FCS 2019 PREVIEW: James Madison Football Aiming For National Title

HERO Sports welcomes you to "Three-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 126 FCS programs, with three teams being released each day from June 17 to July 28. Then, we'll preview all 13 conferences from August 1-4. Today, we present … James Madison.

We'll leave no stone left unturned when it comes to giving the FCS diehards all they could ask for this offseason. Learn about every program in the country, with HERO Sports.

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JAMES MADISON (9-4 IN 2018)

CAA (JMU was 2nd in 2018)

COACH: Curt Cignetti – At School: 1st year (0-0 record), Overall: 9th year (67-26 record)
LAST FCS POSTSEASON: 2018 (2nd Round loss to Colgate)
2018 OFFENSE: 33.9 ppg. (18th in FCS)
2018 DEFENSE: 14.6 ppg. (6th in FCS)
KEY GAME: Aug. 31 – @ West Virginia: You could easily put any of the big-time CAA battles here, but let's face it — this game is intriguing. If this was last year's WVU team and last year's JMU team? Maybe it doesn't seem as intriguing, but the Dukes have what, 20 starters back? And WVU is rebuilding with a new coach. This should be interesting.
SUM IT UP: Since HERO Sports announced that James Madison would be atop the 2019 FCS Preseason Poll, the pressure has mounted. This is James Madison, and there are a lot of players on this roster that know what playing in Frisco, Texas is like in the national championship game. Last year, the Dukes looked shaky sometimes and then fell at Colgate in the playoffs. Was it because of the craziness of a coaching change becoming news the week of the playoff game? Maybe. But whatever it was, it left this team hungry as hell to prove that 2018 and its four losses are an afterthought. And as for coaching? Yes, Mike Houston moved on to East Carolina and he's the one who sparked everything the past three seasons, but Curt Cignetti was also a strong hire by the Dukes' brass. Basically, JMU traded one great coach for another great coach.

This offense is stellar. The quarterback position saw a healthy three-way spring competition featuring experience (Ben DiNucci and Cole Johnson) and untapped talent (2016 South Carolina Mr. Football, Gage Moloney). The receiving corps returns its top three targets who accumulated nearly 1,800 yards and 14 touchdowns, the offensive line has players back who started at all five positions — and at running back? Let's just say this — there are only three reasons Percy Agyei-Obese hasn't already been a star at JMU — Cardon Johnson, Marcus Marshall and Trai Sharp. Those three guys have moved on to bigger things, and it's Percy's time to shine — and he will. This was one of the top offenses in the land last year, statistically, and it should be even better this fall.

And now let's talk about the defense — the defense that was No. 6 in the nation last year. Every position has a past starter returning. Yes, every position. Jimmy Moreland is obviously a big loss (will the Washington Redskins send some sort of gift to the JMU campus as a thank you?), but his good buddy in the secondary, Rashad Robinson, is back after missing 2018 due to injury. So you're swapping one NFL prospect for another one there. They both roamed the field together during the 2016 and 2017 runs to Frisco. Defense has been the reason for the past three seasons being as successful as they were, and it'll continue this year. This program is athletic, has recruited well and is balanced without the frills. Even special teams features all familiar faces back from a unit that was one of the nation's best, all around.

OUR TAKE: The big debate all preseason has been — how can anybody put any team ahead of North Dakota State? Well, if the frontrunners to unseat NDSU weren't loaded (with 20+ players returning who've started games) like James Madison, we wouldn't be this bold. Trust me. But the Bison have to fill a lot of holes from their stellar 2018 team, and JMU has nearly everybody back — including arguably their top talent (Robinson) who was injured last year. The schedule lines up perfectly, with loaded semifinalist Maine not being on the CAA schedule because of schedule rotation, and key games like Towson, New Hampshire and Villanova being at home. If JMU plays up to its potential it will be in the national title discussion from day one until the end. That's our take.

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TOP RETURNEE: Sr./DB Rashad Robinson (HERO Sports Preseason All-American – injured in 2018, big-time NFL prospect)

THE FOUNDATION: Sr./DL John Daka (HERO Sports Preseason All-American – 17 TFLs, 10 sacks); Sr./DL Ron'Dell Carter (HERO Sports Preseason All-American – 13 TFLs); Jr./RS-DB D'Angelo Amos (HERO Sports Preseason All-American — 22 yds per punt return, 3 TDs; 64 tackles, 6 PBUs); Jr./OL Liam Fornadel (HERO Sports Preseason All-American); Sr./LB Dimitri Holloway (HERO Sports Preseason All-American – 127 tackles, 11 TFLs); Sr./WR Riley Stapleton (HERO Sports Preseason All-American – 710 yds receiving, 7 TDs); Sr./QB Ben DiNucci (2,275 yards passing, 16 TDs – 629 yards rushing, 9 TDs); Soph./WR Kydel Dean (614 yds receiving, 4 TDs); Sr./DB Adam Smith (68 tackles, 3 INTs); Sr./LB Landan Word (56 tackles, 6 TFLs in just 7 games); Sr./OL Mac Patrick (28 starts past two seasons at center).

TOP NEWCOMER: Fr./LB Julio Ayamel (No. 22 signee in the FCS in HERO Sports Recruiting rankings – Kentucky offer, 15 offers total)

THE QUOTE: "I respect and understand the tradition of James Madison football and the great things that have gone on here in its growth and development. We're going to have high goals and expectations and a blueprint to become the best we can be, there will be no self-imposed limitations on what we can accomplish. I'm anxious and eager to meet the players when they return on January 7th and just can't tell you how excited I am to be the head football coach at James Madison." — Head Coach Curt Cignetti said a fter being hired

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WERE WE RIGHT?: Last Year's James Madison Preview

FCS 2020 NFL PROSPECTS: The List

BEST FCS TRADITIONS: The List

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