Guest Post: Post Signing Day JMU Recruiting Wrap Up

Hi everyone, Happy Post National Signing Day!  Hope everyone has enjoyed the last couple of days as much as I have!  JMU almost batted a 100% on our verbal commitments, and I am confident that most of us feel a sense of accomplishment and success with what our staff has done over the last year.  Although we ended up losing WR James Brunson and OL Austin Cannon at the end, we lost them to, essentially,  “bigger schools”.  Brunson has been waiting for that “high-profile” FBS offer and ended up at FAU (which I guess is better than JMU?).  From what I understand, Cannon’s scholarship was cut in half and VT, supposedly, didn’t sign all the offensive linemen that they wanted to, which opened up a spot for the Richmond native.  With 21 signees and a few high-potential walk-ons, the new era now has a true hand in the talent pool on the roster, and the JMU coaches have the players that they can mold properly to play out their scheme.  Today, I thought we’d take an in-depth look at exactly how each signee fits into what our coaching staff wants to accomplish at JMU.

Robert Branch, DB, Gilman High School (MD):  When Everett Withers first arrived to Harrisonburg, he said he wanted to get big in the secondary.  Well, he did — with a 6’2, 195 pound defensive back in Gilman’s Robert Branch.  With the graduation of Dean Marlowe, Withers scored big-time with this highly touted prospect who had multiple FBS offers – Georgia Tech, Boston College and Rutgers, etc. – similar to last year’s Jimmy Moreland.  Rated as a 3-star prospect on ESPN and Rivals, Branch brings a physical presence to the secondary to go along with “next-level” athleticism.  After doing some research, Branch will be the first to tell you that he needs to work on his coverage abilities, but his physical, attacking-style approach to the game will fit well into the nickel and safety position in Coach Staley’s scheme.  He shows impressive acceleration and closing speed and is not afraid to get his hands dirty in the run game.

Jordan Brooks, DL, Centreville High School: Brooks was one of those guys that, much like many of us, I doubted would stick with his commitment.  With multiple FBS schools knocking on the door of this Virginia powerhouse, it would only be a matter of time before someone poaches this high-performing 256 pound lineman.  A successful high school wrestler who possesses good leverage and strength at the point of attack, Brooks showcases the ability to be successful as an anchor in our 3-4 defense.  While not much of a pass-rusher (yet), his tape shows a prospect that can hold at the point for our linebackers to scrape over the top as well as the ability to shed blocks.  Way too many times last year our defensive line would be stout on the line of scrimmage but were unable to shed and make the tackle… which ultimately looked worse when our linebackers were often out of position to finish the play.  With a few months in the program, Brooks could contend for playing time right away in our young defensive front.

Chase Brown, OL, Briar Woods High School: Brown is a mean offensive linemen.  In the words of Mickey Matthews’, he takes up half the screen on tape.  He imposes his will on defensive fronts, shows great strength at the point of attack on run plays and has the type of motor to finish blocks with a bad demeanor.  His footwork could use some work on pass protection, but at this level, you can say that for any offensive linemen coming in from high school.  As mentioned in my last write-up, Brown brings an impressive size to the offensive front and will likely be settled in at a nice 315 pounds when all is said and done.  Former teammate of current offensive lineman, A.J. Bolden, Brown has a similar big-bodied physique that is rare on our level.  Playing against top competition at Briar Woods, I wouldn’t be surprised if Brown sees playing time right away given the turnover on our offensive line.

Trevor Brown, DL, Wise High School (MD):  Future graduate of Deandre Smith’s alma mater, Trevor Brown is another 3-4 defensive lineman that brings a unique skill-set to JMU.  Brown had multiple FBS offers, but I can imagine that a number of schools shied away after he tore his ACL, making him miss his senior season.  Brown is a long, lanky defensive linemen who shows good initial quickness and the athleticism to makes plays from sideline to sideline (he was a successful tight end as well).  Standing at 6’6, weighing in at 255 pounds while still running a 4.87 – he looks a lot like Jordan Stanton in his high school tape.  While he played defensive tackle for most of his career, I can envision Brown playing defensive end in our scheme, a shade inside of the offensive tackle.  Once he is able to learn how to use his length effectively and improve his strength, Brown will be a force in the inside for the Dukes.

Gerren Butler, OL, Skyline High School:  Being from the Front Royal area, you can imagine Butler bringing in the same kind of tough, “chip-on-your-shoulder” attitude, similar to Warren County’s Gage Steele.  An underrated prospect coming in from a smaller school district, Butler, on tape, is the type of player that goes 100 miles per hour on every play.  Projected to play offensive line for the Dukes, most likely inside at guard or center, he brings athleticism and tenacity to our front.  You can imagine Butler being successful on power plays when he has to pull from the back side and in space on counters and WR/RB screens.  He played defensive end and tight end in high school, so we already know that he’s a smart player.  He would probably need a redshirt year to develop but has the potential to be a household name by his 3rd year on campus.

