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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Chesney Announces 2024 Football Coaching Staff
1/16/2024 5:45:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Head Coach Bob Chesney announced his 2024 football coaching staff, which includes seven members of his Holy Cross staff from last season, as well as the retention of two coaches from JMU's previous leadership.
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Joining the JMU coaching staff in coordinator roles are offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy (quarterbacks), defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill (rovers/nickels) and special teams coordinator Drew Canan (tight ends).
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Also joining the offensive staff is wide receivers coach Justin Harper, while the running backs will be led by David Sims, Jr. Defensively, Anthony DiMichele will coach safeties and serve as recruiting coordinator, Zach Sparber will lead the linebackers and Sam Daniels will return to his alma mater coach the defensive line.
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Chesney announced he will retain Damian Wroblewski in his role as associate head coach for offense and offensive line coach, as well as Eddie Whitley Jr., who will coach the cornerbacks.
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Chesney also appointed Jason Novak as the team's director of strength & conditioning, while Paul Cipriano was selected as associate director of strength & conditioning. Three senior analysts also join the program with Chris Zarkoskie working with the offense, Kyle Barnes working on defense and Matt Moran with the special teams unit.
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Three graduate assistants are also welcomed to the staff in Nick Sproles (offense), Justice Seales (defense) and Mike Cordova (offense).
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Seven coaches make the move to JMU with Chesney from Holy Cross in Kennedy, Canan, DiMichele, Zarkoskie, Barnes, Sproles and Cordova. Seales also previously served on Chesney's staff at Holy Cross before his move to UConn.
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"I am excited and honored to introduce our 2024 JMU football coaching staff," Chesney said. "We lead extensive searches in order to build the best coaching staff that is not only competent in their football acumen but also in their ability to connect with our players and recruits. Competency, connection and chemistry were qualifications we were looking for, and we believe we found that and more in these leaders of men. They are great people who care about the best interest and development of our student-athletes. I am confident this group will help our Dukes reach their maximum potential on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We are all excited to get to work!"
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Dean Kennedy – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Kennedy spent the past two seasons as quarterbacks coach at Holy Cross (2022-23), with the latter being his first season serving as Chesney's offensive coordinator. He mentored two-time Walter Payton Award finalist Matthew Sluka, who was voted 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. This past season, Holy Cross' offense ranked top-10 nationally in the FCS, including second on third down (51.9%), third in rushing (264.2), fourth in both total offense (466.6) and pass efficiency (161.64) and seventh in both scoring (36.9) and yards per completion (14.37).
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Lyle Hemphill – Defensive Coordinator/Nickels
Hemphill comes to JMU after coaching safeties at Duke for two seasons (2022-23), including this past year as the co-defensive coordinator. In 2023, his Blue Devil defense ranked 10th in the FBS in the red zone (74.4%) while also ranking 16th in both scoring (19.0) and on fourth down (39.3%), which led the Atlantic Coast Conference. Five defenders earned All-ACC status this past year, including safety Brandon Johnson. He also had a pair of safeties in Johnson and Darius Joiner take home All-ACC laurels in 2022.
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Drew Canan – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Canan comes to JMU after six years with Chesney at Holy Cross (2018-23), where he served as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. His 2022 special teams unit led the FCS with eight blocked punts, led by Devin Haskins' four to earn him All-America honors. His players have earned a combined 15 All-Patriot League accolades, as he was part of five conference titles and four trips to the FCS playoffs.
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Damian Wroblewski – Associate Head Coach for Offense/Offensive Line
Wroblewski has been on JMU's coaching staff since 2019 and has been associated head coach since 2021. He's coached five players to a combined six All-America honors and six linemen to a collective eight all-conference accolades. During the coaching transition, Wroblewski was named acting head coach and served as offensive coordinator for JMU's first bowl game at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
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Anthony DiMichele – Safeties/Recruiting Coordinator
DiMichele spent the previous two seasons on Chesney's staff at Holy Cross (2022-23) where he was safeties coach and the recruiting coordinator. In his first season coaching safeties at HC, the Crusaders' defense ranked atop the league in total defense (331.5) and scoring defense (21.5). They also ranked second nationally in turnover margin (+1.31). DiMichele also coached at Holy Cross in 2017 and 2018, working with the secondary and running backs. He is a 2011 Holy Cross graduate, in which he was a two-time All-Patriot League defensive back and 2009 All-American.
