2024 James Madison Dukes football team

2024 James Madison Dukes football
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Division	East Division
Record	4–0 (0–0 Sun Belt)
Head coach	Bob Chesney (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Dean Kennedy (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Lyle Hemphill (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Bridgeforth Stadium

2024 Sun Belt Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Georgia Southern		1	–	0					3	–	2
James Madison		0	–	0					4	–	0
Coastal Carolina		0	–	0					3	–	1
Marshall		0	–	0					2	–	2
Old Dominion		0	–	0					1	–	3
Appalachian State		0	–	1					2	–	2
Georgia State		0	–	1					2	–	2
West Division
Louisiana–Monroe		1	–	0					3	–	1
South Alabama		1	–	0					2	–	3
Louisiana		0	–	0					3	–	1
Arkansas State		0	–	0					2	–	2
Texas State		0	–	0					2	–	2
Southern Miss		0	–	0					1	–	3
Troy		0	–	1					1	–	4
Championship: December 7, 2024
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant As of September 29, 2024 Rankings from AP Poll

The 2024 James Madison Dukes football team will represent James Madison University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Dukes are led by Bob Chesney in his first year as the head coach. The Dukes will play home games at the Bridgeforth Stadium, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Preseason

Media poll

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Dukes were picked to finish second place in the East division.

Media poll (East division)
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Appalachian State	96 (12)
2	James Madison	79 (2)
3	Coastal Carolina	67
4	Georgia Southern	50
5	Marshall	49
6	Old Dominion	32
7	Georgia State	19

Offensive lineman Cole Potts and punter Ryan Hanson were awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offense and special teams, respectively. Offensive lineman Tyshawn Wyatt, defensive lineman Eric O'Neill, and cornerback Chauncey Logan were named to the second team.

Schedule

The football schedule was announced on March 1, 2024.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	8:00 p.m.	at Charlotte*	Jerry Richardson Stadium Charlotte, NC	ESPNU	W 30–7	15,614
September 7	6:00 p.m.	Gardner–Webb*	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA	ESPN+	W 13–6	24,570
September 21	12:00 p.m.	at North Carolina*	Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	ACCN	W 70–50	50,500
September 28	1:30 p.m.	Ball State*	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA	ESPN+	W 63–7	25,786
October 5	7:00 p.m.	at Louisiana–Monroe	Malone Stadium Monroe, LA	ESPNU
October 10	7:30 p.m.	Coastal Carolina	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA	ESPN2
October 19		at Georgia Southern	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA
October 26		Southern Miss	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA
November 9		Georgia State	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA
November 16		at Old Dominion	S.B. Ballard Stadium Norfolk, VA (Royal Rivalry)
November 23		at Appalachian State	Kidd Brewer Stadium Boone, NC
November 30		Marshall	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

Transfers

Outgoing
Player	Position	Destination
D'Angelo Ponds	CB	Indiana
Rykin Maxwell	WR	Murray State
Solomon Vanhorse	RB	Indiana
Sammy Malignaggi	RB	Campbell
Tyrique Tucker	DL	Indiana
Brent Austin	CB	USF
Elijah Sarratt	WR	Indiana
Tyler Stephens	OL	Indiana
Kaelon Black	RB	Indiana
Nick Kidwell	OL	Indiana
Ty Son Lawton	RB	Indiana
James Carpenter	DL	Indiana
Jailin Walker	LB	Indiana
Aiden Fisher	LB	Indiana
Carter Miller	OL	Louisiana–Monroe
Mikail Kamara	DL	Indiana
Zach Horton	TE	Indiana
Kaden Schickel	LS	Michigan State
Jordan McCloud	QB	Texas State
Aaron Gunn	OL	Duquesne
Collin Caroll	TE	Gardner–Webb
Ibrahim Barry	WR	Sussex County CC
Noah Holmes	LB	East Carolina
Seth Naotala	LB	Old Dominion
Taurus Jones	LB	TBD
Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji	DL	Withdrawn
Chauncey Logan	CB	Withdrawn
Tyshawn Wyatt	OT	Withdrawn

