HARRISONBURG — Brandon Ravenel is gone to graduation and so are Domo Taylor and Rashard Davis.

The departed trio — three of James Madison’s top four receivers from its national championship squad — leaves the program with blank spots atop the depth chart at the position.

On Wednesday, JMU signed four wide receivers to letters of intent to help replenish the roster.

Offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick said the coaching staff told the group of incoming wide receivers to be prepared to play in their first college seasons.

“Now if that doesn’t happen, that’s fine,” Kirkpatrick said. “They can redshirt or whatever, but all of them were recruited with the idea that they’d at least be able to play in two years because we lose three more [wide receivers] after this year. That’s why it’s such a big signing class.

“You’d like for this group to come in and be backups if they could and then be the starter in two years. All those guys have got what we were looking for to not only be as good, but be better than what we’ve been.”

Ravenel, Taylor and Davis combined for 123 receptions, 1,844 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2016.

The rising seniors at the position for the 2017 team are Terrence Alls, John Miller and Ishmael Hyman.

“I think with Terrence Alls coming back, John Miller coming back and Ishmael Hyman coming back, that we do have three guys that were all considered starters anyhow,” Kirkpatrick said. “I always felt like you have to be two-deep at those spots, so I’d tell [wide receivers] coach [Drew] Dudzik that I don’t care if Terrence or Domo was in there because we were good. John or Rashard, both were good.

“Then Ish Hyman, he didn’t have the year that we thought he’d have due to some injuries, but in practice he’s our most explosive guy.”

West Springfield High School’s Daniel Adu, Timber Creek’s (Sicklerville, N.J.) Ezrah Archie, Parkland’s (Winston-Salem, N.C.) Kyndel Dean and Eastside’s (Covington, Ga.) Josh Sims are expected to compete to fill in the depth chart.

Alls, Miller and Hyman all saw action behind Ravenel, Taylor and Davis last fall.

Alls was one of seven JMU players suspended for undisclosed reasons for the national semifinal game and the championship game, but he caught a pair of touchdowns against New Hampshire in both the regular season and the postseason. Miller had the key scoring reception in JMU’s win at North Dakota State to get to the championship game.

Kirkpatrick must fill those critical second-team jobs, which often result in first-team snaps for receivers.

“I do think that with [quarterback] Bryan [Schor] coming back, we’re going to want to let him throw that ball,” he said. “Early last year, we were so much run, but as we started to play the tougher teams, we had to rely on throwing it a bit more because they stacked the box and I think they’ll do that again.”

Ahead of Wednesday’s National Signing Day, Sims said coaches told him he’d play in the slot once he got to Harrisonburg.

“I’m a big competitor, so I’m going to do whatever it takes to get on that field,” Sims said. “Their offense this season was something special and they really clicked on all points.

“Coming from high school, we ran the same spread offense that they did, so I think I’ll be able to adapt to it pretty quickly.”

Other receivers on the current roster that could compete for playing time include Robbie Walker, Quintin Reynolds, Riley Stapleton and Braxton Westfield.

Walker and Reynolds both transferred to JMU from FBS program — Walker from Ohio University and Reynolds from Old Dominion. Walker returned kicks for Madison last fall.

“Riley Stapleton has showed some signs of being a Domo Taylor-type player,” Kirkpatrick said. “There are a couple of others guys that will get a shot this spring, but we put a lot into this signing class with the receivers.”

Salem High School athlete Noah Beckley also could play receiver, Kirkpatrick said.