PROVE
IT
The Breeze 2026 Football Season Preview September 3, 2026
Thursday, September 3, 2026
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Letter from the sports editors
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The Breeze’s 2026 football special section: ‘Prove it’
Last year’s trip to the College Football Playoff ended former head coach Bob Chesney’s two-year run with the Dukes. Following the playoff loss, Chesney, along with 11 players and seven assistant coaches, left the Shenandoah Valley for the bright lights of Los Angeles — joining UCLA. Now, JMU football will usher in the Billy Napier era. Napier boasted a 40-12 record as the head coach of the Sun Belt West’s Louisiana from 2018-2021, taking home two conference titles during his time in the bayou. He climbed to success, and it led to him taking the reign of a decorated SEC program: Florida. Napier didn’t find the same success at college football’s highest level, with a four-season record of 22-23. He was fired midway through the 2025 season after going 3-4.
But now, Napier is back in the Sun Belt — the conference he used to sit atop. After a shaky four seasons in Gainesville, Napier has something to prove. The Breeze’s 2026 football special section, “Prove it,” doesn’t just highlight the chip on Napier’s shoulder after returning to the Sun Belt. It signifies the national spotlight JMU shone on itself after becoming just the fourth Group of Six team to ever make the College Football Playoff. The Dukes are out to prove that even a Group of Six team can wreak havoc during the postseason. “I think it’s healthy for the underdog to have a chance,” Napier said. In this special section, you’ll find players to look out for ahead of the season, who you’ll see play on both sides of the ball and a glimpse into some of the Dukes’ opponents. Check out “Prove it” to learn more about the 2026 Dukes.
Sincerely,
Libby Mercer, sports editor Madi Perini, sports editor
WHAT’S INSIDE
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A look into JMU’s offense Previewing the Dukes’ defense
JMU’S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1922 1598 S. Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 PHONE: (540) 568-6127 FAX: (540) 568-7889
‘prove it’ STAFF Editorial
Offensive lineman reunites with coaches
COVER BY: KIRAH VILLANUEVA / THE BREEZE COVER PHOTO: LANDON SHACKELFORD / THE BREEZE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HANNAH KENNEDY
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The Breeze
10 18
Names to know this season
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Offensive Preview: JMU’s By LIBBY MERCER The Breeze
With a new look under head coach Billy Napier, JMU football’s offense looks different than it did in 2025, losing key offensive starters like offensive lineman Pat McMurtrie, quarterback Alonza Barnett III and wide receiver Wayne Knight. Of Napier’s 63-person signing class of transfers and firstyears, 34 of them are joining the offense. Offensive coordinator Cam Aiken said the new group has improved over the summer and during fall camp. “At the end of the day, it’s about getting to [our] peak right now, and I feel like we’re in a pretty good spot mentally, physically,” Aiken said. Here’s what you need to know about JMU’s offense heading into the 2026 season.
Quarterbacks
Wisloski had six receptions for 52 yards in the College Football Playoff at Oregon. Breeze file photo
With the starting quarterback spot up for grabs, Napier is working on cutting down the room. Napier is staying “tight-lipped” about his starting decision, but has a “good plan” and “pulse” for the team’s opener on Saturday, he said. “We have committed to [a starter] in terms of how we’re going to play the players, how we’re going to practice the players,” Napier said. “As the week goes, we’ll see where we’re at.” Napier said fourth-year Camden Coleman and third-year JC Evans stand out among the contenders for the starting role. Before joining the Dukes in 2025, Coleman spent two seasons at FCS Richmond, where he was CAA Offensive Player of the Week twice. Coleman added 31 touchdowns for the Spiders and accumulated 3,507 total yards of offense. Coleman didn’t see the field last season with JMU. Spending his entire career with the Dukes, Evans has made six career appearances. Most notably, Evans took home Offensive MVP of the Boca Raton Bowl in 2024. He scored two touchdowns and rushed for 64 yards. “I think their knowledge, their ability to execute, their ability to communicate,” Napier said. “Probably the number one attribute at quarterback is the ability to influence others, right? Both guys are doing that right now.” After third-year Davi Belfort left for the wide receiver room, first-year Tanner Vibabul and third-year Memphis transfer
Arrington Maiden round out the four-person room. Coleman said the room consists of “four very smart guys.” “[We are] guys who can easily bounce ideas off of each other, lifting each other up, and leading the people around them,” Coleman said. “I think that’s kind of helped us just grow a bond together.” While he’s only a first-year, Napier said Vibabul has a presence in the room. “[He] throws a good ball, he can make some plays with his feet,” Napier said. “He’s a playmaker.”