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Eddie Whitley Jr. – Cornerbacks
Whitley Jr. has been coaching at JMU since 2020, starting with the safeties before moving over to rovers for the past three seasons. JMU's defense ranked top-10 nationally in total defense in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was top 30 this past season. JMU ranked 20th in the FBS in scoring defense this past season (19.5). He's been a secondary coach in the Valley since 2017, previously coaching at nearby Bridgewater College.
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Justin Harper – Wide Receivers
Harper joins the JMU program after spending the past two seasons as tight ends coach at Sun Belt foe Old Dominion (2022-23). He mentored 2023 seventh round draft pick Zack Kuntz and his tight ends group made a combined 34 catches in 2022. He also served as the offensive recruiting coordinator for the Monarchs. Prior to ODU, he was receivers coach at Towson (2018-21). A 2008 Virginia Tech graduate, he was a seventh round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
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Zach Sparber – Linebackers
Sparber comes to JMU after spending three seasons as a defensive analyst at Duke (2021-23), where he primarily worked with the linebackers. He mentored a linebacker to All-ACC status each season, including Tre Freeman on the Second Team in 2023. Shaka Heyward was a Third Team honoree in 2021 and Honorable Mention in 2022. Duke turned in consecutive winning seasons, capping off each campaign with bowl championships at the 2022 Military Bowl and 2023 Birmingham Bowl.
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Sam Daniels – Defensive Line
Daniels returns home to his alma mater after serving as defensive line coach at Delaware for the previous two seasons (2022-23), reaching the FCS playoffs in each year. This past year, Delaware was 18th in the FCS in pass efficiency defense (115.83) and 20th in tackles for loss (6.8). The year prior, UD ranked second nationally in scoring defense (18.2) and third in total defense (282.6). He coached a pair of Hens to a combined three All-CAA honors in Chase McGowan (2nd in 2023, 3rd in 2022) and Artis Hemmingway (2nd in 2022). Daniels also coached two seasons at Richmond (2020-21). As a defensive lineman at JMU, where he is a 2010 graduate, he was a two-time All-American and helped the Dukes to a pair of FCS playoff appearances.
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David Sims Jr. – Running Backs
Sims comes to Harrisonburg after a three-season stint as running backs coach at Penn out of the Ivy League. While with the Quakers, he coached Malachi Hosley to Ivy League Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America honors in 2023. Sims also mentored First Team All-Ivy selection Trey Flowers in 2022 and Second Team honoree Isaiah Malcome in 2021. Sims Jr. also coached at Furman (2017-20) and was a former three-year starter and 2,200-yard rusher at Georgia Tech from 2011-13.
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Jason Novak – Director of Strength & Conditioning
Novak joins the Dukes after four seasons as head strength & conditioning coach at Michigan State. His time in East Lansing was highlighted by an 11-win campaign in 2021 where the Spartans won the Peach Bowl and finished ninth in the AP Top 25. He previously spent four seasons as head strength coach Central Michigan (2015-19) and 11 years as assistant strength coach with the Tennessee Titans (2004-15).
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Paul Cipriano – Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Cipriano follows Novak to JMU after serving on his strength & conditioning staff at Michigan State for four seasons (2020-23), including the previous two with the football program. Prior to MSU, he was on staff at Central Michigan for four years and FIU for two years. He also has experience at Wisconsin-La Crosse and Eastern Michigan. He's a former track & field athlete at North Central College.
