Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications
Written by Bennett Conlin
Given the significant activity in the transfer portal over the winter, we thought it might be easier to track JMU football's spring portal activity with our new tracker. Here is a link to the winter tracker.
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Jakai Young, DB, Gardner Webb – Young came to JMU in 2023 earning first-team All-OVC honors, recording 41 tackles and two interceptions. He's an athletic corner and nickel player with decent size (6 feet, 180 pounds) who could help fill the hole left by D'Angelo Pons. He has one year of eligibility left.
Transfer departure
Tyrik Tucker, DL, Indiana – He was a solid defensive tackle in 2023, appearing in all 13 games, including five starts. He recorded 29 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He has three years of eligibility remaining, and there was hope among fans that he could develop into a standout player in 2024. He was expected to be a starter entering spring ball.
Tucker announced on social media that he is headed to Indiana to play for Curt Cinetti.
Sammy Malignaggi, RB/KR, Campbell – Backup running back Malignaggi carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards last season. It's unlikely he'll get much playing time in 2024, given the addition of a running back with the JMU transfer.
Malignaggi will move to the FCS level to play at Campbell. He will have a chance to earn meaningful playing time.
Solomon VanHoose, RB, Indiana –When VanHoose was healthy, his weapons were returners and running backs. He finished his JMU career with over 500 receiving yards, rushing yards, and return yards. But he was probably JMU's RB3 behind Ayo Addei and George Pettaway.
Like many other JMU players in the portal, VanHoose will play at Cignetti and Indiana.
Colin Carroll, Tennessee – Carroll will redshirt in 2023, his first season of college football. He will leave the program, likely in search of more playing time. JMU has a crowded tight end room headlined by Key Wright and Taylor Thompson.
Wesley Bostic, OL – Bostic enters the portal with three years of eligibility remaining. The backup lineman wasn't expected to get significant playing time at JMU in 2024.
Nakai Pool, WR – According to On3, Poole transferred from Mississippi State to JMU in the offseason, but quickly returned to the portal.
Aaron Gunn, OL – Gunn, a reserve offensive lineman, appeared in three games at JMU in 2023. The former Louisville transfer wasn't projected as a big contributor in 2024, but now he's back in the portal.
Raikin Maxwell, WR – Maxwell, a backup wide receiver, shared on social media that he is in the portal. He did not record a catch as a player at JMU and redshirted his only season with the program (2023).
D'Angelo Pons, CB, Indiana –This hurts. Pons became a starter as a freshman and has developed into one of the top young corners in the nation. He finished the season with 51 tackles, 15 pass breakups, and two interceptions.
Despite interest from the likes of Auburn and Miami, Pons chose Indiana.
AJ Abbasi, Delaware – Abbasi joined the program during the offseason and entered the portal immediately. He wasn't expected to be a contributor on the defensive line, but he does have elite size (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) as a defensive end.
Seth Naotara, LB – Naotara, a backup linebacker and special teams player, enters the portal with two years of eligibility remaining. Given the depth of the Dukes' linebacker position, it would have been difficult for him to get meaningful snaps as a linebacker.