Wide receivers
Aiken said the Dukes’ crowded wide receiver room, consisting of 19 players, is “a great challenge to have.” “I think as many as we can get, as many skill guys, as many players you can bring me,” Aiken said. “I’ll always take that challenge.” The room is made up of seven returners, six transfers and six first-years. Returning fourth-year Braeden Wisloski said it’s a “young group.” Second-year Michael Scott played in 12 games his first year, making two catches for 37 yards and tallying his first career touchdown at Coastal. The returner said the biggest step he took in the off-season was maturing in his leadership role. Another returner in the room is fourth-year Za’Ron Collins, who Napier said “had a great camp.” “He worked extremely hard, had the right mindset in terms of the training,” Napier said. “That carried over and he was a productive player for us.” Collins played in 12 games last season and made seven catches for 73 yards. He caught his first touchdown for the Dukes against ODU on Oct. 18, 2025. Belfort transferred from West Florida to JMU as a quarterback before switching to wide receiver. Wide receivers coach RJ Fleming said Belfort “upgrades any room” and “anybody” he’s around. “He’s a bright spot no matter where he is,” Fleming said. As wide receivers, the group has to build chemistry with the quarterback room. Scott said the group looks at the quarterback room with the mindset that any one of them could play. “I feel like we’ve had such a strong brotherhood in the aspect that we don’t care who’s out there at quarterback,” Scott said.
Evans took home offensive MVP of the Boca Raton Bowl in 2024. He scored two touchdowns and rushed for 64 yards. Breeze file photo
2026 position groups Tight ends
Former JMU quarterback Bryan Schor, now tight ends coach, said he emphasizes “versatility” as a trait of the position, which he said was reflected by former JMU tight end Jonathan Kloosterman. “They can run routes, they can block,” Schor said. “Which we think is an advantage for us.” Schor coached tight ends for four seasons at Georgia Southern and said he learned the most about understanding the run game. “I got a good taste of it last year of knowing the run game and knowing where we’re taking advantage of defenses,” Schor said. “And that’s continued since I’ve got here.” JMU is bringing in sixth-year Cole Keller from ETSU. Keller caught 22 passes for 226 yards in 12 appearances last season. Schor said Keller is very “eager.” “I say that as a compliment for him. He wants it,” Schor said. “He wants feedback on every play, whether it’s good, whether it’s bad. He wants to know what I’m seeing on every play.”
Running backs
One thing Napier said he learned from Week 0 of this year is the “importance of a good run defense.” While he said a good run defense starts from both sides of the ball, it’s also where he sees running back production come from. Aiken, who coached running backs at USF in 2021, said the running back position is “physical.” “Those guys got to be able to step up and block linebackers. They got to be able to go low over their shoulder and run over safeties, and you better have a bunch of them,” Aiken said. Aiken said the position starts with “knowing what to do,” and he’s confident in the room. “Those guys are bright guys. They’re intelligent guys,” Aiken said. Preseason Second Team All-Sun Belt running back and fifth-year George Pettaway is the example of a leader Napier said he needs for his offensive skill players. “He’s a veteran player. He’s extremely smart. He can organize his thoughts, and he’s a great communicator,” Napier said. “So he’s been a good leader. He’s well respected.” Joining the Dukes after transferring from Northern Arizona is fifth-year Seth Cromwell, who added 150 carries for 646 rushing yards last season. Cromwell also had nine touchdowns. Cromwell said he and Pettaway have stepped up as leaders for the younger players in the room. “Being the older ones in the room, trying to lead the younger ones, trying to show them what to do, what not to do,” Cromwell said. “The room has been brought together greatly.”
Offensive line
On national signing day, Napier joked his team was building the “great wall of Harrisonburg,” when replacing part of the offensive line room. When bringing in new players, Napier said he looked for familiarity. Eighth-year Tyler Brown played with Napier and offensive line coach Rob Sale at Louisiana from the 2019-21 seasons. There he played in 11 games and was a part of Napier’s fifth-ranked offensive line in the FBS. Third-year Noel Portnjagin most recently played for Napier at Florida. He didn’t see any playing time last season due to his injury. “Things didn’t work out for him at Florida,” Napier said. “Culturally for him, [JMU] has been a healthy change.” Napier said he thinks Portnjagin will end up being a nice center for JMU. The group’s only returning starter, seventh-year Zach Greenberg, said it’s helpful to have Portnjagin as someone who knows Napier’s drills down “to a T.” Greenberg was recognized as one of the Preseason All-Sun Belt offensive linemen after helping the Dukes’ offensive line rank top-30 in the FBS last season. CONTACT Libby Mercer at breezesports@gmail.com. For
more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Caden Burch / The Breeze
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a QUICK glimpse into the east divison By MADI PERINI The Breeze
Courtesy of ODU Athletics
Courtesy of Marshall Athletics
Courtesy of JMU Athletics
JMU: The Dukes are projected to win the Sun Belt East for the second year in a row and have three players named to Preseason AllSun Belt Teams. JMU was undefeated in the conference in 2025.
