If you’re looking at the james madison depth chart right now and feeling a little lightheaded, you’re not alone. Honestly, it’s chaos. Absolute, high-stakes, transfer-portal-fueled chaos. Just a few weeks ago, the Dukes were riding high on an 11-1 regular season and their first-ever College Football Playoff berth. Fast forward to mid-January 2026, and the roster looks like it went through a paper shredder.
Bob Chesney? Gone to UCLA. Alonza Barnett III? Heading to UCF. The entire starting offense? Literally all of them—every single one—is either graduating or portaling out.
It’s the kind of turnover that would make most programs fold, but Harrisonburg isn't most places. Billy Napier is officially in the building, and while the "Sun Belt Billy" era is starting with a nearly empty cupboard, the way he’s filling it is actually kinda fascinating.
The Quarterback Room is a Total Wildcard
Let’s be real: losing Alonza Barnett III hurts. He was the Sun Belt Player of the Year. You don't just "replace" 3,000 total yards and a guy who took you to the CFP.
With Barnett off to Orlando, the james madison depth chart at QB is a wide-open race. Right now, the name everyone is whispering about is Landen Clark. He’s a transfer from Elon who basically torched the CAA last year. We’re talking 2,900 total yards and 29 combined touchdowns. He’s visiting Harrisonburg this month, and if Napier lands him, he’s the Day 1 starter.
If Clark doesn't land? You’re looking at a battle between:
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- JC Evans: The redshirt freshman who’s been marinating in the system but hasn't seen real bullets yet.
- Arrington Maiden: A Texas product who just committed and brings that high-ceiling "Napier recruit" energy.
- Blake Kendall: A veteran presence, though he’s also been testing the portal waters recently.
It’s a gamble. Napier’s offense needs a point guard who can run, and Clark fits that mold perfectly. Without a proven vet, this offense might stutter early against a brutal 2026 schedule.
Rebuilding the Trench Warfare
The most alarming part of the current james madison depth chart isn't even the skill positions. It’s the offensive line. Joseph Simmons (LT), Carter Sweazie (LG), and Riley Robell (RG) are all gone. Most of them are actually following Chesney to UCLA, which has to sting for the JMU faithful.
Napier is a "trench" guy—he obsessed over O-line play at Florida and Louisiana. He’s already brought in Rob Sale, his right-hand man from Florida, to coach the unit.
They are currently leaning heavily on:
- Tyler Brown: A massive 320-pounder from Mississippi who just signed.
- Jonah Smith: A Delaware kid with an 80-inch wingspan that screams "future NFL tackle."
- JD Rayner: One of the few holdovers who might actually lock down a tackle spot.
The defensive side isn't much better. Losing Aiden Gobaira and Sahir West to UCLA is a massive blow to the pass rush. Napier countered by snagging Mason Purham, a 6'5" freak of nature from Emory & Henry who might be the biggest "sleeper" in the G5 this year.
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Why the 2026 Schedule Changes Everything
You might have heard the news: the Virginia Tech game is off. Because the ACC moved to a nine-game schedule, the Hokies bailed on the Dukes.
Instead, JMU is heading to Southern California to play San Diego State on September 19th. This is huge for the james madison depth chart evaluation. It’s the program's first-ever trip to California. It’s a literal cross-country audition for Napier’s new-look squad.
If the Dukes haven't settled their defensive backfield by then—especially after losing DJ Barksdale and Justin Eaglin—it could be a long flight home. They are currently relying on Terrence Jones II (a Fordham transfer) and Damier Minkah to stabilize a secondary that’s basically being built from scratch in the last three weeks.
The "Bryan Schor" Factor
If there is one thing JMU fans are actually happy about right now, it’s the return of a legend. Napier hired Bryan Schor to coach the tight ends.
Does a tight ends coach fix a depleted roster? No. But Schor knows how to win in Harrisonburg. He understands the culture that Curt Cignetti and Bob Chesney built. Having him in the room while Napier tries to "P4-ize" the recruiting department is a smart bridge between the old JMU and the new version.
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The Dukes are moving toward a model that looks a lot like a SEC program—huge recruiting staffs, heavy NIL focus, and a "reload, don't rebuild" mentality.
Actionable Outlook for the 2026 Season
If you're tracking this team, forget the names you knew in 2025. They’re gone. The 2026 Dukes are going to be younger, faster, and much more "portal-heavy" than we've seen in the past.
Watch the Landen Clark recruitment closely. If he signs, JMU is a Sun Belt contender again. If they have to start a freshman QB against Liberty on September 5th, expect some growing pains at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Keep an eye on the linebacker rotation. With Robert Bala (formerly of Alabama and Florida) taking over the defense, the scheme is shifting to a more aggressive, P4-style 4-2-5. They need Josiah Perry or Matthew Jones to step up and fill the void left by the "UCLA-bound" departures immediately.
The roster is currently a construction site, but the foundation Billy Napier is pouring suggests that by the time they hit the meat of the Sun Belt schedule, this won't be a team anyone wants to play.