JMU’s offensive line has essentially the most returning gamers from any place group, with three starters from final season, setting the Dukes up for a dependable season.
On the group’s forefront are senior guard Cole Potts and senior sort out Tyshawn Wyatt. Each had been named to the Preseason All-Solar Belt first and second groups. The duo was a staple of the Dukes’ offensive line final 12 months, which was fourth within the Solar Belt with 24 sacks in opposition to.
Nonetheless, Wyatt continues to be recovering from a knee harm that ended his season in JMU’s 30-27 win over Outdated Dominion final 12 months, which he suffered after making an attempt a sort out. He began eight video games at left sort out final season, which was his second 12 months as a sort out after beginning all 14 video games at left guard in 2021.
Wyatt started his rehab immediately after his surgical procedure that he mentioned was delayed two weeks after his harm, permitting the swelling on his knee to lower. Wyatt additionally talked about that he’s within the “later” levels of his clearance.
Wyatt has a redshirt accessible, so if his restoration runs lengthy, the Dukes can deliver him again for one more season if he performs in lower than 5 video games.
Redshirt junior Jesse Ramil might be a contender to step up early within the season as Wyatt works his approach again onto the sector. Ramil began 13 video games at Saint Francis, which led the Northeast Convention with 360.1 yards of offense per sport.
The following choice at left sort out is redshirt sophomore Joseph Simmons. Whereas the 6-foot-6, 308-pounder solely performed in two video games final season, he might progress up the depth chart.
Sixth-year senior Tanner Morris returns with 27 profession begins at middle and can seemingly line up subsequent to redshirt sophomore Carter Sweazie, who was one of many few standouts within the Dukes’ 31-21 loss to Air Pressure within the Armed Forces Bowl final season.
Redshirt senior Pat McMurtrie is in his first 12 months with JMU however has essentially the most expertise in offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy’s system. The 2-time All-Patriot League proper sort out at Holy Cross has three years of expertise beneath offensive line coach Chris Smith and one 12 months with assistant offensive line coach Chris Zarkoskie, together with Kennedy.
“McMurtrie knew a variety of the terminology, however it wasn’t prefer it was copy [and] paste from there,” Smith mentioned. “There’s a variety of the JMU blueprint that’s been happening right here for years from Tanner [Morris] and Potts that was sort of proven all through our entire o-line bundle.”
Final season, the Dukes’ offensive line suffered two season-ending accidents within the first 10 weeks of the season.
When requested concerning the depth, Smith mentioned he’s been rotating linemen all through camp to assist construct chemistry in case of poorly timed accidents.
“For those who’re in sport eight and also you’re going to play App State for a big-time sport and the correct guard will get damage, now you have got a backup proper guard that’s by no means performed subsequent to the beginning proper sort out, by no means performed subsequent to the middle,” Smith mentioned. “All that chemistry you speak about is gone.”
“So what we’re going to do is play a variety of totally different guys … get them rotating with totally different guys in observe,” Smith added.
Redshirt junior Josh Toner performed in all 13 video games for the Dukes final season and began at proper sort out within the closing 5 video games. Toner might play behind McMurtrie and likewise has the flexibility to play guard, in aid of Sweazie or Potts.
Former walk-on and redshirt junior middle Brett Davis, redshirt freshman Riley Robell and senior Campbell switch Quincy Jenkins may also present additional depth as inside linemen.
Smith mentioned former offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski did a “improbable job” with the offensive line by the point he was employed in March, however admitted they had been skeptical about him at first.
As Wroblewski’s predecessor, Smith didn’t come to JMU to power gamers into his agenda.
“I got here in and really rapidly mentioned, ‘Hey, you guys win right here at JMU,’” Smith mentioned. “We’ll undertake this tradition and it’s gonna be a mix right here.”