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Chris Zarkoskie – Senior Offensive Analyst
Zarkoskie comes to JMU after spending one season at Holy Cross (2023) as the team's offensive line coach. His line aided Holy Cross in ranking third nationally in rushing, fourth in total offense and pass efficiency and seventh in scoring. CJ Hanson and Luke Newman were named First Team All-Patriot League, while Patrick McMurtrie and Eric Schon were named to the Second Team. He previously coached two years at Princeton and also has stops at New Hampshire, Brown and Lehigh.
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Kyle Barnes – Senior Defensive Analyst
Barnes spent the past two seasons as the cornerbacks coach on Chesney's staff at Holy Cross (2022-23). In 2023, he mentored Terrence Spence to Third Team All-Patriot League honors, while John Smith and Devin Haskins were all-conference during his first season. His first season, in which HC went 12-1, the Crusaders were tops in the PL in total defense (331.5) and scoring defense (21.5) while ranking second nationally in turnover margin (+1.31).
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Matt Moran – Senior Special Teams Analyst
Moran joins the Dukes after spending a season in the same role at Boston College (2023). The Eagles blocked a pair of kicks this past season and won the Wasabi Fenway Bowl over SMU to cap off a 7-6 season. He has nine years of experience, with previous stops at Stanford and Rutgers in special teams roles.
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Nick Sproles – Offensive GA
Sproles was an offensive quality control coach under Chesney last season at Holy Cross (2023). He previously coached quarterbacks at Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., and was previously a quarterback at the University of Florida and Southwestern Oklahoma State.
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Justice Seales – Defensive GA
Seales brings two years of coaching experience to Harrisonburg, having been a grad assistant at UConn (2023) and a defensive quality control coach for Chesney at Holy Cross (2022). Prior to collegiate coaching, Seales worked for Upward Human Performance, and played four years at Marist as a safety, earning Honorable Mention All-Pioneer League honors.
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Mike Cordova – Offensive GA
Cordova joins JMU after two seasons at Holy Cross (2022-23), where he was most recently the running backs coach in 2023. He also served as special teams quality control in 2022. The Crusaders had one of the nation's best rushing attacks this past year, ranking third with 264.2 yards per game. It was also fourth in total offense (466.6) and seventh in scoring (36.9). Jordan Fuller was voted First Team All-Patriot League in his year leading the running backs.
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Joining the JMU coaching staff in coordinator roles are offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy (quarterbacks), defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill (rovers/nickels) and special teams coordinator Drew Canan (tight ends).
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Also joining the offensive staff is wide receivers coach Justin Harper, while the running backs will be led by David Sims, Jr. Defensively, Anthony DiMichele will coach safeties and serve as recruiting coordinator, Zach Sparber will lead the linebackers and Sam Daniels will return to his alma mater coach the defensive line.
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Chesney announced he will retain Damian Wroblewski in his role as associate head coach for offense and offensive line coach, as well as Eddie Whitley Jr., who will coach the cornerbacks.
Â
Chesney also appointed Jason Novak as the team's director of strength & conditioning, while Paul Cipriano was selected as associate director of strength & conditioning. Three senior analysts also join the program with Chris Zarkoskie working with the offense, Kyle Barnes working on defense and Matt Moran with the special teams unit.
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Three graduate assistants are also welcomed to the staff in Nick Sproles (offense), Justice Seales (defense) and Mike Cordova (offense).
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Seven coaches make the move to JMU with Chesney from Holy Cross in Kennedy, Canan, DiMichele, Zarkoskie, Barnes, Sproles and Cordova. Seales also previously served on Chesney's staff at Holy Cross before his move to UConn.
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"I am excited and honored to introduce our 2024 JMU football coaching staff," Chesney said. "We lead extensive searches in order to build the best coaching staff that is not only competent in their football acumen but also in their ability to connect with our players and recruits. Competency, connection and chemistry were qualifications we were looking for, and we believe we found that and more in these leaders of men. They are great people who care about the best interest and development of our student-athletes. I am confident this group will help our Dukes reach their maximum potential on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We are all excited to get to work!"