Tyree Chavious, OL Rosewood High School (North Carolina): At 6’4 and weighing in at 280 pounds, Chavious is another big-bodied lineman that Coach Davis has to utilize.  While already impressive in size, he has a lot of room to grow in his frame and, even better, has the athleticism to boot.  He was asked to pull a lot in high school and doesn’t look out of place in space.  Chavious committed to the Dukes early in the process and never turned away even though he saw a ton of interest from ACC schools after he declared.  I found a couple of articles mentioning that his father pushed him to look into the “bigger” offers, but it’s satisfying to know that he’s the type of kid that really wants to be a Duke at the end of the day.  With a college workout regime under his belt, we can look forward to seeing Chavious star on the right side of our offensive line anchoring the run game.

Mack Cullen, TE, Wilson Memorial High School:  Big, athletic, fast high school option quarterback – Everett may finally have his pass-catching, 4.7 40 running prototypical tight end that he’s always wanted.  While he may require another 20-30 pounds to play the position successfully, Cullen is an all-around good football player.  On tape, he welcomes contact, shows very good competitiveness (think of Dae’Quan Scott’s unwillingness to get tackled but not as athletic obviously) and has very good straight-line speed.  You can see Mack thriving inside in our 4 and 5-wideout sets running intermediate routes similar to how Deane Cheatham was used this past year.

AJ Gray, OL, Manchester High School:  For all of you that define success by who we were able to beat out in recruiting; AJ had offers from Marshall, Old Dominion and high interest from a slew of FBS opponents.  While there was a time when I thought we were going to sign all of Manchester’s top players, AJ Gray was the highest-rated among the group.  Rated as one of the top 10 recruits in the 804 (more to come on that later), one reporter said he resembled the likes of Texans’ left tackle, Duane Brown, who is also from the Richmond area.  If true, we can envision seeing a “dancing bear” on the offensive line since he possesses good strength and nimble feet, ultimately vying for a spot at either the right of left tackle position.  At 6’5 and still growing, Gray will be an imposing figure in the offensive line unit and, with his commitment, should open the way for more 804 talent for the Dukes.

Nyck Grayson, DL/OLB, Nordonia High School (Ohio): At 6’2 and 210 pounds, Grayson is the exact type of athlete that Coach Withers mentioned in last year’s media day that he wants to bring in at JMU: “The 6’2 and 210 pounds…athlete who thinks he’s a point guard on the basketball team… and can play outside linebacker at a high level…” While I can’t comment on Grayson’s basketball abilities, he wreaked havoc for opposing offensive fronts amounting for 17.5 sacks his junior year, a school record.  I can imagine he is fully recovered from his ACL injury (which hampered his ability to play last year) and the perfect fit for JMU’s hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end role.  A long and rangy athlete with good acceleration off the line and a knack for finding the quarterback, I can already see Coach Staley licking at his chops to get him on the field.  He does need to get bigger to handle the college run game, but get ready to see him line up all over the field in a pass rushing role… think Bruce Irvin for the Seattle Seahawks.

Christian Harden, WR, Hermitage:  In short (which is everything Christian is not), we have our jump ball guy.  Standing at 6’4, Harden fits the bill of the big receiver that Coach Withers wants all over the field.  While not the fastest or quickest of players, he excels in jump ball situations, inside routes and is a legitimate end-zone threat.  With the loss of a few key contributors in the receiving core, Harden will have the opportunity to make a name for himself in the wide-open competition that is the wide receiver position.  He reminds me a lot of Richmond’s former WR, Stephen Barnette – a long, spider-like athlete who can be a match-up nightmare, just ask Kwe’shon Williams.

Dimitri Holloway, LB, Heritage: Former teammate of running back, Khalid Abdullah, JMU got a good one from the 757.  Holding offers from a number of F(BS) schools like ODU and FCS schools, Holloway would be able to thrive in both Everett Withers’ and Mickey Matthew’s defensive schemes.  Projected to play linebacker at the next level, Holloway is a sideline to sideline defender who has impressive closing speed.  He reminds me a lot of Jon Beason, the undersized middle linebacker who has made millions in the NFL.  While standing at 6’1 and 205 pounds, Holloway shows good instincts on the defensive side.   He was even recruited to play strong safety at one point and football coaches “like his range, his ability to make plays…and was always around the ball.”  Similar to the wide receiver position, JMU has some unproven talent at linebacker, and Holloway will have every opportunity to showcase his abilities come June.

Jahee Jackson, OL, Gilman High School (MD):  If you read my last post, you would notice that I was wrong about this behemoth of a lineman from the Baltimore area.  I thought he would be our nose tackle of the future, but it looks like he’ll find a home right at guard for Coach Brad Davis.  Fitting the mold of the other offensive line recruits, Jackson plays with the reckless abandon that you want to see in young players in the trenches.  Jackson excels in moving the pile and picking off linebackers and safeties at the next level.  He has excellent speed and acceleration for the position and will only get bigger and stronger.  At 6’3 and 295 pounds, it will be up to him this year if he plays right away or sits out and develops.

Curtis Oliver, DB, Paramus Catholic (NJ):  We lost a high-profile QB recruit a few years ago to Villanova from this NJ powerhouse (Hint: his last name rhymes with Fobertson), and Coach Withers wasn’t going to let it happen again.  Oliver is a highly-touted defensive back, and I jumped for joy when I saw that he committed 2 weeks ago on Twitter.  This kid has a lot of “swag” and confidence for the position to go along with an impressive vertical.  He also packs a punch in the secondary, reminding me of former Colts’ safety, Bob Sanders.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Oliver split time between corner and safety for the Dukes, taking advantage of his unique ball skills and closing ability.  The New Jersey catholic school system is usually Villanova’s playground, so it’s good to see JMU find success in the area, and Oliver’s commitment could open the door for future Dukes later down the road.

Cory Owen, Athlete, Peters Township (PA):  If he’s good enough to play quarterback for Coach McDonnell in New Hampshire, then he’s good enough for me to play quarterback for the Dukes.  The one-time UNH commit who finally got the offer he was supposedly waiting for has the ability to be something special for JMU.  His coach considers him an elite athlete and was often the best player on the field during his senior season, even for a lowly Peters Township team.  Drawing offers from a number of FBS schools to play a variety of roles, it seemed like UNH and JMU were two of the few schools willing to take a chance on him as a signal caller.  With JMU running a zone read, fast tempo offense, Owen would be able to maximize his unique skillset.  A number of people have drawn comparisons to Villanova’s John Robertson, but I’m thinking he has similar skills to former Liberty quarterback, Michael Brown.  We will eventually see what the staff will do with Owen but the skies the limit for this PA recruit.

Kirk Robinette, LB, Allegany (MD): My buddy, Ryan Schnur, would appreciate this but we’ve got a THUMPER for the Dukes.  Robinette is an old school, downhill, take no prisoners type of linebacker.  At 6’3 and at already an impressive 230 pounds, this linebacker prospect will fit perfectly inside for JMU.  I think the days of seeing our inside-backers playing “patty-cake” (Kyre Hawkins… Titus Till) with interior linemen will be long gone as Robinette is a one read and go player who thrives on his instincts.  He will have his moments where he’ll completely misread a play, but he will do it going 150 miles per hour.  While he did play at a tiny school (supposedly an estimated 300 student enrollment), he completely dominated his level of competition, which is exactly what we want to see out of a recruit; literally doing everything for Allegany.  Not sure if I have the credentials to say he “fell thru the cracks” but I think this guy has the potential to play at any level, and hats off to the staff for finding this gem.  In conclusion, he’ll have a learning curve adjusting to the playing field, but he’ll knock a number of helmets off in the process.

Rashad Robinson, DB, Hermitage: Teammate of WR signee, Christian Harden, Rashad Robinson will play in the defensive backfield for the Dukes.  While I was critical of Mickey Matthews’ tactic of taking former option quarterbacks and turning them into receivers, I am much more open to the idea of placing them in the defensive backfield.  Reason being, Dean Marlowe.  Just like Rashad Robinson, Marlowe was a former quarterback who turned out pretty well for the Dukes and hopefully for an NFL team in the near future.  At 6’ and 175 pounds, Robinson is a good athlete and a dynamic playmaker.  His high school coach was quoted saying his intelligence, instincts and explosiveness are rare to find in one package.  And for those of you keeping count, we beat out the likes of Richmond, Army and Nevada for his services.

Trai Sharp, RB, Carrboro High School (NC):  Smooth, Smooth, Smooth…Smooth.  That’s all I can say for this high-profile running back from Everett Withers’ neck of the woods.  Before and even after his ankle injury that cost him significant time in high school, Sharp showed impressive acceleration, speed and overall ability; enough to entice offers from a number of ACC schools.  The former NC State commit, is rated as the 50th best player in the state and garnered a 3-star rating for both ESPN and Rivals.  One scout mentioned that Sharp possess “one of the nastiest spin moves in the 2015 class”.  He has the ability to make cuts in the run game while maintaining his speed and has the patience to set up his blockers; an ability we have not seen in a JMU running back in a while.  As mentioned by Coach Withers, don’t be surprised to see Sharp lined up wide in our passing sets, but let’s pray we don’t see the orbit option coming back anytime soon.  We’ve got some serious speed here guys… the horses are back!

