2023 James Madison Dukes football team

2023 James Madison Dukes football
Sun Belt East Division champion[a]
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record11–2 (7–1 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Shanahan (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBryant Haines (2nd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumBridgeforth Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
James Madison* x   7 – 1     11 – 2  
Appalachian State y   6 – 2     9 – 5  
Coastal Carolina   5 – 3     8 – 5  
Old Dominion   5 – 3     6 – 7  
Georgia State   3 – 5     7 – 6  
Marshall   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Georgia Southern   3 – 5     6 – 7  
West Division
Troy xy$   7 – 1     11 – 3  
Texas State   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Arkansas State   4 – 4     6 – 7  
South Alabama   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Louisiana   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Southern Miss   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Louisiana–Monroe   0 – 8     2 – 10  
Championship: Troy 49, Appalachian State 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

The 2023 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University as a member of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Dukes played home games at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia as members of the East division of the Sun Belt Conference.

The season was the final year of a two-year transition from the Football Championship Subdivision. The team was not originally eligible for a bowl game;[1] a request for a waiver was denied by the NCAA in August,[2] and a waiver for relief was also denied in November.[3] However, as there were not enough bowl eligible teams, they were given a berth. JMU was selected to play in the Armed Forces Bowl.[4]

Preseason

[edit]

Media poll

[edit]

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Dukes were picked to finish in first place in the East division.[5]

Media poll (East division)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 James Madison 78 (4)
2 Appalachian State 75 (4)
3 Coastal Carolina 71 (1)
4 Marshall 68 (1)
5 Georgia Southern 52 (1)
6 Georgia State 31
7 Old Dominion 17

Offensive lineman Nick Kidwell, defensive lineman James Carpenter, and punter Ryan Hanson were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team. Linebacker Taurus Jones was named to the second team.[5]

Schedule

[edit]

The football schedule was announced February 24, 2023.[6]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:00 p.m.Bucknell*
ESPN+W 38–323,756
September 912:00 p.m.at Virginia*
ESPNUW 36–3556,508
September 167:00 p.m.at Troy
NFLNW 16–1426,634
September 238:00 p.m.at Utah State*
MW NetworkW 45–3819,994
September 3012:00 p.m.South Alabama
  • Bridgeforth Stadium
  • Harrisonburg, VA
ESPNUW 31–2326,064
October 1412:00 p.m.Georgia Southern
  • Bridgeforth Stadium
  • Harrisonburg, VA
ESPN2W 41–1325,097
October 197:00 p.m.at Marshall
ESPNW 20–922,109
October 288:00 p.m.Old DominiondaggerNo. 25
ESPNUW 30–2726,239
November 43:30 p.m.at Georgia State
ESPN2W 42–1415,320
November 112:00 p.m.UConn*
  • Bridgeforth Stadium
  • Harrisonburg, VA
ESPN+W 44–625,240
November 182:00 p.m.Appalachian State
ESPN+L 23–26 OT25,838
November 253:30 p.m.at Coastal Carolina
ESPN2W 56–1416,196
December 233:30 p.m.vs. Air Force*
ABCL 21–3130,828