Â
Dean Kennedy – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Kennedy spent the past two seasons as quarterbacks coach at Holy Cross (2022-23), with the latter being his first season serving as Chesney's offensive coordinator. He mentored two-time Walter Payton Award finalist Matthew Sluka, who was voted 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. This past season, Holy Cross' offense ranked top-10 nationally in the FCS, including second on third down (51.9%), third in rushing (264.2), fourth in both total offense (466.6) and pass efficiency (161.64) and seventh in both scoring (36.9) and yards per completion (14.37).
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Lyle Hemphill – Defensive Coordinator/Nickels
Hemphill comes to JMU after coaching safeties at Duke for two seasons (2022-23), including this past year as the co-defensive coordinator. In 2023, his Blue Devil defense ranked 10th in the FBS in the red zone (74.4%) while also ranking 16th in both scoring (19.0) and on fourth down (39.3%), which led the Atlantic Coast Conference. Five defenders earned All-ACC status this past year, including safety Brandon Johnson. He also had a pair of safeties in Johnson and Darius Joiner take home All-ACC laurels in 2022.
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Drew Canan – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Canan comes to JMU after six years with Chesney at Holy Cross (2018-23), where he served as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. His 2022 special teams unit led the FCS with eight blocked punts, led by Devin Haskins' four to earn him All-America honors. His players have earned a combined 15 All-Patriot League accolades, as he was part of five conference titles and four trips to the FCS playoffs.
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Damian Wroblewski – Associate Head Coach for Offense/Offensive Line
Wroblewski has been on JMU's coaching staff since 2019 and has been associated head coach since 2021. He's coached five players to a combined six All-America honors and six linemen to a collective eight all-conference accolades. During the coaching transition, Wroblewski was named acting head coach and served as offensive coordinator for JMU's first bowl game at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
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Anthony DiMichele – Safeties/Recruiting Coordinator
DiMichele spent the previous two seasons on Chesney's staff at Holy Cross (2022-23) where he was safeties coach and the recruiting coordinator. In his first season coaching safeties at HC, the Crusaders' defense ranked atop the league in total defense (331.5) and scoring defense (21.5). They also ranked second nationally in turnover margin (+1.31). DiMichele also coached at Holy Cross in 2017 and 2018, working with the secondary and running backs. He is a 2011 Holy Cross graduate, in which he was a two-time All-Patriot League defensive back and 2009 All-American.
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Eddie Whitley Jr. – Cornerbacks
Whitley Jr. has been coaching at JMU since 2020, starting with the safeties before moving over to rovers for the past three seasons. JMU's defense ranked top-10 nationally in total defense in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was top 30 this past season. JMU ranked 20th in the FBS in scoring defense this past season (19.5). He's been a secondary coach in the Valley since 2017, previously coaching at nearby Bridgewater College.
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Justin Harper – Wide Receivers
Harper joins the JMU program after spending the past two seasons as tight ends coach at Sun Belt foe Old Dominion (2022-23). He mentored 2023 seventh round draft pick Zack Kuntz and his tight ends group made a combined 34 catches in 2022. He also served as the offensive recruiting coordinator for the Monarchs. Prior to ODU, he was receivers coach at Towson (2018-21). A 2008 Virginia Tech graduate, he was a seventh round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
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Zach Sparber – Linebackers
Sparber comes to JMU after spending three seasons as a defensive analyst at Duke (2021-23), where he primarily worked with the linebackers. He mentored a linebacker to All-ACC status each season, including Tre Freeman on the Second Team in 2023. Shaka Heyward was a Third Team honoree in 2021 and Honorable Mention in 2022. Duke turned in consecutive winning seasons, capping off each campaign with bowl championships at the 2022 Military Bowl and 2023 Birmingham Bowl.
