After its move from the FCS, it didn’t take long for James Madison to prove that it could compete at the FBS level and with the rest of the Sun Belt.
The Dukes went 6-2 in conference play and finished atop the East division following a 47-7 slaughter over Coastal Carolina to cap their season. Those 47 points were the second most they put up in a game on the season. Behind their 502 total yards and six scores, the Dukes showcased their offensive firepower in that contest.
The offense was dominant all season long while finishing with the top-scoring offense (37 PPG). Their 452.5 yards per game ranked third in the league.
Of course, that firepower was led by quarterback Todd Centeio, who has since graduated.
And as of right now, there are a lot of questions surrounding who will replace the 2022 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year. There are questions about filling other offensive production, as well, like 900-yard RB Percy Agyei-Obese and 1,000-yard WR Kris Thornton. But incoming transfers and new guys stepping up should help fill those voids.
There aren’t many returning top weapons for JMU, but there is one thing the Dukes can lean on — returning all five starters on their offensive line.
Tyshawn Wyatt started all 11 games last season and provides some depth and flexibility after starting 14 games at left guard in 2021. Nick Kidwell was the lone lineman who earned postseason honors after being tabbed Second Team All-Conference. The redshirt senior started nine games at right tackle and missed two others due to injury.
Holding it down in the middle for another season will be Tanner Morris, who started all 11 games, and Cole Potts returns after 11 starts at right guard. Filling out the line is Tyler Stephens, who started nine games at left guard and two at right tackle.
Running behind those five will be returning backs Latrele Palmer and Kaelon Black. Palmer started in one game and turned 101 carries into 398 yards and five scores as JMU’s No. 2 rusher. He added six receptions for 47 yards on the year. With Kidwell and Palmer returning, Dukes fans can expect to see more of this:
Black was another weapon out of the backfield and also tallied one start. He had 69 totes on the season and finished with 333 yards and three scores. His dual-threat abilities were on display throughout the campaign as he hauled in 17 catches for 177 yards and two scores. The duo should provide a nice 1-2 punch this fall.
Outside of the running backs, there will only be two returners who caught a pass last season. Reggie Brown is the only returning wideout that caught a pass from Centeio and made five starts while appearing in eight games. His 50 YPG were second on the team and his four scores also ranked second. He had 24 receptions for 401 yards.
The other returner that caught a pass last season is tight end Zach Horton. Horton pulled in 13 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
JMU also returns starting kicker Camden Wise, who went 11 for 16 on field goals and 50 for 52 on PATs in 2022.
Between Centeio and the loss of nearly all of the offensive production, there are a lot of shoes to be filled for the Dukes on offense. With the perennial success of this program, however, that shouldn’t be much of a problem on a quest toward another division title.
