JMU Inks 19 Newcomers on National Signing Day

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti announced the signing of 19 student-athletes who will join the football program next fall for the 2022 season as part of National Signing Day on Wednesday.

Three signees are FBS transfers while 16 will be true freshmen with four years of eligibility.

The class consists of four offensive linemen, three running backs, three defensive linemen, two wide receivers, two linebackers, two safeties, a quarterback, a cornerback and a punter from eight states and another country. Seven hail from Virginia, three are from Maryland, two are from North Carolina and Delaware, and one each come from Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee, Mississippi and Australia.

"We are excited to welcome the 19 newest members of the JMU football program," Cignetti said. "I'd like to thank our coaching staff and all those involved in putting together this signing class, as we prepare for our transition to the FBS level and Sun Belt Conference next season. We're excited for the future of JMU football but still focused on what's directly in front of us, finishing our FCS run with a one more national championship."

Alonza Barnett | QB | 6-0 | 195 | Whitsett, N.C. | Grimsley

2020-21 Friday Nights in Carolina First Team All-State
Two-time Metro 4A Offensive Player of the Year
Three-time Metro 4A All-Conference selection
2021 Greensboro News-Record All-Area Offensive Player of the Year
Helped Grimsley to 2020-21 4A state championship

Wesley Bostic | OL | 6-4 | 285 | Prince George, Va. | Prince George

2020-21 and 2021 5A First Team All-Region offensive lineman
2021 5A Third Team All-Region defensive lineman
Two-time First Team All-District selection
Helped Prince George 2020-21 5A playoffs berth

AJ Davis Jr. | RB | 6-0 | 215 | Lakeland, Fla. | Lakeland (Pitt)

Transferred to JMU from Pitt (2017-21) – has one year of eligibility
Appeared in 41 career games, making nine starts at running back
Rushed for 991 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.2 per carry
Also had 354 receiving yards to finish with 1,345 all-purpose yards with the Panthers
Under Armour All-American at Lakeland High School
Rushed for nearly 5,400 yards in his high school, leading team in rushing all four seasons

Justin Eaglin | CB | 6-2 | 170 | Spring Lake, N.C. | Pine Forest

2020 and 2021 First Team All-Conference
2021 First Team All-County selection
Helped Pine Forest to 2018 conference championship

Aiden Fisher | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Fredericksburg, Va. | Riverbend

2021 Region 5A Defensive Player of the year
2021 District Defensive Player of the Year
2021 First Team All-Region linebacker and Second Team running back
Three-time All-District selection
Four-year varsity starter

Trent Hendrick | LB | 6-1 | 225 | Richmond, Va. | St. Christopher's

2019 and 2021 VISAA All-State linebacker
2019 and 2021 All-Prep selection
Helped St. Christopher's to 2019 VISAA Division I title game
Tri-sport athlete who also lettered in basketball and track

Anthony Johnson | WR | 6-1 | 197 | Burlington, N.J. | Burlington Township

2021 First Team All-State and 2020 Second Team All-State selection
Four-time All-Conference member, including twice on First Team
2021 First Team All-South New Jersey
Two-time First Team All-County honoree
Tri-sport athlete who also lettered in baskeball and track

Deon Jones | S | 6-1 | 200 | Oxon Hill, Md. | Potomac (Boston College)

Transferred to JMU from Boston College (2020-21) and Maryland (2017-19) – has one year of eligibility
Appeared in 11 games with six start at BC and 21 games and six starts at Maryland
Tallied 42 tackles with 1.0 TFL, 2 fumble recoveries and a forced fumble with Eagles
Had 51 tackles with 1.0 TFL, 2 forced fumbles and a pass breakup with the Terrapins
Consensus 4-star recruit out of high school

Wayne Knight | RB | 5-8 | 180 | Smyrna, Del. | Smyrna

2019, 2020 and 2021 All-State honoree
Three-time All-Conference selection
Four-year varsity letterwinner
Helped Smyrna to 2021 DIAA 3A state championship game
Also part of Smyrna's 2019 and 2020 Division I playoff teams

Carter Miller | OL | 6-2 | 280 | Spring Hill, Tenn. | Ravenwood

2021 6A First Team All-State selection
2021 All-Williamson County Region Offensive Lineman of the Year
2019 and 2020 Second Team All-District honoree
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas before moving to Tennessee for senior season