ODU: The Monarchs are slated to place second for the second time in as many years and has four players named to preseason lists. ODU is 2-4 against the Dukes all-time.
September 26
Marshall: The Thundering Herd were voted to place third in the East and their roster features Preseason Offensive Player of the Year redshirt senior QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson. Marshall is 4-2 against JMU all-time.
October 3
Courtesy of Georgia Southern Athletics
Courtesy of Georgia State Athletics
Georgia Southern: The Eagles are slated to place fourth in the East and have seven players named to Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams. Georgia Southern is 9-3 against the Dukes all-time.
Georgia State: The Panthers are projected to finished last in the Sun Belt East and did not receive any preseason awards. Georgia State is 0-5 against JMU all-time.
October 17
October 10
Courtesy of Coastal Carolina Athletics
Courtesy of App State Athletics
App State: The Mountaineers were voted to place sixth in the East and have three placers on Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams. App State is 14-6 against the Dukes all-time.
October 22 CONTACT Madi Perini at breezesports@gmail. com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Coastal Carolina: The Chanticleers are projected to finish fifth in the East and recieved three votes in preseason awards. Coastal Carolina is 1-5 against JMU all-time.
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special teams duo forms Special bond By MADI PERINI The Breeze
Coming from different backgrounds — seventh-year kicker Morgan Suarez being from south Florida and fifth year punter Patrick Rea from Melbourne, Australia — the two show how college football reaches beyond the field. Eventually, the two became known as “Pat and Mo,” and started The Pat and Mo show, a weekly football podcast hosted alongside Dave Riggert, JMU’s radio play-by-play host. Though Suarez transferred to JMU from FAU with football in mind, his journey to Harrisonburg became much more than kicking footballs. When arriving in Virginia, Suarez met Rea, who had transferred from Louisiana Tech. “I think a lot of people know that I live two different lives — football and podcast,” Suarez said. “Obviously I’m here to kick a football, but [having] the podcast is pretty cool.” The quick-set bond of the special teams pair leads fans, and even the new coaching staff, to feel as if they’ve spent their whole careers as Dukes. “It does always strike me when I listen to [them] just interact and how they are with their teammates, like ‘oh they’ve only been here a year,’” special teams coordinator Rob Wenger said. “Listening to them talk and carry themselves, you would think they’ve been here forever.” Both were starters during the 2025 season, serving as the primary placekicker and punter. Suarez went 14-for-19 on field goal attempts, while never missing an extra point. Rea finished with 48 punts, totaling 1,968 yards. He also averaged 43.8 yards per punt in the first round of the College Football Playoff. “Pat and Mo are more than just podcasters, contrary to popular belief — those two guys have been exceptional,” Wenger said. “When I knew [this job] was going to work out, my number one priority was making sure that those two guys were going to be a part of
what we do — I want to make sure in their last college football season, they go out the right way.” After their first years, Suarez and Rea have found themselves in leadership roles, both related and unrelated to football. “I think our specialist room is very talented and it’s important to have a couple of guys like [Pat and Mo] that have that experience but also have personality and can bring some experience and temperament,” head coach Billy Napier said. “I think culturally I always want our specialists to be in a leadership role and they’ve done a really good job.” In having such a unique collegiate career, moving across the world to play, Rea reflected on his opportunities heading into his final season. “This has been such an incredible journey,” Rea said. “I’m obviously from the other side of the world and coming over here as an 18, 19 year old and just kind of learning what college football was — I think that a lot of people should not take it for granted … and I think that football is such a blessing for all of us.” Suarez was emotional when talking about his final year, choking up when he said he plans to “just take it all in.” CONTACT Madi Perini at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Both Suarez and Rea are entering the final season of their collegiate careers. Breeze file photos
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Headshots courtesy of JMU Athletics
names to know offense
3 6 0 7 10 60
Breeze file photo
Corey Scott (WR)
George Pettaway (RB)
Scott transferred to JMU after 23 game appearances
Pettaway was named preseason Second Team
at Division II West Florida, only one without starting.