Roster

[edit]
2023 James Madison Dukes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 0 Phoenix Sproles  Sr
WR 1 Reggie Brown  Sr
QB 2 Jordan McCloud  Sr
RB 3 Solomon Vanhorse  Sr
RB 5 Latrele Palmer Sr
RB 6 Kaelon Black  So
RB 7 Ty Son Lawton  Sr
WR 8 Maxwell Moss Fr
WR 9 Omarion Dollison Jr
QB 10 Brett Griffis  Fr
QB 11 Billy Atkins  So
WR 12 Jayden Mines  Fr
WR 13 Elijah Sarratt So
QB 14 Alonza Barnett III  Fr
TE 15 Kyi Wright  Jr
WR 16 Desmond Green  So
TE 17 Taylor Thompson Jr
QB 18 Blake Kendall  Fr
WR 19 Taji Hudson  So
WR 20 Yamir Knight Fr
WR 21 Chris Lofton Fr
RB 23 Sammy Malignaggi Jr
RB 25 Wayne Knight So
RB 28 Ke'Marion Baldwin Fr
RB 32 Kalin Jean  So
WR 37 Blake Barnes  So
RB 40 Peyton Rutherford Jr
TE 44 Zach Horton Jr
WR 49 Payton Hunter  Jr
OL 50 Carter Miller  Fr
OL 52 Tyshawn Wyatt Jr
OL 55 Ronald Altman Jr
OL 56 Nick Kidwell  Sr
OL 58 Tanner Morris  Jr
OL 60 Carter Sweazie  Fr
OL 62 Wesley Bostic  Fr
OL 66 Cole Potts Jr
OL 68 Griffin Hart Fr
OL 69 Breon Brown Fr
OL 70 Brett Davis  So
OL 71 Isaac Owusu-Appiah  Jr
OL 72 Josh Toner  So
OL 74 Tyler Stephens Jr
OL 75 Kyle Lenhart Fr
OL 77 Aaron Gunn  So
OL 78 Cameron Jones Fr
OL 79 Joseph Simmons  Fr
TE 81 Gabriel Hollingsworth  Jr
WR 82 Troy Lewis  So
WR 83 Erick Harris  Fr
WR 84 Rykin Maxwell Fr
TE 85 Jordan Funk Jr
TE 86 Collin Carroll Fr
TE 88 Ibrahim Barry Fr
TE 89 Josh Phifer Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 0 Taurus Jones  Jr
S 1 Que Reid  Sr
CB 2 Chauncey Logan So
DL 3 Mikail Kamara  So
LB 5 Jailin Walker Jr
LB 6 Julio Ayamel  Jr
S 7 Jarius Reimonenq Sr
DL 8 Abi Nwabouku-Okonji  Sr
DL 9 Jamree Kromah  Sr
DL 10 Jalen Green Sr
LB 11 Aiden Fisher So
S 12 Josh Sarratt Sr
CB 14 Nehki Meredith  So
CB 16 Trevell Mullen  Fr
DL 17 Amar Thomas  Fr
S 18 Evan Spivey Fr
CB 19 D'Angelo Ponds Fr
S 21 Jamari Somerville Fr
CB 23 Brent Austin So
LB 24 Trent Hendrick So
CB 26 Devyn Coles Sr
S 27 Jacob Thomas So
S 28 Kye Holmes  So
CB 30 Justin Eaglin  Fr
CB 31 Antoine Booth  So
S 32 DJ Barksdale Fr
LB 33 Gannon Weathersby Fr
S 34 Chris Chukwuneke  Sr
S 35 Jahquil Batts  So
CB 37 Jamaree Seldon  Fr
S 38 Stephen Hollander  Fr
DL 39 Payne Bauer  So
DL 42 Carter Banks  Fr
LB 43 Matthew Channell  Fr
LB 46 Jackson Snyder Fr
LB 47 Noah Holmes  Jr
DL 48 Greyson Cadd  Fr
S 49 Francis Meehan  Sr
DL 51 Riley Robell Fr
LB 52 Seth Noatala  So
DL 53 Zai Roberts  So
LB 54 Brandon Fique  So
DL 55 Immanuel Bush  So
DL 59 Tyrique Tucker  Fr
DL 61 Spencer Toth  Fr
DL 92 Darold DeNgohe Fr
DL 93 Mychal McMullin Fr
DL 94 Sean Johns  Jr
DL 98 Samson Ogunade Fr
DL 99 James Carpenter  Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 40 Camden Wise  Sr
K 41 Nathan Patterson Fr
LS 47 Kaden Schickel  So
P 48 Ryan Hanson  Jr
LS 54 Jack Mowrey Fr
K 63 Nick Gonzalez  Jr
K 96 Connor Madden  Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Mike Shanahan (Offensive coordinator / Wide receivers)
  • Bryant Haines (Defensive coordinator / Linebackers)
  • Grant Cain (Special teams coordinator / Tight ends / Assistant head coach)
  • Marcus Hall-Oliver (Safeties)
  • Jarred Holley (Cornerbacks)
  • John Miller (Running backs)
  • Damian Wroblewski (Offensive line / Assistant head coach)
  • Tino Sunseri (Quarterbacks / Pass game)
  • Pat Kuntz (Defensive line)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 29, 2023

Game summaries

[edit]

vs Bucknell

[edit]
See also: 2023 Bucknell Bison football team

at Virginia

[edit]
See also: 2023 Virginia Cavaliers football team

at Troy

[edit]
See also: 2023 Troy Trojans football team

at Utah State

[edit]
See also: 2023 Utah State Aggies football team

vs South Alabama

[edit]
See also: 2023 South Alabama Jaguars football team
South Alabama Jaguars (2–2) at James Madison Dukes (4–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 7 31323
Dukes 14 10 0731

at Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA

  • Date: September 30, 2023
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 26,064
  • Referee: Trennis Livingston
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
Game information
Statistics USA JMU
First downs 20 15
Total yards 326 377
Rushing yards 3 7
Passing yards 12 6
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–50–2 12–22–1
Time of possession 28:46 31:14
Team Category Player Statistics
South Alabama Passing Carter Bradley 28/50, 299 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing La'Damian Webb 12 carries, 36 yards, TD
Receiving Caullin Lacy 6 receptions, 132 yards
James Madison Passing Jordan McCloud 12/22, 241 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing Jordan McCloud 10 carries, 61 yards
Receiving Zach Horton 3 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD

vs Georgia Southern

[edit]
See also: 2023 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

at Marshall

[edit]
See also: 2023 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
Game Seven – James Madison Dukes (6–0) at Marshall Thundering Herd (4–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dukes 0 3 10720
Thundering Herd 0 0 279

at Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia

  • Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 22,109
  • Referee: Wayne Winkler
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
  • Pregame line: James Madison –3.5
Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring plays
Second quarter
  • (11:38) JMU – Camden Wise 27 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:53; James Madison 3–0)
Third quarter
  • (11:57) MRSH – TyQaze Leggs safety (James Madison 3–2)
  • (7:17) JMU – Camden Wise 38 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 3:00; James Madison 6–2)
  • (1:12) JMU – Jordan McCloud 6 yard run, Camden Wise kick (Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 4:55; James Madison 13–2)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:08) JMU – Reggie Brown 28 yard pass from Jordan McCloud, Camden Wise kick (Drive: 5 plays, 37 yards, 1:17; James Madison 20–2)
  • (13:55) MRSH – Jayden Harrison 94 yard kickoff return, Rece Verhoff kick (James Madison 20–9)
Statistics JMU MRSH
First downs 19 10
Plays–yards 69–405 62–169
Rushes–yards 36–131 32–-4
Passing yards 274 173
Passing: comp–att–int 22–33–1 17–30–1
Time of possession 33:49 26:11
Team Category Player Statistics
James Madison Passing Jordan McCloud 21/31, 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Jordan McCloud 6 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Reggie Brown 6 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD
Marshall Passing Cam Fancher 17/30, 173 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Ethan Payne 20 carries, 62 yards
Receiving Jayden Harrison 4 receptions, 40 yards

vs Old Dominion

[edit]
See also: 2023 Old Dominion Monarchs football team and Royal Rivalry

at Georgia State

[edit]
See also: 2023 Georgia State Panthers football team
Game Nine – James Madison Dukes (8–0) vs Georgia State Panthers (6–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dukes 0 0 000
Panthers 0 0 000

at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

Game information
Statistics JMU GSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
James Madison Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs UConn

[edit]
See also: 2023 UConn Huskies football team
UConn Huskies at James Madison Dukes – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 3 306
Dukes 3 10 171444

at Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, Virginia

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 2:02 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 25,240
  • Referee: Marshall Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Curt Dudley, Vad Lee, Corey Spector
  • Box Score
Game information
First Quarter
  • JMU – Wise, Camden 34 yd field goal, 0:10. Dukes 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 78 yards, TOP 06:51

Second Quarter

  • JMU – Wise, Camden 29 yd field goal, 9:25. Dukes 6–0. Drive: 8 plays, 33 yards, TOP 04:00
  • JMU – Brown, Reggie 80 yd pass from McCloud, Jordan (Wise, Camden kick), 7:40. Dukes 13–0. Drive: 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:11
  • CONN – Ruelas, Noe 41 yd field goal, 3:26. Dukes 13–3. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 04:14

Third Quarter

  • JMU – Wise, Camden 28 yd field goal, 12:09. Dukes 16–3. Drive: 6 plays, 29 yards, TOP 02:26
  • CONN – Ruelas, Noe 31 yd field goal, 7:42. Dukes 16–6. Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 04:21
  • JMU – Horton, Zach 21 yd pass from McCloud, Jordan (Wise, Camden kick), 5:54. Dukes 23–6. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:48
  • JMU – Brown, Reggie 55 yd pass from McCloud, Jordan (Wise, Camden kick), 2:06. Dukes 30–6. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:53

Fourth Quarter

  • JMU – Sproles, Phoenix 5 yd pass from McCloud, Jordan (Wise, Camden kick), 6:43. Dukes 37–6. Drive: 10 plays, 90 yards, TOP 05:04
  • JMU – Austin, Brent 81 yd interception (Wise, Camden kick), 3:43. Dukes 44–6.

Statistics

Statistics CONN JMU
First downs 15 23
Total yards 319 503
Rushing yards 79 46
Passing yards 240 457
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 29:08 30:52
Team Category Player Statistics
UConn Passing Ta'Quan Roberson 20/36, 207 yds
Rushing Cam Edwards 12 att, 43 yds
Receiving Cameron Ross 4 rec, 91 yds
James Madison Passing Jordan McCloud 33/37, 457 yds, 4 TDs
Rushing Kaelon Black 4 att, 38 yds
Receiving Reggie Brown 9 rec, 202 yds, 2 TDs

vs Appalachian State

[edit]
See also: 2023 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team

at Coastal Carolina

[edit]
See also: 2023 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team

Rankings

[edit]
Further information: 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRV——RVRVRV25232118242424RV
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV25242121RV2525RV
CFPNot released——————Not released

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ James Madison was ineligible to participate in the SBC championship game due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ News-Record, NOAH FLEISCHMAN Daily (May 2, 2023). "How Likely Is a Bowl Game For JMU In 2023?". Daily News-Record. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "NCAA denies James Madison's bid for waiver to gain bowl eligibility". The Virginian-Pilot. April 27, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Salerno, Cameron (November 16, 2023). "NCAA denies postseason eligibility waiver for James Madison, Dukes must hope for dearth of bowl-eligible teams". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Murray, Jack (November 25, 2023). "James Madison Guaranteed CFB Bowl Berth Due to Lack of 6-Win Teams". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Sun Belt Announces Football Preseason Awards & Poll". sunbeltsports.org. July 24, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "2023 James Madison Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  7. ^ Frankenberry, Jami (October 19, 2023). "Unbeaten JMU leads Sun Belt, but despite pleas NCAA rules keep Dukes from a bowl, conference title game". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
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