Jayden Mines | WR | 6-0 | 185 | Ashland, Va. | Patrick Henry

2021 First Team All-Region wide receiver and defensive back
Helped Patrick Henry to 2019 4A region championship
Part of PHS's 2021 team that reached 4A region title game
Tri-sport athlete who also lettered in basketball and was a top-ranked sprinter in track

Hugo Nash | P | 6-2 | 183 | Melbourne, Australia | Scotch College

Part of Prokick Australia
Graduated from Scotch College in 2018
Competed in the Tiwi Islands Football League for the Imalu Tigers Football Club in 2019
Played Australian Rules Football since he was 7
Also played cricket and basketball

Rodney Nelson | RB | 5-8 | 180 | Reisterstown, Md. | Franklin

Named to MarylandVarsity Class of 2022 Top Running Backs list
Helped Franklin to 2019 and 2021 MPSSAA 3A region title games

Jarius Reimonenq | S | 5-10 | 195 | Hattiesburg, Miss. |Oak Grove (Arkansas State)

Transferred to JMU from Arkansas State (2019-21) – has two years of eligibility
Played in 31 games with 23 starts at ASU
Career-high 12 tackles twice in 2021
2018 6A First Team All-State and 2017 Second Team All-State selection
2018 Region 3 Defensive MVP at Oak Grove

Joseph Simmons | OL | 6-6 | 310 | Dover, Del. | Salesianum

DIAA 3A First Team All-State in 2021 and Second Team in 2020
Two-time First Team All-Conference selection
First Team All-Class as a senior
Helped Salesianum to 2021 3A state semifinals
Dual-sport athlete who also lettered in track & field

Carter Sweazie | OL | 6-3 | 290 | Ashburn, Va. | Stone Bridge

2020 First Team All-State selection
2020 and 2021 First Team All-Region and Second Team in 2019
Three-time All-District honoree
Part of Stone Bridge's 2020-21 and 2021 VHSL 5A state championships
Also helped SBHS to 2018 and 2019 5A state title games

Amar Thomas | DL | 6-2 | 230 | Upper Marlboro, Md. | Wise

2021 Washington Post First Team All-Metro
2021 Prince George Country Defensive Player of the Year
2019 and 2021 First Team All-County selection
Senior All-Star Game invitation

Ike Thompson | DL | 6-1 | 285 | Midlothian, Va. | Life Christian Academy

2021 Big River Game All-Star
Received multiple "Player of the Game" awards
Four-year varsity letterman at LCA Graduated from Scotch College in 2018

Tyrique Tucker | DL | 6-1 | 300 | Norfolk, Va. | Life Christian Academy

2019 VHSL Second Team All-State selection at Lake Taylor
2019 All-Eastern District First Team and 2018 Second Team choice
2019 First Team All-Tidewater honoree

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown	High School/Previous
Alonza Barnett III	QB	6-0	195	Whitsett, N.C.	Grimsley
Wesley Bostic	OL	6-4	285	Prince George, Va.	Prince George
AJ Davis Jr.	RB	6-0	215	Lakeland, Fla.	Lakeland (Pitt)
Justin Eaglin	CB	6-2	170	Spring Lake, N.C.	Pine Forest
Aiden Fisher	LB	6-2	220	Fredericksburg, Va.	Riverbend
Trent Hendrick	LB	6-1	225	Richmond, Va.	St. Christopher's
Anthony Johnson	WR	6-1	197	Burlington, N.J.	Burlington Township
Deon Jones	S	6-1	200	Oxon Hill, Md.	Potomac (Boston College)
Wayne Knight	RB	5-8	180	Smyrna, Del.	Smyrna
Carter Miller	OL	6-2	280	Spring Hill, Tenn.	Ravenwood
Jayden Mines	WR	6-0	185	Ashland, Va.	Patrick Henry
Hugo Nash	P	6-2	183	Melbourne, Australia	Scotch College
Rodney Nelson	RB	5-8	180	Reisterstown, Md.	Franklin
Jarius Reimonenq	S	5-10	195	Hattiesburg, Miss.	Oak Grove (Arkansas State)
Joseph Simmons	OL	6-6	310	Dover, Del.	Salesianum
Carter Sweazie	OL	6-3	290	Ashburn, Va.	Stone Bridge
Amar Thomas	DL	6-2	230	Upper Marlboro, Md.	Wise
Ike Thompson	DL	6-1	285	Midlothian, Va.	Life Christian Academy
Tyrique Tucker	DL	6-1	300	Norfolk, Va.	Life Christian Academy