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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Nick DeGennaro Signs Deal with New England Patriots
4/25/2026 8:37:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Former James Madison wide receiver Nick DeGennaro has signed a contract with the New England Patriots of the National Football League.
DeGennaro confirmed the news to JMU following the NFL Draft, as he signed a priority free agent deal with the Patriots.
A native of Old Bridge, N.J., DeGennaro spent the 2025 season with the Dukes after playing three years at Richmond (2022-24) while beginning his career at Maryland (2020-21).
Over the course of his career, DeGennaro tallied 193 receptions for 2,544 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per catch. He started 39 of 56 career games between his three programs, including making 13 starts over 14 games during JMU's historic 2025 campaign.
As a redshirt senior, DeGennaro made 28 catches for 500 receiving yards and five scores, averaging 17.9 per grab. He also completed a 50-yard pass in the College Football Playoff while adding a five-yard rush to account for 555 between the air and ground. He turned in a pair of 100-yard, two-touchdown games in 2025, doing so in back-to-back weeks against Old Dominion and at Texas State.
In his final collegiate game, he made history as the first player from JMU, the Sun Belt Conference and a team from the Commonwealth of Virginia to score a touchdown in the College Football Playoff, taking an Alonza Barnett III pass 47 yards to the house.
Prior to JMU, DeGennaro was a two-time All-Coastal Athletic Association receiver, earning Second Team honors in 2023 and Third Team laurels in 2024.
DeGennaro confirmed the news to JMU following the NFL Draft, as he signed a priority free agent deal with the Patriots.
A native of Old Bridge, N.J., DeGennaro spent the 2025 season with the Dukes after playing three years at Richmond (2022-24) while beginning his career at Maryland (2020-21).
Over the course of his career, DeGennaro tallied 193 receptions for 2,544 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per catch. He started 39 of 56 career games between his three programs, including making 13 starts over 14 games during JMU's historic 2025 campaign.
As a redshirt senior, DeGennaro made 28 catches for 500 receiving yards and five scores, averaging 17.9 per grab. He also completed a 50-yard pass in the College Football Playoff while adding a five-yard rush to account for 555 between the air and ground. He turned in a pair of 100-yard, two-touchdown games in 2025, doing so in back-to-back weeks against Old Dominion and at Texas State.
In his final collegiate game, he made history as the first player from JMU, the Sun Belt Conference and a team from the Commonwealth of Virginia to score a touchdown in the College Football Playoff, taking an Alonza Barnett III pass 47 yards to the house.
Prior to JMU, DeGennaro was a two-time All-Coastal Athletic Association receiver, earning Second Team honors in 2023 and Third Team laurels in 2024.
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