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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
JMU Football Signs 19 Transfers for 2025 Season
1/22/2025 6:00:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Head Coach Bob Chesney announced the addition of 19 transfers to the football roster for the 2025 season.
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Adding in National Signing Day back in December, JMU's signing class sits at 34 heading into the spring semester. Of the 19 mid-year signees, 17 have enrolled at JMU and will participate in spring practice while two others will join the team after graduating from their respective institutions in May.
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Kells Bush | Defensive Lineman | 6-3 | 310 | New Orleans, La. | Louisiana Tech
Camden Coleman | Quarterback | 6-3 | 220 | Clemmons, N.C. | Richmond
Za'Ron Collins | Wide Receiver | 6-2 | 185 | Miami, Fla. | Tusculum
Nick DeGennaro | Wide Receiver | 6-1 | 190 | Old Bridge, N.J. | Richmond
Lacota Dippre | Tight End | 6-3 | 255 | Scott Township, Pa. | Charlotte
Landon Ellis | Wide Receiver | 6-2 | 185 | Orange, Va. | Richmond
Aiden Gobaira | Defensive Lineman | 6-5 | 250 | Fairfax, Va. | Notre Dame
Zach Greenberg | Offensive Lineman | 6-5 | 305 | Livingston, N.J. | North Carolina
Chantz Harley | Cornerback | 6-1 | 195 | Upper Marlboro, Md. | Maryland
Curtis Harris-Lopez | Safety | 6-1 | 210 | Nashua, N.H. | Holy Cross
Xavier Holmes | Defensive Line | 6-2 | 235 | Clarksburg, Md. | Maine
Josiah Kennard |Long Snapper | 6-2 | 230 | Manvel, Texas | East Texas A&M
JT Kouame-Yao | Linebacker | 6-0 | 215 | Centreville, Va. | Shepherd
Lexington Matthews | Punter | 6-5 | 200 | McDonough, Ga. | Savannah State
Jeremiah Mawali | Offensive Lineman | 6-6 | 300 | West Palm Beach, Fla. | Valdosta State
TJ McGill | Safety | 6-0 | 185 | Charlotte, N.C. | William & Mary
Mekhi Rodgers | Cornerback | 6-2 | 195 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Saint Francis
Jaylan Sanchez | Wide Receiver | 6-0 | 200 | North Bergen, N.J. | Villanova
Matthew Sluka | Quarterback | 6-3 | 220 | Locust Valley, N.Y. | Holy Cross/UNLV
Additionally, eight of 15 high school seniors who signed last month during National Signing Day have enrolled at JMU as full-time students and will partake in the offseason strength & conditioning program and spring practice. They include:
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Adding in National Signing Day back in December, JMU's signing class sits at 34 heading into the spring semester. Of the 19 mid-year signees, 17 have enrolled at JMU and will participate in spring practice while two others will join the team after graduating from their respective institutions in May.
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Kells Bush | Defensive Lineman | 6-3 | 310 | New Orleans, La. | Louisiana Tech
- Has two seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Louisiana Tech (2023-24) and one season at LSU (2022)
- Played in 14 career games, all at LT, and redshirted while at LSU
- Tallied 12 tackles while at Louisiana Tech
Camden Coleman | Quarterback | 6-3 | 220 | Clemmons, N.C. | Richmond
- Has two seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Richmond (2023-24)
- 2024 Third Team All-CAA selection
- Played in 18 career games with 14 starts with the Spiders
- Threw for 3,192 career passing yards (260/398) with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while rushing for 314 yards and six touchdowns
Za'Ron Collins | Wide Receiver | 6-2 | 185 | Miami, Fla. | Tusculum
- Has three seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Tusculum (2023-24)
- Played in 12 career games with six starts, redshirting in 2024 after only playing four games
- Had 21 receptions for 389 receiving yards and two touchdowns; also had a 50-yard touchdown rush
Nick DeGennaro | Wide Receiver | 6-1 | 190 | Old Bridge, N.J. | Richmond
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent three seasons at Richmond (2022-24) and two at Maryland (2020-21)
- Two-time All-CAA selection (Second Team in 2023, Third Team in 2024)
- Played in 42 career games, including 35 with 22 starts at UR
- Had 165 receptions for 2,044 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, including 11 in 2023
Lacota Dippre | Tight End | 6-3 | 255 | Scott Township, Pa. | Charlotte
- Has three seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Charlotte (2023-24)
- Played in 13 career games with two starts for the 49ers
- Redshirted in 2023, playing in one game
- Will play tight end for JMU after being a defensive lineman in 2024 at UNCC, making 25 tackles, 3.0 TFL and 1.0 sack
Landon Ellis | Wide Receiver | 6-2 | 185 | Orange, Va. | Richmond
- Has two seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Richmond (2023-24)
- Played in 26 career games with 17 starts for the Spiders
- Had 70 receptions for 802 receiving yards and five touchdowns
- Richmond leader in receptions and receiving yards in 2024
Aiden Gobaira | Defensive Lineman | 6-5 | 250 | Fairfax, Va. | Notre Dame
- Will enroll at JMU after graduating from Notre Dame in spring
- Has two seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Notre Dame (2022-23)
- Redshirted in 2022
Zach Greenberg | Offensive Lineman | 6-5 | 305 | Livingston, N.J. | North Carolina
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent one season at North Carolina (2024) and three at Muhlenberg (2021-23)
- Two-time First Team All-Centennial Conference selection at Muhlenberg (2021, 2023)