All-Sun Belt running back. He played in 12 games
He caught 63 passes for 1,018 yards in 2025 and
for the Dukes last season and had a season-high
tallied five touchdowns in 2024.
of 99 rushing yards against Weber State.
Cole Keller (TE)
Camden Coleman (QB)
Keller transferred to JMU after one season at the FCS level with ETSU and four at Division II Washburn. He tallied two touchdowns for the Buccaneers and had 22 receptions for 226 receiving yards.
Coleman spent two seasons at FCS Richmond before joining the Dukes last season. He accumulated 3,057 yards of total offense and added 31 touchdowns for the Spiders.
Braden Wisloski (TE)
Zach Greenberg (OL)
Wisloski played all 14 games for JMU last season with one start. He caught 26 passes for 358 yards and tallied four touchdowns for the Dukes in 2025.
Greenberg was named to the Preseason First Team All-Sun Belt. He helped JMU’s offensive line rank top 30 in the FBS in seven categories.
names to know
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Headshots courtesy of JMU Athletics
defense
1 2 3 8 14 88 Damier Minkah (CB)
Nakian Jackson (LB)
Minkah transferred to JMU after three seasons at
Jackson transferred to JMU after one season at Nevada and three at Sacramento State. He played in 11 games at Nevada, making six starts at linebacker, finishing as the Wolfpack’s fourthleading tackler.
Division II Shepherd, making 10. He finished the season with 27 tackles, 10 pass breakups, two tackles for loss and one blocked kick.
Gannon Weathersby (LB)
Amar Thomas (EDGE)
Weathersby has played in 34 games for the Dukes
Thomas was named Preseason First Team All-Sun
across three seasons, making 11 starts last season. He
Belt defensive lineman. He finished last season with
finished last season with 57 tackles, one sack and 2.5
43 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
tackles for loss.
KJ Flowe (S)
Kells Bush (DL)
Flowe played in 25 games across two seasons for
Bush played in eight games for the Dukes last season.
JMU. He added 21 tackles and four pass breakups for
He added seven tackles for JMU, three of them solo.
the Dukes.
Caden Burch / The Breeze
Thursday, September 3, 2026
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Defensive Preview:
A Dive into the dukes’ 2026 Defense
Breeze file photo
By MADI PERINI The Breeze
JMU football’s defense features many new faces for the 2026 season, including new defensive coordinator Robert Bala, who came to the Valley alongside head coach Billy Napier. Here’s what you need to know looking ahead to opening day.
Defensive line
Photo by Caden Burch / The Breeze
Photo by Caden Burch / The Breeze
Linebackers
At the forefront of the linebacker room is fifth-year Nevada transfer Nakian Jackson and returning fourth-year
Cornerbacks
The standouts of the cornerback room come from two new faces: fourth-year Damier Minkah and second-year DJ Kelly. In his time at Shepherd, Minkah put up 34 tackles throughout 23 games. During his first year at Toledo after being a three-star recruit, Kelly played in all 13 games, recording 10 total tackles and one interception.
Safety
In the safety room, the biggest name thrown around the coaching staff is thirdyear KJ Flowe. In his career so far with the Dukes, Flowe has 21 total tackles, an interception and a touchdown. Besides performing on the field, Flowe has also begun to perform as a leader. “The biggest thing about being a leader or stepping up into the role [is] leading yourself first,” assistant coach Dave Plungas said. “I think he presents that in his performance and his preparation — you can kind of see him flourish and that, and I know that will pay dividends in the future.” CONTACT Madi Perini at breezesports@
gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Defensive line coach Kali James Jr. feels “blessed” to have depth in his room this season, he said. With only three returning defensive linemen and a new coach, James felt working on their off-field relationships allowed them to build their depth. “I show I love them first because when we get on that grass, I might say some things you don’t like, but that’s cool because I’m just trying to get you to that mode,” James said. “Just coaching those guys with detail and fundamentals.” Returning fifth-year Kells Bush is entering his second year as a Duke, where he looks to make more of an impact. In 2025, Bush had eight appearances, where he tallied seven tackles, three of which were solo. At Louisiana Tech in 2024, Bush recorded a career-high four tackles against Jacksonville State. The edges are coached by a separate assistant coach, Jireh Wilson. Wilson praises his group, saying their growth from spring to fall is noticeable. “I think conceptually [they’re] understanding the defense and understanding how their piece fits into the entire scheme,” Wilson said. “They’re a lot more comfortable and they play a lot faster than we were in the spring — they understand the things that we’re asking [them] to do.” As fifth-year edge Amar Thomas enters his final season, he’s found himself grounded before gamedays, trying not to overdo it in practice. “[I tell the younger guys,] ‘We have someone to play, don’t waste your energy going against us,’” Thomas said. “It’s time to really become the defense.”
