Upcoming Event: Football versus Liberty on September 5, 2026
FB
James Madison
vs Liberty
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
BARBER: Cam Ross Sparks Complementary Effort in JMU Win
10/27/2024 11:00:00 AM | Football
By Mike Barber
JMUSports.com Correspondent
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Cam Ross's big plays in Saturday's James Madison win over Southern Miss certainly didn't surprise teammate Terrence Spence.
Spence has seen, firsthand, just how explosive the Connecticut transfer wide receiver and kick returner can be.
In fact, Ross's quick burst and elusiveness left Spence, a cornerback, struggling to stay on his feet during a drill during preseason practice.
"There was this one time during camp, he had me almost fall to the ground," Spence said. "I don't think a receiver's ever done that to me before. … I won't forget that one."
Against the Golden Eagles, Ross turned in an even more memorable feat. He took the opening kickoff of the second half back 94 yards for a touchdown, and later hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass, as the Dukes notched a 32-15 win that made them bowl eligible.
On a day when the offense struggled, going two for 12 on third down and throwing for 158 yards, its second lowest total this season, JMU got enough big plays from its defense and special teams to remain undefeated at home this year and a game back in the standings in the Sun Belt East.
The Dukes' defense piled up a season-high nine sacks and forced two turnovers, including Spence's fifth interception of the year. And Ross's kick return wasn't the only special teams score.
After Southern Miss scored early in the third quarter to trim JMU's lead to 23-15, defensive tackle Darold DeNgohe got a hand up and blocked the extra point try. Safety Chris Shearin scooped up the ball and ran it back 93 yards for two points for the Dukes.
"There were plays made in areas they're not usually made," JMU head coach Bob Chesney said.
None was bigger than Ross's kick return, the Dukes' first since 2021.
The thrilling runback was one that had its roots in the offseason, when assistant special teams coordinator Matt Moran sat with Ross, breaking down his kickoff plans and showing Ross successful returns by NFL star Christian McCaffrey, who Moran coached while on the staff at Stanford from 2015-22.
"I remember sitting in this very room and just watching kick return cut-ups (from) when he was at Stanford, him showing CMC housing a lot of them," Ross said during Saturday's postgame press conference.
Ross's speed was among the things that drew Chesney and JMU to him when the Delaware native placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal after four seasons with Connecticut. In 2023, Ross caught 44 catches for 552 yards and two touchdowns, while also averaging 16.3 yards per kick return for the Huskies.
"He's quick. He's got top-end speed," Chesney said. "You saw him pull away from everybody out there. But then, he's a savvy football player. He's a good route runner."
And Ross doesn't throttle down in practice, even during walk-throughs, when the coaching staff implores him to pump the brakes a bit.
"He really only has one speed. He's at full-speed all the time," Chesney said. "We're constantly yelling at him to slow down. But that's how he plays the game. … Every opportunity he gets, he's going to make the most of it."
On the season, Ross has caught 28 passes for 354 yards and three scores. His biggest game came at North Carolina, when his seven receptions produced 107 yards and a touchdown.
Saturday's score wasn't the first time Ross found room to run on a kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium. Last season, while playing for UConn, Ross ran a kick back 27 yards, his career long going coming into the year.
JMU beat Ross's Huskies 44-6, an experience that planted the seed in Ross's mind that pulling on purple and playing for the Dukes might be a change he wanted to pursue.
"Being on the opposing sideline last year, seeing the streamers go up, seeing the partying in this stadium, but just being on the wrong side of it," Ross said. "Being able to do a (180) and be on this side, it feels good."
Saturday, those streamers flew for Ross and the Dukes.
JMUSports.com Correspondent
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Cam Ross's big plays in Saturday's James Madison win over Southern Miss certainly didn't surprise teammate Terrence Spence.
Spence has seen, firsthand, just how explosive the Connecticut transfer wide receiver and kick returner can be.
In fact, Ross's quick burst and elusiveness left Spence, a cornerback, struggling to stay on his feet during a drill during preseason practice.
"There was this one time during camp, he had me almost fall to the ground," Spence said. "I don't think a receiver's ever done that to me before. … I won't forget that one."
Against the Golden Eagles, Ross turned in an even more memorable feat. He took the opening kickoff of the second half back 94 yards for a touchdown, and later hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass, as the Dukes notched a 32-15 win that made them bowl eligible.
On a day when the offense struggled, going two for 12 on third down and throwing for 158 yards, its second lowest total this season, JMU got enough big plays from its defense and special teams to remain undefeated at home this year and a game back in the standings in the Sun Belt East.
The Dukes' defense piled up a season-high nine sacks and forced two turnovers, including Spence's fifth interception of the year. And Ross's kick return wasn't the only special teams score.
After Southern Miss scored early in the third quarter to trim JMU's lead to 23-15, defensive tackle Darold DeNgohe got a hand up and blocked the extra point try. Safety Chris Shearin scooped up the ball and ran it back 93 yards for two points for the Dukes.
"There were plays made in areas they're not usually made," JMU head coach Bob Chesney said.
None was bigger than Ross's kick return, the Dukes' first since 2021.
The thrilling runback was one that had its roots in the offseason, when assistant special teams coordinator Matt Moran sat with Ross, breaking down his kickoff plans and showing Ross successful returns by NFL star Christian McCaffrey, who Moran coached while on the staff at Stanford from 2015-22.
"I remember sitting in this very room and just watching kick return cut-ups (from) when he was at Stanford, him showing CMC housing a lot of them," Ross said during Saturday's postgame press conference.
Ross's speed was among the things that drew Chesney and JMU to him when the Delaware native placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal after four seasons with Connecticut. In 2023, Ross caught 44 catches for 552 yards and two touchdowns, while also averaging 16.3 yards per kick return for the Huskies.
"He's quick. He's got top-end speed," Chesney said. "You saw him pull away from everybody out there. But then, he's a savvy football player. He's a good route runner."
And Ross doesn't throttle down in practice, even during walk-throughs, when the coaching staff implores him to pump the brakes a bit.
"He really only has one speed. He's at full-speed all the time," Chesney said. "We're constantly yelling at him to slow down. But that's how he plays the game. … Every opportunity he gets, he's going to make the most of it."
On the season, Ross has caught 28 passes for 354 yards and three scores. His biggest game came at North Carolina, when his seven receptions produced 107 yards and a touchdown.
Saturday's score wasn't the first time Ross found room to run on a kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium. Last season, while playing for UConn, Ross ran a kick back 27 yards, his career long going coming into the year.
JMU beat Ross's Huskies 44-6, an experience that planted the seed in Ross's mind that pulling on purple and playing for the Dukes might be a change he wanted to pursue.
"Being on the opposing sideline last year, seeing the streamers go up, seeing the partying in this stadium, but just being on the wrong side of it," Ross said. "Being able to do a (180) and be on this side, it feels good."
Saturday, those streamers flew for Ross and the Dukes.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
S
/ Football
CB
/ FootballJMU Football | Zach Greenberg, Ken Willis and Patrick Rea Media Availability – April 2, 2026
Thursday, April 02
JMU Football | Dave Plungas and Rob Wenger Media Availability – April 2, 2026
Thursday, April 02
JMU Football | Offensive Coordinator Cam Aiken Media Availability - March 31, 2026
Tuesday, March 31
JMU Football | Defensive Coordinator Robert Bala Media Availability – March 31, 2026
Tuesday, March 31