Incoming
Player	Position	Previous School
Khairi Manns	LB	Colorado
Ahmarian Granger	WR	Old Dominion
Rayquan Adkins	CB	Cincinnati
Jobi Malary	RB	Portland State
Chris Fitzgerald	DL	Youngstown State
Jordan Taylor	CB	Tusculum
Cam Ross	WR	UConn
Pat McMurtrie	OT	Holy Cross
Hunter McLain	OL	Virginia Tech
Brionne Penny	WR	San Diego State
Tyler Purdy	RB	Holy Cross
DJ Cotton Jr.	DL	West Virginia
Dylan Morris	QB	Washington
Terry Lockett Jr.	DL	Syracuse
Ja'kai Young	CB	Gardner–Webb
Chris Shearin	CB	UConn
Lloyd Summerall	DE	USF
Raymond Scott	LB	Fresno State
Eric O'Neill	DL	LIU
Logan Kyle	TE	Vanderbilt
George Pettaway	RB	North Carolina
Ayo Adeyi	RB	North Texas
Jesse Ramil	OT	Saint Francis (PA)
AJ Abbasi	DL	West Virginia State
Jacob Dobbs	LB	Holy Cross
Nakai Poole	WR	Mississippi State
Noe Ruelas	K	UConn

Roster

2024 James Madison Dukes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 0 Yamir Knight So WR 1 Cam Ross  Sr WR 2 Jayden Mines  So QB 5 Dylan Morris  Sr RB 6 George Pettaway  So RB 7 Ayo Adeyi Sr WR 8 Maxwell Moss So WR 9 Omarion Dollison Sr QB 10 Brett Griffis  So WR 10 Brionne Penny  Sr QB 11 Billy Atkins  Jr QB 12 JC Evans Fr WR 13 Troy Lewis  Jr QB 14 Alonza Barnett III  So TE 15 Kyi Wright  Sr WR 16 Desmond Green  Jr TE 17 Taylor Thompson Sr QB 18 Blake Kendall  So TE 18 Logan Kyle  Jr WR 19 Taji Hudson  Jr RB 20 Tyler Purdy  Sr WR 21 Chris Lofton  Fr RB 25 Wayne Knight  So RB 28 Jobi Malary Sr RB 29 Ke'Marion Baldwin  Fr TE 49 Ryder Post Fr OL 50 Quincy Jenkins Sr OL 52 Tyshawn Wyatt Sr OL 53 Hunter McLain  So OL 55 Riley Robell  Fr OL 56 JaKobe Campbell Fr OL 58 Tanner Morris  Sr OL 60 Carter Sweazie  So OL 64 Luke Popma Sr OL 66 Cole Potts Sr OL 67 Jacob Hohenshelt Fr OL 68 Griffin Hart  Fr OL 69 Breon Brown  Fr OL 70 Brett Davis  Jr OL 71 Deacon Rawls Fr OL 72 Josh Toner  Jr OL 73 Evan Bushong Fr OL 75 Kyle Lenhart  Fr OL 76 Pat McMurtrie  Sr OL 77 Jesse Ramil  Jr OL 78 Cameron Jones  Fr OL 79 Joseph Simmons  So TE 81 Gabriel Hollingsworth  Sr WR 83 Erick Harris  So TE 85 Jordan Funk Sr WR 88 Dylan Williams Fr TE 89 Josh Phifer  Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 0 Taurus Jones  Sr LB 1 Raymond Scott GS CB 2 Chauncey Logan Jr CB 3 Terrence Spence Sr LB 5 Trent Hendrick Jr S 6 Ray Williams  Sr S 7 Jacob Thomas Jr DL 8 Amar Thomas  So DL 9 Lloyd Summerall III  Sr S 10 Chris Shearin  Sr DL 11 Khairi Manns  Sr S 12 Kye Holmes  Jr CB 13 Jordan Taylor Sr NIC 14 KJ Flowe Fr DL 15 Immanuel Bush  Jr LB 17 Gannon Weathersby So S 18 Evan Spivey  Fr NIC 19 Ja'Kai Young  Sr S 21 Jamari Somerville  Fr S 22 Chase Regan Fr CB 23 Trevell Mullen  So S 24 Phillip Harris Fr S 26 Jahquil Batts  Jr LB 27 Jacob Dobbs  Sr CB 28 Tyjai Hopper Fr S 29 Tyler Brown Fr CB 30 Justin Eaglin  So CB 31 Antoine Booth  Jr NIC 32 DJ Barksdale So DL 33 Brian Snow  Sr NIC 34 Isaiah West  Fr S 35 Joshua Prince Fr CB 36 Milt Ferguson Fr CB 37 Jamaree Seldon  So S 38 Stephen Hollander  So NIC 39 Kalin Jean  Jr LB 40 Jackson Snyder  Fr S 41 George Lovelace Fr DL 42 Carter Banks  So LB 43 Matthew Channell  So DL 44 DJ Cotton Jr.  Fr LB 45 Trashon Dye Fr LB 46 Immanuel Ezeogu Fr S 47 Kevin Kabasele Fr DL 48 Greyson Cadd  So LB 51 Danny Reagan Fr LB 52 Jackson Hamil Fr LB 54 Brandon Fique  Jr DL 57 Cole Purdy Fr DL 59 Micah Pennix Fr DL 62 Ibraheem Ramadan Fr DL 90 Terry Lockett Jr.  Jr DL 91 Marcellus Nash Fr DL 92 Darold DeNgohe  Fr DL 93 Mychal McMullin  Fr DL 94 Spencer Toth  So DL 95 Sahir West Fr DL 97 Chris Fitzgerald Sr DL 98 Samson Ogunade  Fr DL 99 Eric O'Neill  Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 16 Noe Ruelas  Jr LS 40 Logan Ketcham Jr LS 43 Jack Mowrey  Fr P 48 Ryan Hanson  Sr K 93 Max Lipinski Fr K 95 Cristiano Rosa  So P 96 Andrew VanSlyke  Fr	Head coach Bob Chesney Coordinators/assistant coaches Dean Kennedy (Offensive coordinator / Quarterbacks) Lyle Hemphill (Defensive coordinator / Nickels) Drew Canan (Special teams coordinator / Tight ends) Chris Smith (Offensive line / run game coordinator) Anthony DiMichele (Safeties / recruiting coordinator) Eddie Whitley Jr. (Cornerbacks) Justin Harper (Wide receivers) Zach Sparber (Linebackers) Sam Daniels (Defensive line) David Sims Jr. (Running backs) Chris Zarkoskie (Assistant offensive line) Kyle Barnes (Nickels) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: September 27, 2024

