Three More Former JMU Standouts Selected in 2023 XFL Draft

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Three former James Madison All-Americans were drafted Wednesday during the 2023 XFL Draft at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, as wide receiver Rashard Davis, defensive lineman John Daka and offensive lineman Liam Fornadel all heard their names called.

A former #1 overall pick in the XFL Draft in 2019, Davis was taken in the seventh round and 54th overall pick by the Seattle Sea Dragons during the offensive skilled portion. Daka was picked in the second round and #13 pick by the Houston Roughnecks during the defensive front seven portion. Fornadel closed out the day during the offensive line portion, being drafted in the ninth round and 72nd pick by the D.C. Defenders.

The trio joins quarterback Ben DiNucci, who was selected prior to the formal draft by the Sea Dragons. DiNucci and Davis will team up for the first time, as DiNucci transferred to JMU two seasons after Davis graduated.

Davis played in 50 games with 22 starts at receiver while also serving as one of the top punt returners in the country. He finished his JMU career with 114 catches for 1,549 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as four punt returns for a score during the 2016 season to lead the nation.

The 2016 CAA Special Teams Player of the Year was voted as a First Team All-American by three different organizations. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and won Super Bowl LII during his rookie season. In all he's played for five NFL teams, also signing with the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets. He also played for the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2021 and the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits this year.

Daka appeared in 51 games for JMU from 2016-19, making 24 starts at defensive end. In his time with the program, he ranked fourth all-time at JMU with 27.5 career sacks. He was a STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award finalist in 2019 and earned First Team All-America honors as a senior after registering 28.0 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks. As a junior, he tallied 17.0 TFL and 10.0 sacks, earning Second Team All-America laurels.

Prior to the XFL, Daka had offseason or preseason stints in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Rams, and he was most recently a practice-squad member with the Chicago Bears.

Fornadel played in 55 career games for the Dukes from 2017-21, making 41 starts on the offensive line. He was a two-time All-American, earning multiple First Team honors in 2019 and Second Team accolades in 2021.

He most recently spent a short time on the practice squad with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The XFL's eight franchises drafted a total of 442 players between Tuesday and Thursday. A supplemental draft will be held in early January for players who were not eligible for this week's draft. Training camp begins in Jan. 2023 with the season kicking off on Feb. 18, 2023.

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