Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications

By Ben Hofer

JMU’s 2024 recruiting class is widely regarded as one of its best recruiting classes of all time. The roster is full of 3-star talents, according to 24/7 Sports, with perhaps the most underrated commitment being defensive back Chase Regan.

Regan recently received interest from Georgia Tech, and several Power 5 schools are closely monitoring him due to an incredible season with Bishop McDevitt in Pennsylvania. As a safety, Chase has recorded two interceptions, while adding 12 touchdowns and 700+ yards as a wide receiver.

When you couple those stats with an insane 4.28-second 40-yard dash time at Duke this summer, it’s no surprise that his list of offers continues to grow. However, amidst all the attention, we’ve learned that Chase is solidly committed to JMU. Regan tells me he plans to return to JMU twice more this season (for the ODU and App State home games) to experience the fan culture and see his future teammates.

Editor’s note: Thanks to Three Notch’d Brewing for their advertising support this season.

Breaking down the commitment

For Regan, the coaching staff played a pivotal role in his decision to commit to JMU. He was drawn to head coach Curt Cignetti’s trademark brutal honesty and the sincerity exhibited by the rest of the staff.

This aligns with what Daniel Ndukwe described, as he too felt genuinely wanted by JMU and appreciated the honest approach the coaches took. Despite having over 20 offers on the table, Regan mentioned that the only other visit comparable to his experience at JMU was at Penn State.

The comparison speaks volumes about Regan’s commitment to JMU, especially considering that he hails from Pennsylvania. Chase’s commitment is a huge win for JMU, and he stands a good chance of receiving substantial playing time early in his career, with Que Reid, Francis Meehan, and Josh Sarratt all senior safeties. The Dukes’ two rovers are also seniors.

Regan “prefers to play on the defensive side of the ball,” but he’s open to making an impact in any way possible. His speed makes him a possible immediate contributor on special teams as well.

As a safety, Regan effectively utilizes his elite 4.28 speed to quickly close the gap and make physical tackles at the line of scrimmage. On the offensive side of the ball, he straight up outruns defenders, sometimes even outrunning the throws from four-star Kentucky QB commit Stone Saunders, who is a borderline five-star prospect.

He flashes consistently throughout his midseason highlight reel.

Editor’s note: You can find our JMU football 2024 recruiting class tracker here.