HARRISONBURG — For the first time in his college career, Jahee Jackson is getting reps at the same position.

Since arriving at James Madison from Gilman High School in Baltimore, the redshirt sophomore has bounced around the offensive line, taking practice snaps at left tackle, right tackle and right guard.

“I know right tackle,” the 6-foot-3, 315-pounder said. “I played right tackle in high school, so definitely, if that position is up for grabs I’m going to put my all into it to be the starting right tackle this year.”

JMU needs Jackson to emerge at that position.

The Dukes lost projected starter Tyree Chavious for the year to an Achilles injury before preseason camp began. Chavious started three postseason games at right tackle for the team last year after Mitchell Kirsch went down with an injury.

Jackson, who appeared in five games last season, has taken most first-team reps at right tackle through the first two days of camp.

“I like Jahee’s athletic ability,” offensive line coach Bryan Stinespring said. “He’s been thrust into a lot of spots and that’s been hard on him.

“I’m hoping the fact that he’s settled into one spot that it’ll benefit him to be accustomed to the position and the footwork of that position.”

Stinespring said he’s had conversations with Jackson about the importance of him raising his level of play.

“We’re only two days into it, but I like where he is,” Stinespring said. “He’s growing up and maturing a little bit.

“And I think he sees a light at the end of the tunnel. He can see the progress he’s making and he understands how he got to this position and sees his opportunity.”

Jackson said he likes that there’s pressure on him to perform.

“That’s why we’re D-I athletes,” Jackson said. “We like competition, so any extra pressure is a great thing for me. I want to work as hard as I can to get that position.”

Right tackle is one of a few spots across the front JMU is trying to figure out. From its championship squad, the team graduated Kirsch, right guard Matt Frank and center Kyle Rigney.

A.J. Bolden is back for his senior season at left guard and preseason All-American left tackle Aaron Stinnie is easing his way back into practice after missing most of spring with an injury.

“We’re still establishing our best five and that wasn’t the case this time last year,” Stinespring said. “It was entrenched.

“At this juncture, we’re still trying to find our best five and get them in the right spots. I’m not in a panic. I’ve been there and done that.”

Stinespring also has the luxury of developing and evaluating the two transfer offensive linemen the program added in the last three days.

Maryland transfer EJ Donahue is already practicing and South Carolina transfer Pika Leota will practice with JMU for the first time today. As of Thursday, Leota was listed on Georgia State’s official roster, but in an email, Panthers sports information director Allison George said Leota never enrolled at the school.

“To me this is exciting,” Stinespring said. “You got two big bodies and Pika walks in as a redshirt freshman, so you’re not talking about a guy who only has a year or two years left. You got a guy that still has four years still to play and EJ’s still got time.

“They don’t have to get it done this year because the clock isn’t ticking on them, but we’re trying to get them ready to play this year.”

Donahue is a redshirt sophomore and will begin his career at guard. Leota will play tackle.

Cornerback coach and recruiting coordinator Tripp Weaver said the staff always explores the possibility of bolstering a position of need by targeting transfers.

“Me and coach [Mike] Houston sit down together a lot of times with closed doors and talk about what his visions are for the roster and how we reach those visions and goals,” Weaver said. “Then our assistants coaches are not only great football coaches, but they are phenomenal recruiters, every single one of them and really, they put in a lot of legwork.

“They have a lot of great connections with high school coaches and they have connections with other college coaches because they’re so well thought of, so we do hear about these kids.”

When Stinespring was at Virginia Tech, he was the recruiter responsible for Leota, who played at Asheville High School, and Houston said he knows Leota’s high school coach Danny Wilkins.

“He’s been a longtime friend of mine since the mid-90s,” Houston said. “He knows how we do things and he cares about Pika and knows he’s a great kid. He wanted a really good opportunity for him and because of that, he gave me a call and that’s how we ended up with him.”

Houston said JMU would’ve brought in Leota regardless of Chavious’ injury.

“You always have to try to find offensive linemen, but I think it was accelerated some with Tyree’s injury,” Houston said.