HARRISONBURG — Robert Carter Jr. said it would feel a little like high school again.

Ron’Dell Carter said it would feel like the two were kids.

The Carter brothers have officially reunited at James Madison and are excited to take the field together for the first time since they were teammates at Long Reach High School in Baltimore on Sept. 2 at East Carolina.

“It’s about a two- or three-year hiatus where we weren’t playing with each other,” Ron’Dell Carter said. “But we’re back now.

“Just that feeling, knowing when we’re out there and he’s got my back, that brotherly bond is second to none. So I’m looking forward to that ECU game and running out there on the field with my brother.”

Ron’Dell joined JMU earlier this summer after he was granted his release from Rutgers, where he spent two seasons with the Scarlet Knights.

Robert has played football for the Dukes since 2015. He spent his freshman year as a track athlete at Florida A&M.

Robert, an outside linebacker, enters his redshirt junior season and Ron’Dell, a defensive end, is a redshirt sophomore.

“It’s a blessing to have blood on the field with you,” Robert said. “It’s just going to be a lot of fun for the next two seasons we have together.”

Both brothers are in competition for playing time, too.

Robert is battling Bryce Maginley for a starting role, and Ron’Dell is behind junior defensive end Darrious Carter — not related — on the depth chart, putting the Carter brothers with the second-team defense during practice.

“He plays on the weak side mostly and I’m mainly to the field,” Robert said. “But whenever the ball is to the weak side, we’ll end up on the same side.

“It’s just comfortable to know that I have someone on the field that’ll protect me. It’s just a great feeling.”

The transition from Rutgers to James Madison has gone smoothly for Ron’Dell, he said. He’s become friends with teammates and already is adjusted to playing in defensive coordinator Bob Trott’s system.

“Settling in was pretty easy,” Ron’Dell said. “The fact that I had my brother with me, made it easier.

“But the thing for me was that I wanted to come in humble. I wanted to fit in. I didn’t want to come in cocky or feel like I was better than anybody. I wanted to come in humble and get after it with these guys.”

Ron’Dell said he already knew other Baltimore natives such as linebacker Kyre Hawkins and right tackle Jahee Jackson, which helped.

He also has forged a friendship with Darrious Carter.

“Every night I study my playbook and luckily, the guy who’s my roommate for camp is Darrious Carter,” Ron’Dell said. “He’s helping me out a lot.

“Anything I need help on, he’s eager to always help me. He’s always asking me if I need help with anything. He’s a big part of it, too, because he plays my position.”

In addition to playing defense, Robert will play on all of JMU’s special teams.

Robert was named to the preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association defensive unit as specialist.

When graduated Dukes linebacker Justin Wellons blocked a punt in the national championship game, Robert, recovered it. JMU’s offense scored 43 seconds later to take a 7-0 lead against Youngstown State.

“I love special teams,” he said. “It’s a key asset to the game and it definitely helps us win ball games.”