- Played in 31 career games with 27 starts on the offensive line
- Started 26 of 27 games at Muhlenberg and one game last season at UNC
Chantz Harley | Cornerback | 6-1 | 195 | Upper Marlboro, Md. | Maryland
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent three seasons at Maryland (2022-24) and one season at Villanova (2021)
- Played in 27 career games with the Terrapins and redshirted at Villanova
- Tallied 24 career tackles, including 16 in 2024
Curtis Harris-Lopez | Safety | 6-1 | 210 | Nashua, N.H. | Holy Cross
- Will enroll at JMU after graduating from Holy Cross in spring
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent four seasons at Holy Cross (2021-24)
- 2024 Second Team All-Patriot League selection
- Played in 34 career games with 21 starts for the Crusaders
- Tallied 131 career tackles with 15.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, two interceptions (one pick-six), nine pass breakups and three forced fumbles; also had one kick return for a touchdown
Xavier Holmes | Defensive Line | 6-2 | 235 | Clarksburg, Md. | Maine
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent four seasons at Maine (2021-24)
- 2024 Second Team All-CAA selection
- Played in 25 career games with 23 starts for the Black Bears
- Tallied 123 career tackles with 20.0 TFL, 8.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and four recoveries
- Has 12.5 TFL and 6.0 sacks last season
Josiah Kennard |Long Snapper | 6-2 | 230 | Manvel, Texas | East Texas A&M
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent four seasons at East Texas A&M (2021-24)
- Played in 31 career games for the Lions
JT Kouame-Yao | Linebacker | 6-0 | 215 | Centreville, Va. | Shepherd
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent three seasons at Shepherd (2022-24)
- 2024 First Team All-PSAS East selection
- Played in 35 career games with 23 starts for the Rams
- Tallied 169 career tackles with 19.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks and three interceptions
Lexington Matthews | Punter | 6-5 | 200 | McDonough, Ga. | Savannah State
- Has three seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Savannah State (2023-24)
- Played in 10 games last season while redshirting 2023 season
- Averaged 41.3 yards per punt on 53 attempts with a long of 70
- Had 10 punts over 50 yards last season
Jeremiah Mawali | Offensive Lineman | 6-6 | 300 | West Palm Beach, Fla. | Valdosta State
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at Valdosta State (2023-24), two at Garden City CC (2021-22) and one at Tennessee State (2020)
- 2024 Don Hansen Division II Honorable Mention All-American and First Team All-GSC selection
- Played in 24 career games with nine starts
TJ McGill | Safety | 6-0 | 185 | Charlotte, N.C. | William & Mary
- Has three seasons of eligibility remaining
- Spent two seasons at William & Mary (2023-24)
- 2024 Freshman All-AmericanÂ
- Played in 16 career games with 13 starts for the Tribe
- Redshirted in 2023, playing in just four games
- Tallied 69 career tackles with 2.5 TFL, one interception, four pass breakups and one forced fumble
Mekhi Rodgers | Cornerback | 6-2 | 195 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Saint Francis
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent one season at Saint Francis (2024) and two at Hobart College (2022-23)
- 2023 Honorable Mention All-Liberty League selection
- Played in 30 career games with 21 starts
- Tallied 61 career tackles with 2.5 TFL, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups
Jaylan Sanchez | Wide Receiver | 6-0 | 200 | North Bergen, N.J. | Villanova
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent three seasons at Villanova (2022-24)
- Played in 37 career games with 30 starts for the Wildcats
- Had 76 career receptions for 1,303 receiving yards and nine touchdowns
- Averaged 17.1 yards per catch in three seasons at Villanova, including school-record 25.6 per catch in 2023
Matthew Sluka | Quarterback | 6-3 | 220 | Locust Valley, N.Y. | Holy Cross/UNLV
- Has one season of eligibility remaining
- Spent one season at UNLV (2024) and four at Holy Cross (2020-23)
- Two-time Walter Payton Award Finalist (2022, 2023)
- 2023 FCS All-American and three-time All-Patriot League selection
- Played in 44 career games with 42 starts, including 39 at Holy Cross
- In his career, threw for 6,234 passing yards (434/756) with 65 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while rushing for 3,837 yards and 39 touchdowns
- Has accounted for 10,071 total yards and 104 total touchdowns
Additionally, eight of 15 high school seniors who signed last month during National Signing Day have enrolled at JMU as full-time students and will partake in the offseason strength & conditioning program and spring practice. They include:
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- Kai Callen | Nickel | 5-9 | 175 | Pocatello, Idaho | Carrollton [GA]
- Brian Hnat | Tight End | 6-5 | 220 | Andover, Mass. | Avon Old Farms
- Jackson McCarter | Running Back | 5-11 | 190 | Bristow, Va. | Patriot
- Roddrey McWilliams | Cornerback | 6-1 | 175 | Richmond, Va. | Benedictine College Prep
- Michael Scott | Wide Receiver | 5-9 | 160 | York, Pa. | Dallastown Area
- Jamarcus Smith | Wide Receiver | 6-0 | 195 | Gaffney, S.C. | Gaffney
- Cole Webster | Defensive Lineman | 6-3 | 280 | Waxhaw, N.C. | Cuthbertson
- Trent Wilson | Offensive Lineman | 6-4 | 275 | Southlake, Texas | Southlake Carroll
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