Dukes Picked Second in East Division, Five Named Preseason All-Sun Belt

NEW ORLEANS – James Madison football was predicted to finish second in Sun Belt Conference East Division, and five student-athletes were selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, the league announced Monday.

The Dukes, who finished atop the Sun Belt East in each of their first two seasons in the league, received two first-place votes and tallied 79 total points. App State claimed 12 first-place votes and 96 points to be named the division's preseason favorite.

Following the Dukes in the East were Coastal Carolina (67), Georgia Southern (50), Marshall (49), Old Dominion (32) and Georgia State (19).

In the West, Texas State took the top spot with nine first-place votes and 92 points. Troy had four first-place votes and 68 points, while Louisiana garnered the final first-place nod and 66 points.

Leading JMU on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team were offensive lineman Cole Potts and punter Ryan Hanson, who both earned First Team accolades. Taking home Second Team honors were offensive lineman Tyshawn Wyatt, defensive lineman Eric O'Neill and cornerback Chauncey Logan.

Potts is a four-year starter at right guard, having started 53 of his 54 career games. He was a 2023 Virginia Sports Information Directors Second Team All-State selection and was named JMU's Offensive Lineman of the Year. Wyatt is a three-year starter, mostly at left tackle, and started eight games last season before a season-ending injury.

The duo helped JMU's offense rank top 30 nationally in six offensive categories, which included tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (36), 13th in pass efficiency rating (162.6), completion percentage (67.3%), 17th in yards per pass attempt (8.6), 20th in passing yards (284.8) and 23rd in scoring offense (34.1). JMU led the Sun Belt in yards per pass attempt, passing touchdowns and pass efficiency.

Hanson was a College Football Network Second Team All-American in his first year with the Dukes while also claiming Second Team All-Sun Belt and VaSID All-State laurels. A Ray Guy Award Watch List member, Hanson averaged 40.6 yards per punt on 59 attempts with 29 punts inside the 20 with only two touchbacks.

O'Neill transferred to JMU after three seasons at LIU where he started 22 of 25 games. Last season, he as a Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award finalist and Second Team All-American. O'Neill was voted Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year after tallying 80 tackles with 23.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception and four pass breakups. The two-time First Team All-NEC pick has 44.5 career tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.

Logan, who's started all but two games in his JMU career, was an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt selection last season. In 13 starts in 2023, Logan accrued 45 tackles with 4.0 for a loss, one interception and six pass breakups. Over the last two seasons, he leads the Dukes with 16 total breakups.

Headlining the Sun Belt preseason awards were App State quarterback Joey Aguilar and Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson, who were named Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

Voting for the predicted order of finish and All-Sun Belt Team was conducted by the head coach and one media member from each of the league's 14 institutions.

Sun Belt Football Media Days kick off the season for the league this week at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District, as the East Division teams go on Tuesday, July 23, while the West Division squads will be live on Wednesday, July 24. Both days will be streamed live on ESPN+.

JMU opens the 2024 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Aug. 31 when it travels to Charlotte in an 8 p.m. kickoff on ESPNU.

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