Game summaries

at Charlotte

See also: 2024 Charlotte 49ers football team

James Madison Dukes at Charlotte 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Dukes	3	6	7	14	30
49ers	0	7	0	0	7

at Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

• Date: August 31
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: 0 miles per hour (0 km/h)
• Game attendance: 15,614
• Referee: Charles Lamertina
• TV announcers (ESPNU): Justin Kutcher (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (0:41) JMU – Noe Ruelas 43 yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 0:52; James Madison 3–0) Second quarter (8:09) CHAR – Isaiah Myers 26 yard pass from Max Brown, Kyle Cunanan kick (Drive: 6 plays, 64 yards, 3:05; Charlotte 7–3) (0:49) JMU – George Pettaway 33 yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, kick failed (Drive: 1 play, 33 yards, 0:05; James Madison 9–7) Third quarter (14:16) JMU – Omarion Dollison 73 yard pass from Alonza Barnett III, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:44; James Madison 16–7) Fourth quarter (14:15) JMU – Ayo Adeyi 8 yard run, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 3:12; James Madison 23–7) (1:10) JMU – George Pettaway 1 yard run, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 7 plays, 52 yards, 3:25; James Madison 30–7)

Statistics	JMU	CLT
First downs	16	17
Total yards	417	324
Rushing yards	198	131
Passing yards	219	193
Turnovers	2	3
Time of possession	28:18	31:42

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
James Madison	Passing	Alonza Barnett III	10/18, 219 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Alonza Barnett III	9 rushes, 89 yards
	Receiving	Omarion Dollison	2 receptions, 80 yards, TD
Charlotte	Passing	Max Brown	22/45, 193 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Terron Kellman	9 rushes, 76 yards
	Receiving	Sean Brown	6 receptions, 70 yards

Gardner–Webb

See also: 2024 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team

Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs at James Madison Dukes – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	3	3	0	6
Dukes	0	0	10	3	13

at Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Virginia

• Date: September 7
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
• Game attendance: 24,570
• Referee: Jeff Page
• TV announcers (FloSports): TBD

Game information

First quarter No scoring Second quarter (8:51) GWEB – Jay Billingsley 43 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 48 yards, 6:04; Gardner-Webb 3–0) Third quarter (10:30) JMU – Tyler Purdy 1 yard run, Noe Ruelas kick (Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:36; JMU 7–3) (7:14) JMU – Noe Ruelas 48 yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:48; JMU 10–3) (1:35) GWEB – Jay Billingsley 30 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 5:39; JMU 10–6) Fourth quarter (7:14) JMU – Noe Ruelas 26 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 5:21; JMU 13–6)

Statistics	GWEB	JMU
First downs	16	15
Total yards	269	285
Rushing yards	109	150
Passing yards	160	135
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	33:58	26:02

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Gardner–Webb	Passing	Tyler Ridell	17/30, 160 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Edward Saydee	22 rushes, 87 yards
	Receiving	Camden Overton	5 receptions, 65 yards
James Madison	Passing	Alonza Barnett III	14/22, 135 yards
	Rushing	George Pettaway	10 rushes, 84 yards
	Receiving	George Pettaway	4 receptions, 32 yards

at North Carolina

See also: 2024 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

James Madison Dukes at North Carolina Tar Heels – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Dukes	25	28	7	10	70
Tar Heels	14	7	17	12	50

at Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

• Date: September 21
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
• Game attendance: 50,500
• Referee: Riley Johnson
• TV announcers (ACCN): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst) and Morgan Uber (sideline)

Game information

First quarter JMU – Noe Ruelas 50-yard field goal, 13:36. Dukes 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 44 yards, 1:24. JMU – Jayden Mines 14-yard blocked punt return (Noe Ruelas pass to Jack Mowrey), 10:36. Dukes 11–0. UNC – John Copenhaver 35-yard pass from Jacolby Criswell (Noah Burnette kick), 8:12. Dukes 11–7. Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 2:19. UNC – Omarion Hampton 28-yard run (Noah Burnette kick), 4:08. Tar Heels 14–11. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:58. JMU – Omarion Dollison 69-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III (Noe Ruelas kick), 3:36. Dukes 18–14. Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:32. JMU – Alonza Barnett III 3-yard run (Noe Ruelas kick), 1:23. Dukes 25–14. Drive: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:11. Second quarter UNC – Bryson Nesbit 34-yard pass from Jacolby Criswell (Noah Burnette kick), 14:33. Dukes 25–21. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:50. JMU – Cam Ross 6-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III (Noe Ruelas kick), 10:20. Dukes 32–21. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:13. JMU – Taylor Thompson 13-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III (Noe Ruelas kick), 8:45. Dukes 39–21. Drive: 2 plays, 69 yards, 0:29. JMU – Alonza Barnett III 27-yard run (Noe Ruelas kick), 7:14. Dukes 46–21. Drive: 1 play, 27 yards, 0:10. JMU – Terrence Spence 33-yard interception return (Noe Ruelas kick), 0:56. Dukes 53–21. Third quarter UNC – Noah Burnette 42-yard field goal, 11:35. Dukes 53–24. Drive: 9 plays, 50 yards, 3:25. JMU – Dylan Williams 7-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III (Noe Ruelas kick), 9:16. Dukes 60–24. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:19. UNC – Omarion Hampton 15-yard run (Jacolby Criswell pass to Bryson Nesbit), 7:11. Dukes 60–32. Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 2:01. UNC – Davion Gause 34-yard blocked punt return (pass failed), 3:08. Dukes 60–38. Fourth quarter JMU – Noe Ruelas 44-yard field goal, 13:28. Dukes 63–38. Drive: 10 plays, 50 yards, 4:40. UNC – Omarion Hampton 2-yard run (pass failed), 11:00. Dukes 63–44. Drive: 7 plays, 78 yards, 2:19. JMU – Logan Kyle 11-yard pass from Alonza Barnett III (Noe Ruelas kick), 4:26. Dukes 70–44. Drive: 7 plays, 33 yards, 4:53. UNC – Jordan Shipps 5-yard pass from Jacolby Criswell (pass failed), 1:18. Dukes 70–50. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 3:01.

Statistics	JMU	UNC
First downs	25	30
Total yards	611	616
Rushing yards	223	141
Passing yards	388	475
Turnovers	1	5
Time of possession	34:04	25:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
James Madison	Passing	Alonza Barnett III	22/34, 388 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	Alonza Barnett III	13 rushes, 99 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Omarion Dollison	3 receptions, 125 yards, TD
North Carolina	Passing	Jacolby Criswell	28/48, 475 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Omarion Hampton	13 rushes, 139 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Kobe Paysour	4 receptions, 93 yards

Ball State

See also: 2024 Ball State Cardinals football team

Ball State Cardinals at James Madison Dukes – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Dukes	0	0	0	0	0

at Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Virginia

• Date: September 28
• Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BALL	JMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
James Madison	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Louisiana–Monroe

See also: 2024 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team

James Madison Dukes at Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Dukes	0	0	0	0	0
Warhawks	0	0	0	0	0

at Malone Stadium • Monroe, Louisiana

• Date: October 5, 2024
• Game time: TBD
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	JMU	ULM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
James Madison	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Louisiana–Monroe	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving