{"id":6747,"date":"2014-06-02T07:17:38","date_gmt":"2014-06-02T11:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6747"},"modified":"2014-06-03T20:31:49","modified_gmt":"2014-06-04T00:31:49","slug":"guest-post-jmu-football-transfer-roundup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=6747","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: JMU Football Transfer Round-up"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"090113_Vad_Lee_JC1\"<\/a>Guest blogger Sean Petrizzi is here to summarize an exciting transfer season for JMU football. Here he breaks down the\u00a0Dukes 3 big transfers from FBS programs. You can follow Sean on Twitter at @SeanPetrizzi<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Everett Withers has been reaching into the FBS-to-FCS transfer pool big time since arriving in Harrisonburg. While I personally prefer having a guy be brought up with through JMU and developed into a star, there is no denying that an influx of top tier talent can always help an FCS school. All three big time transfers are on the offensive side of the ball, skill position players that are eligible next season. Here is an amateur\u2019s take on the 3 players we can look forward to seeing this fall.<\/p>\n

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  1. Vad Lee QB from Georgia Tech- Rivals 3 star recruit in class of 2011<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Lee decided to transfer from Georgia Tech because \u201cthe triple option was never really his thing.\u201d That tells me two things about recruiting. 1) Many players commit to schools for many different reasons (often bad ones) and 2) Coaches lie to the recruits. Why would you go play for Paul Johnson if the triple option wasn\u2019t your thing? Anyways, Lee was touted as the guy that could take Johnson\u2019s offense to the next level with his ability to throw as well as be the standard running QB the triple option needs. The results were mixed at best with 11 throwing touchdown, 8 rushing but 10 interceptions while leading the Yellow Jackets to a 7-6 record. I still think the Durham native is a huge talent that can thrive at the FCS level even though FCS defenses are better than FBS will give us credit for. Lee will need to play well as he is now the default starter with Birdsong transferring. Ironically, I think Lee would have been the quintessential Mickey Matthews QB with his ability to make plays with his feet. I will be interested to see how Withers will use him and with two years of eligibility at JMU, I am very excited to see what Lee can do.<\/p>\n

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    1. Alden Hill RB from Tennessee- Rivals 3 star recruit in class of 2012<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Hill is a big guy. A 6\u20192, 220 pound back that can supposedly run a 4.5 dash is never going to hurt any program. He redshirted his freshman year with the Vols and did not see the field much last year so they\u2019re not a lot of collegiate results to look at. However, in just 10 rushes he ran for 58 yards and a touchdown so it seems that Tennessee liked to used him in short yardage situation and 6 bruising yards would complement Abdullah well. I\u2019m dreaming of long, drawn out 4th quarter drives with a 7 point lead where Coach Withers just hands it to the big guy and we watch the clock melt away. I think a big running back like Hill could see a quicker personal difference between FBS and FCS than Lee because the D-lineman just aren\u2019t as big down here. Hill has 3 years of eligibility and with the tandem of him and Abdullah, I am very excited for JMU\u2019s run game to start the Withers Era.<\/p>\n

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      1. Sean Tapley WR from North Carolina- \u00a0Rivals 3 Start recruit in class of 2010<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Tapley is the guy I know the most about since I watched him all his years at Carolina. I loved him there when he wasn\u2019t hurt. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Tapley\u2019s transfer is he played at UNC while Withers was interim head coach in 2011. He was slightly overshadowed with guys like Eric Ebron and Quinshad Davis being the focal point of the passing game the past two years. Tapley is a speedy guy who was also great on special teams, housing a couple of returns for touchdowns. I personally think he will be the best kick returner option we have. He graduated in December and will be getting his masters at JMU. I think he is well worth the one year we will get from him. He is a deep threat and with Brown and Ravenel JMU will have three very formidable receivers for Lee to throw to. Electric wide outs have not been a staple at JMU as long as I have been a fan but the Dukes will have plenty of talent there with the addition of Tapley and a more seasoned Ravenel.<\/p>\n

        While I am not one to take much stock in recruiting analysis, at the FCS level any star by a recruit\u2019s name is a big deal. To add three 3 star players in one year with two of them being eligible for multiple seasons is a heck of a start to the offense for the new direction of JMU football.<\/p>\n