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Sam Daniels – Defensive Line
Daniels returns home to his alma mater after serving as defensive line coach at Delaware for the previous two seasons (2022-23), reaching the FCS playoffs in each year. This past year, Delaware was 18th in the FCS in pass efficiency defense (115.83) and 20th in tackles for loss (6.8). The year prior, UD ranked second nationally in scoring defense (18.2) and third in total defense (282.6). He coached a pair of Hens to a combined three All-CAA honors in Chase McGowan (2nd in 2023, 3rd in 2022) and Artis Hemmingway (2nd in 2022). Daniels also coached two seasons at Richmond (2020-21). As a defensive lineman at JMU, where he is a 2010 graduate, he was a two-time All-American and helped the Dukes to a pair of FCS playoff appearances.
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David Sims Jr. – Running Backs
Sims comes to Harrisonburg after a three-season stint as running backs coach at Penn out of the Ivy League. While with the Quakers, he coached Malachi Hosley to Ivy League Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America honors in 2023. Sims also mentored First Team All-Ivy selection Trey Flowers in 2022 and Second Team honoree Isaiah Malcome in 2021. Sims Jr. also coached at Furman (2017-20) and was a former three-year starter and 2,200-yard rusher at Georgia Tech from 2011-13.
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Jason Novak – Director of Strength & Conditioning
Novak joins the Dukes after four seasons as head strength & conditioning coach at Michigan State. His time in East Lansing was highlighted by an 11-win campaign in 2021 where the Spartans won the Peach Bowl and finished ninth in the AP Top 25. He previously spent four seasons as head strength coach Central Michigan (2015-19) and 11 years as assistant strength coach with the Tennessee Titans (2004-15).
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Paul Cipriano – Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Cipriano follows Novak to JMU after serving on his strength & conditioning staff at Michigan State for four seasons (2020-23), including the previous two with the football program. Prior to MSU, he was on staff at Central Michigan for four years and FIU for two years. He also has experience at Wisconsin-La Crosse and Eastern Michigan. He's a former track & field athlete at North Central College.
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Chris Zarkoskie – Senior Offensive Analyst
Zarkoskie comes to JMU after spending one season at Holy Cross (2023) as the team's offensive line coach. His line aided Holy Cross in ranking third nationally in rushing, fourth in total offense and pass efficiency and seventh in scoring. CJ Hanson and Luke Newman were named First Team All-Patriot League, while Patrick McMurtrie and Eric Schon were named to the Second Team. He previously coached two years at Princeton and also has stops at New Hampshire, Brown and Lehigh.
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Kyle Barnes – Senior Defensive Analyst
Barnes spent the past two seasons as the cornerbacks coach on Chesney's staff at Holy Cross (2022-23). In 2023, he mentored Terrence Spence to Third Team All-Patriot League honors, while John Smith and Devin Haskins were all-conference during his first season. His first season, in which HC went 12-1, the Crusaders were tops in the PL in total defense (331.5) and scoring defense (21.5) while ranking second nationally in turnover margin (+1.31).
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Matt Moran – Senior Special Teams Analyst
Moran joins the Dukes after spending a season in the same role at Boston College (2023). The Eagles blocked a pair of kicks this past season and won the Wasabi Fenway Bowl over SMU to cap off a 7-6 season. He has nine years of experience, with previous stops at Stanford and Rutgers in special teams roles.
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Nick Sproles – Offensive GA
Sproles was an offensive quality control coach under Chesney last season at Holy Cross (2023). He previously coached quarterbacks at Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., and was previously a quarterback at the University of Florida and Southwestern Oklahoma State.
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Justice Seales – Defensive GA
Seales brings two years of coaching experience to Harrisonburg, having been a grad assistant at UConn (2023) and a defensive quality control coach for Chesney at Holy Cross (2022). Prior to collegiate coaching, Seales worked for Upward Human Performance, and played four years at Marist as a safety, earning Honorable Mention All-Pioneer League honors.
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Mike Cordova – Offensive GA
Cordova joins JMU after two seasons at Holy Cross (2022-23), where he was most recently the running backs coach in 2023. He also served as special teams quality control in 2022. The Crusaders had one of the nation's best rushing attacks this past year, ranking third with 264.2 yards per game. It was also fourth in total offense (466.6) and seventh in scoring (36.9). Jordan Fuller was voted First Team All-Patriot League in his year leading the running backs.
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