Riley Stapleton, WR, Indiana High School (PA):  Stapleton is another newcomer that will play a big role in shifting not only the culture at JMU but also the way that JMU plays their wide receivers.  At 6’5 and 210 pounds, he literally jumps off the screen and displays good ball skills.  Fitting Coach Withers’ want for size and athleticism on the outside, this prospect is a former basketball player that has the potential to be a playmaker for the Dukes.  While I think he’ll need a year or 2 to mature physically, Stapleton displayed the ability to catch with his hands on tape, rarely letting the ball get into his body.  He shows a competitive spirit, displaying a knack for coming down with 50/50 balls, something that I think has to be innate for a wide receiver.  Much farther along than Daniel Brown was when he was a walk-on freshman, Stapleton will be a key cog in our spread sets and has the ability to block effectively in the run and screen game.

Domo Taylor, WR, Georgia Military College (NC): Dominique “Domo” Taylor is another big, physical wide receiver that is looking to change the game at JMU.  Coming in as a junior at 6’3 and 210 pounds possessing 4.6 speed, Taylor has the potential to be a key possession receiver.  I get tired of seeing our guys get jammed by corners on short 3rd down plays, and Domo should be able to feed on those types of opportunities.  While only catching 23 balls his last season, there will be some developmental areas, particularly in route running and quickness although he can contribute right away as a mismatch for smaller opponents.  As another “drop down” player that the coaches were able to identify, Taylor will have to learn quickly, as I can imagine that he would be expected to contribute sooner rather than later in JMU’s passing game.

Charles Tutt, DB, Centreville High School:  The last piece of the Centreville high school duo, Charles Tutt is an explosive, aggressive defensive back that will upgrade JMU’s secondary.  Tutt was asked to play all over the field in high school, often lining up at deep safety, corner, nickel, wide receiver and kick returner; he was truly a jack-of-all trades, which is exactly what Coach Withers wants.  He has good speed and instincts to play outside on an island (I’m calling “Tutt Island” if it ever comes down to it) in Coach Staley’s blitz-oriented scheme.  I imagine that, often running past defensive backs, Tutt will play right away as a true freshman as a kick returner (possessing 4.51 speed) and in the rotation in the secondary.  Usually a basketball reference, but Tutt is the type of player that “plays much bigger than his size dictates” and wraps up an impressive secondary haul for JMU.

Quan Welch, WR, Central High School (SC): Our one recruit from South Carolina, Quan Welch is another gem that our staff has successfully identified.  Missing significant time due to a knee injury, Welch enrolled early at JMU and had as many as 14 FBS and FCS football offers.  Although he played running back in Central’s triple option scheme, Welch will transition into the wide receiver stretch position at JMU – similar to John Miller.  Rated as one of the top 100 players in the state, Welch carried most of the load for his high school team and has good leadership qualities.  He will need time to develop since he is transitioning positions, but he should be an early contributor in the quick pass and screen game.  He has good vision for a back and the ability to break outside with his 4.39 speed.  He draws comparisons to former JMU WR Kerby Long due to his big-time speed and long stride.

And… we made it!  21 total full-scholarship signees with many more in-line to join the Dukes’ 2015 campaign.  We have seen that a number of players have already decided not to continue to play for JMU like offensive tackle, Wray Fucci, and defensive back, Kwe’shon Williams, so expect to see some of the names above play key roles in our success next year.  At the end of the day, with all the newly added talent, the JMU Dukes will be a young team come next fall.  With that influx of youth, we will undoubtedly go thru a learning curve, but the core of the team remains strong with Vad Lee manning the helm.  Don’t be surprised to see players like nose tackle KJ Ford, outside linebackers Andrew Ankrah, AB Rhodes, David Ezeagwu, and former Toledo transfer, A.J. Bolden, play much bigger roles for the Dukes next year and be successful given their unique talents.  Particularly, keep close eye on the linebacker, defensive back and the offensive line positions since they, arguably, have the least depth on the roster coming out of the 2014 campaign.

The off-season is a season in itself in college football and I, along with the JMU Nation, can’t wait to see who rises to the top of the crop come next fall.  Everyone should make sure to mark their calendars for April 11th and attend JMU’s spring game to get a flavor of what’s to come next.  Who will be our next Daniel Brown? Who will come out of the crowded backfield to be our bell-cow? Who will be the next “Jimmy”?  Or who will replace our chants of “Sageeeee” on passing downs?  That’s the beauty of college football: There is always something new and exciting to look forward to, always a conversation to be had and always a rumor to be heard.  GO DUKES!

This is another one of our recruiting-focused guest posts written by JMU amateur recruiting guru @Michael_2Clutch. Give him a follow on twitter for all the latest JMU recruiting news.