Live Blog: National Signing Day

HARRISONBURG – When he was introduced as James Madison’s new coach on Monday, Curt Cignetti said he expected about half of the commits in the recruiting class to sign their Letters of Intent today.

As the Dukes officially announce each received LOI, the Daily News-Record will update the live blog with information and details about each signee:

LOI Announced: 7:19 AM

Johns garnered offers from seven different Colonial Athletic Association schools – Albany, Delaware, JMU, New Hampshire, Richmond, Rhode Island and William & Mary – in addition to FBS offers from Buffalo, Charlotte, Marshall and Kent State before verbally committing to the Dukes over the summer. Ahead of the staff transition, Johns’ lead recruiter was former JMU inside receivers and tight ends coach Fontel Mines. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound end was a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion and an honorable mention All-Met choice by the Washington Post.

LOI Announced: 7:44 AM

Before he gave his verbal to JMU in June, Morris narrowed his seven scholarship offers down to two. The other finalist was Elon, where Cignetti’s staff recruited him before they got to Madison. Considering strong relationships are necessary for a prospect to ink the LOI, it probably didn’t hurt JMU that Morris knew all about Cignetti and company. When Morris initially committed, he said, “James Madison is of course established as a football program and I think Elon will be there in a couple of years, so I just tried to weigh out the options.” The 6-foot-2, 288-pounder is the only offensive line commit in the class. He was selected to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas following his senior season.

LOI Announced: 8:22 AM

This is a National Signing Day surprise for the Dukes. Jones never verbally committed to JMU, but an LOI came in from the 3A All-Region and Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker held a mix of FBS and FCS offers as Madison beat out successful Group of Five programs Central Florida and Appalachian State as well as Old Dominion, an in-state Group of Five school, to land Jones.

LOI Announced: 9:41 AM

Davis was the first member of JMU’s 2019 class and has been solidly on board since committing in May. He had offers from Army, Elon, Liberty and Kent State among others, but his connection to JMU was initiated when linebackers coach Warren Belin joined the Madison staff after leaving Vanderbilt early in 2018. Belin was Davis’ recruiting contact at Vanderbilt, but began recruiting Davis again at JMU before cornerbacks coach Corico Wright took over as the lead recruiter. Davis had five interceptions to help Shelby win a state championship this season and was an All-State selection. He will enroll early and participate in spring ball for Cignetti, who also offered Davis during his time as coach at Elon.

LOI Announced: 10:59 AM

Cignetti made it clear during his introductory presser that he wants his offense to run the ball. Douglas, who committed to JMU in October, will help the Dukes do that. After Douglas’ commitment, Mt. Vernon coach Wayne Dabbs told the Daily News-Record, “[Douglas] is a guy that late in the game, when teams are tired of chasing receivers around, we can just hand it to him 10 times in a row between the tackles. He can handle the beating, but we also do motion him to slot a lot and get isolation and one-on-one with backers and safeties and he takes advantage of those.” An All-State choice, Douglas, earned 12 scholarship offers including ones from Arkansas State, Georgia State and Ohio University before selecting JMU.

LOI Announced: 11:40 AM

A safety with 10 total offers including one from SEC member Kentucky and another from AAC member Cincinnati, White gave his verbal to the Dukes in June. Other came offers from CAA members Delaware, Elon, Towson and Villanova. White was an All-County and All-Conference safety this past season, and racked up six interceptions and 143 tackles over the past two years at West Orange.

LOI Announced: 11:45 AM

Bullock like Davis will enroll early at JMU giving the team two first-semester freshmen on the roster for spring practice. Following a series of visits to Harrisonburg, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound tight end, Bullock, pledged to Madison in July. He chose JMU from a final four that also included Army, Old Dominion and Wofford. His commitment was never in doubt even after former coach Mike Houston left East Carolina and the Dukes hired Cignetti. Of Cignetti’s hiring, Bullock said, “He turned Elon around quick, so we should get rolling fast at JMU.” An all-region selection, Bullock also played in the North-South All-Star Game.

LOI Announcement: 2:58 PM

The last signed LOI to come in is from Jackson, who verbally committed in June when he chose JMU from a group of four finalists that also included East Carolina, Old Dominion and Purdue. Never wavering from his pledge, Jackson is the latest prospect from Hermitage to join the Dukes. His close friend, linebacker Mateo Jackson, and cornerback Rashad Robinson are already on the roster and both Hermitage products. CJ Jackson joins Douglas to give JMU two running backs in the class while entering an era – with Cignetti at the helm – when the Dukes are going to emphasize the running game.