Gannon Weathersby, who are led by new linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Josh Linam. Weathersby has spent his entire collegiate career in Harrisonburg, which is rare in the era of the transfer portal. Through 34 appearances, Weathersby has tallied 80 total tackles — 25 of which were solo tackles. In his time at Nevada, Jackson totaled 54 total tackles — 24 of which were solo — and one pick six. With a combined group of returners and fresh faces, Linam’s seen the way his group has grown both on and off the field. “The willingness to be vulnerable and learn from each other and spend time outside the building and just seeing them start to build a bond — a lot of that comes from just shared adversity,” Linam said. “Being able to trust each other and lean on each other when they see that they can trust a guy, when things are going wrong, they start to build a stronger bond.”
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Best flicks from the 2025 season
Photos by Caden Burch
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Thursday, September 3, 2026
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‘It’s an honor’
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Tyler Brown reunites with Napier for final season at JMU
By LIBBY MERCER The Breeze
proud of who I am now,” Brown said. Brown credited seventh-year offensive lineman Zach Greenberg as someone who has helped transfers adjust to JMU culture. “I have to give credit to the guys last year,” Brown said. “They set the standard.” In his career, Brown has seen many coaching staffs, however, he started his collegiate career the same way he will end it — with Napier and Sale. “It’s really cool to be reunited with them again,” Brown said. “I’m excited to be with coach Sale and coach Napier here under their tutelage again for my last year. It’s an honor, and it’s a privilege.” Napier first met Brown at a satellite camp at Mississippi College, while he was the head coach of Louisiana. “We took our staff there to evaluate the group of players in the state of Mississippi that we had on our board,” Napier said. “We recruited those guys to show up there. We did not have him on the board. He just showed up.”
see BROWN, page 19
Th eB re ez e/
La nd on
Sh ac ke lfo rd
On the field, eighth-year offensive lineman Tyler Brown is a “big, powerful kid,” in the words of his position coach Rob Sale. Brown weighed in at 325 pounds. However, off the field, Brown described himself as “quiet” and a book lover. “I always have a book,” Brown said. “I just feel like that’s just one of the best ways to learn and always train your mind.” While he may be quiet off the field, the transfer from Colorado is emerging as a leader for younger players, drawing on his expansive experience from playing college football for the past seven seasons.
“It makes it so much easier as a young guy, just being able to follow in their footsteps,” third-year offensive lineman Evan Bushong said. As a fellow guard, Bushong said he enjoys asking Brown to talk through plays. “I can always ask him, ‘Hey, what do you think of this play?’” Bushong said. “He’s played for [seven] years, so he’s been through it.” When Brown started at Louisiana, current NFL offensive linemen Kevin Dotson of the Los Angeles Rams and Robert Hunt of the Carolina Panthers were some of the team leaders he looked up to. Being the same leader for younger players this year “means the world” to Brown, he said. “I can see [that] my younger self would be so
Brown played for Louisiana for three seasons. Breeze file photo
19 from BROWN, page 18
Brown went on to play at Louisiana for three seasons from 2019-2021, with him being recruited as a “pay for one,” meaning he paid for his first year of college. When Napier left for the same position at Florida after the 2021 season, Brown left to play for Jackson State. After one season, Brown left for Colorado. Through Brown’s time after leaving Louisiana, Sale said the two still stayed in touch. “We still stayed in touch and [I] still cared for him and still loved him,” Sale said. “Then the opportunity came [up] to come here, and he reached out. So we were [re]united.” Napier said Brown was one of the first calls he made when he got the job at JMU. “The injury [at Colorado] last year opened the door for another year of playing football,” Napier said. “I think he’s gained confidence through his experience as a player.”
Coming back to work with Sale, Brown said he’s had the same coaching philosophy since he was 17: “come with your chilli hot.” “He’s the same guy,” Brown said. “When you have a coach like that, that’s consistent, and that brings that fire every single day, how can you not want to match that energy and surpass it?” With one year of eligibility left, Brown said he isn’t taking anything for granted. “To be able to be up here and have one more camp and be able to have one more season, that just means the world to me,” Brown said. “[I’m] just going to put my best foot forward.” CONTACT Libby Mercer at breezesports@
gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Napier and Brown first met at a satellite camp at Mississippi College. Breeze file photo
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