s achievements in 2025, the special teams unit was often average to bad. It’s the most obvious area for growth in 2026.

Can kicker Morgan Suarez return to late-season form? He finished the 2025 season 14-for-19 on field goals, making 10 of his final 11 to hit those marks. He was just 4-for-9 from 40 yards or longer, though. Can he be more consistent on longer kicks?

Will Patrick Rea be a reliable option again at punter? He averaged over 40 yards per punt his past season, putting 33% of his kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. He’s been consistent throughout his college career, and the two podcast hosts having a strong year would increase the margin of error for the offense and defense.

Perhaps more importantly, how can JMU boost its return and coverage game?

The Dukes returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns during Chesney’s two seasons, and they’ve returned two blocked punts returned for TDs since moving to the FBS. But during those four FBS years, the Dukes have not had a traditional punt return TD.

They’ve struggled in recent seasons by allowing too many blocked kicks, too. JMU had three kicks blocked in 2025, ranking outside the top 100 nationally.

Given the massive roster turnover, JMU could benefit from the special teams unit picking up the slack as the offense and defense experience growing pains.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications