Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications
Written by Bennett Conlin
It’s not always easy to keep track of the transfer portal season, so we created this page as a place to monitor players joining (and leaving) JMU football over the offseason. We will update this page regularly, and will aim to provide a more detailed analysis of transfer and departure additions in additional articles.
According to Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, JMU expects most, if not all, of the players to play in the portal in the program’s first bowl game. DL Mikail Kamara and OL Carter Miller appear to have opted out of the Armed Forces Championship Game on December 23 according to Dave Riggert. All other JMU players are expected to play in the portal.
Transport of returnees
These players entered the portal, but ultimately decided to stay at JMU.
Chauncey Logan, CB – Logan, a two-year starter at JMU, played in 10 games in 2022 and 12 this season, racking up a career-high 59 tackles and two INTs as the Dukes’ CB1. It’s an important return, as he’ll likely be a starter for a defense that’s expected to be subject to significant turnover. Logan’s junior season will come with a lot of individual buzz.
Transfer add-ons
Jesse Rammell, OL, St. Francis – Over his three years in college, Rammell appeared in 20 total games, four in his freshman year, seven in 2022, and 10 in 2023. The Binghamton, New York, native will have the opportunity to be part of the OL after some potential departures.
Transfer of departures
Curt Cignetti, HC – The Dukes’ head coach is reportedly leaving JMU for Indiana. He went 52-9 as JMU’s head coach.
Coaches Mike Shanahan, Bryant Haines and Tino Sunseri -JMU’s OC, DC and QBs coach follow Cignetti to Indiana. All three coaches have been instrumental in JMU’s recent success and player development, especially Shanahan and Sunseri with the Dukes’ offense and quarterback play.
Other coaches like DL coach Pat Kuntz And Strength coach Derek OwingsThey leave too.
Elijah Sarratt, WR – The 1,000-yard receiver has entered the portal. After transferring to JMU from St. Francis, he demolished Sun Belt defenses en route to catching 74 passes for 1,076 yards and eight touchdowns. He mentioned that JMU is still an option, but with the recent ruling in favor of multi-time transfers like Sarratt, he is testing the transfer portal waters.
Tyler Stevens, OL – The 6-5, 306-pound junior offensive lineman played in 35 games for the Dukes during his career. Stevens was a versatile lineman who played left tackle, left guard, and right tackle.
Kaylon Black, RB – The Dukes’ leading haste announced as he entered the gate. Black started 11 games, played in all 12 games last season and ran for 594 yards on 4.5 yards per carry. For his career, he rushed for 1,262 yards on 5 yards per carry and 10 total touchdowns. He enters the portal with two years of eligibility remaining.
Tyshawn White, OL – JMU’s starting left tackle played in 34 games for the Dukes during his career and became an excellent contributor on the offensive line. He has the fifth power talent.
Caden Shekel, LS -The long snapper started by the Dukes is in the portal.
James Carpenter, DL – The heart and soul of the defensive line, Carpenter joined the Dukes in 2019. Since then, he has racked up 136 tackles, 28 TFLs and 11.5 sacks with two interceptions and 11 pass deflections on the line. His inside skills allowed players like Mikael Kamara and Jalen Green to have fun outside by rushing the passer. The All-Sun Belt second team player enters the portal as a graduate transfer and could play immediately.
Zach Horton, TE – An excellent blocker and solid receiver, Horton has six TDs for the Dukes in 2023. He is one of the underrated stars in JMU’s offense. ESPN reported Horton’s addition to the portal.
Michael Camera, DE – Kamara enters the portal with two years of eligibility remaining (he missed 2021 due to injury and has an additional year due to the coronavirus). The Ashburn, Va., native played in 23 games over three seasons, racking up 82 tackles, 26.5 TDs and 13.5 sacks. Kamara set career highs in TFLs (17.5), sacks (6.5), and forced fumbles (4) last season.
Kamara chose to withdraw from the bowl game.
Desmond Green, WR – The wide receiver was not a major contributor for the Dukes, and he joined the portal with two years of eligibility remaining.
Jordan McCloud, QB – The Sun Belt Player of the Year, who has accounted for more than 3,700 yards and 40 total touchdowns, will enter the transfer portal. He confirmed his intention to enter the portal via social networking sites.
Carter Miller, OL – Miller, a redshirt junior offensive lineman, started nine games along the offensive line in 2023. He has a bright future at the position.
Miller pulled out of the bowl game.
Brent Austin, CB – A rotational playmaker, Austin has made 12 tackles and had an interception returned for a TD this season.
Aiden Fisher, LB – Fisher developed into a standout player for the Dukes in 2023, recording a team-best 91 tackles with seven pass breakups and a blocked kick. Fisher is an elite athlete, and he looked like a power-five player throughout the 2023 campaign.
Jaylen Walker, LP -Walker started 30 career games for the Dukes and was one of the best linebackers in the Sun Belt. He has struggled with injury this year but when he returned to the field his impact was immediate. In his career at JMU he had 136 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles. He is the second linebacker to enter the portal after Taurus Jones entered earlier.
Toros Jones, LP – Jones dealt with injuries in 2023 but had a huge campaign in 2022 with 82 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups. It is in the portal as a graduate transfer.
Abiy Nwabuko-Okonji, DL – The former Minnesota transfer suffered a season-ending injury in JMU’s first game of the year. He was expected to be a rotation player at defensive end in 2023 and finished with 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022. He announced on social media that he would enter the portal as a graduate transfer.
Wayne Knight, R.B Knight announced his intention to transfer on October 16 via social media. Knight tallied 74 receiving yards and 15 receiving yards over 1.5 seasons in Harrisonburg.
As the off-season begins, all eyes are on the JMU football program as they navigate the transfer portal in search of new talent to bolster their roster for the upcoming 2023-24 season. With the departure of key players and the need to fill in various positions, the JMU Sports News will be tracking and reporting on all the latest transfer activities and updates within the program. Fans can expect to stay updated on incoming transfers, potential impact players, and the overall state of the team as they prepare for the next season.