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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Has one season of eligibility remaining
Spent four seasons at East Texas A&M (2021-24)
Played in 31 career games for the Lions

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

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

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

Has three seasons of eligibility remaining
Spent two seasons at William & Mary (2023-24)
2024 Freshman All-American
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

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

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

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:

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