Live Blog: National Signing Day

HARRISONBURG – There isn’t much mystery today thanks to December’s early signing period.

James Madison has most of its 2019 recruiting class secured as eight prospects inked their Letters of Intent in December, and two of those eight are already on campus as early enrollees.

Nonetheless, the program is expected to officially add to the recruiting class today. As LOIs are announced by JMU, the Daily News-Record will update the live blog with information and details about each signee:

LOI Announced: 7:04 AM

Trusted to run Good Counsel’s defense from snap to snap, Ayamel is a highly intelligent linebacker who could audible from play to play based on the formation of the opponent, according to his high school coach and teammates. The Falcons’ leading tackler, Ayamel, racked up offers from 18 different programs including three FBS schools, five IVY League teams and most of the ones in the Colonial Athletic Association. Ayamel said he received late interest from plenty of other schools when JMU’s coaching staff changed but that, “my whole standpoint was if I’m going FCS, I’m going to JMU. No FCS program is better than JMU.”

LOI Announced: 7:12 AM

Green and Ayamel have been paired together since they both verbally committed back in July to Madison, so it makes sense Green’s LOI would trickle in just a few minutes behind Ayamel’s. For Good Counsel, Green was a disruptive force on the defensive line while racking up 14 sacks this past fall. He leaves the parochial program as the school’s all-time sack leader. His high school coach Andy Stefanelli said, “He’s got an incredible knack for rushing the passer. He does other things, and he plays the run and does everything well, but that’s his specialty.” With 13 scholarship offers, Green considered ones from Virginia and Liberty the most before committing to JMU.

READ: Good Counsel Trio Has Big Plans For JMU Careers

LOI Announced: 7:18 AM

A late add to the class of 2019, Curry Jr., flipped his commitment from Division II Concord to JMU when the Dukes offered him a partial scholarship last week. At Handley, Curry hauled in 60 catches for 1,031 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns this past season when he was a first-team All-Northwestern District selection. Curry, who also plays basketball for the Judges, said of his football skills, “I’m more of a jump-ball receiver. I go up and get the 50-50 balls. The goal line and the 50-50 balls, that’s my game. I’m tough.”

LOI Announced: 8:09 AM

Jones is the final piece of an extremely strong defensive line class. When Jones committed back in August he said, “I want to be part of a winning team,” as he selected the Dukes’ offer over one from CAA rival Towson. The 6-foot-3 edge rusher led the Avalon School in sacks and forced fumbles in each of the last two seasons.

LOI Announced: 8:32 AM

Palmer was waiting for an offer from Madison and finally got it when new coach Curt Cignetti took control of the program. When Cignetti and his staff were at Elon, they had offered Palmer and then did the same when the arrived at JMU. Palmer is as tough rusher, too, having played through a torn meniscus as a junior at Good Counsel. Earlier this week Palmer said he isn’t only a punishing back and that he, “has some speed, too.” He earned 10 scholarship offers and most of them came as he put together a strong senior season when he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Falcons. Palmer is the last signee in the class for the Dukes.

Here's a closer look at the two early enrollees:

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. Now enrolled in time for spring practice, Bullock has an extra 15 practices to learn the plays and prove to the staff he’s ready to see game action early in his career.

Davis was the first member of JMU’s 2019 class and was solidly firm in his commitment since May. He had offers from Army, Elon, Liberty and Kent State among others, and his decision to get to college early gives him a jumpstart on the rest of the incoming freshman. This past fall, Davis had five interceptions to help Shelby win a state championship and he became an All-State selection. Before he signed, Davis said he did have familiarity with Cignetti when Cignetti became the Dukes’ coach. When Cignetti was the coach at Elon, he recruited and offered Davis.

And the other six who signed in December:

Cignetti said he was happy him and his staff convinced Douglas to sign in December after the running back briefly de-committed when former coach Mike Houston and his staff left for East Carolina. Douglas rushed for 1,673 yards and 17 touchdowns this past fall and Cignetti said, “He’s got excellent hands, good balance and change of direction.” Douglas is the second Georgia native in the last three years that JMU has signed.

Jackson missed all of his senior season due to a foot injury, but he rushed for 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, and Cignetti said the running back is fully healthy and prepared for his first season with the Dukes. Jackson, who chose JMU over East Carolina, Old Dominion and Purdue, makes five Hermitage alums on the Dukes’ roster for 2019 joining cornerback Rashad Robinson, wide receiver Percy Mayers, linebacker Mateo Jackson and defensive lineman Jahmol Robinson.

With offers from seven different Colonial Athletic Association programs in addition to ones from four FBS schools, 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 as a senior at Gonzaga. Of Johns, Cignetti said, “He’s a great effort guy that plays with great tenacity, has really good bloodlines and I think he’ll do extremely well here.” Johns’ father, Gregg Johns, played linebacker at Penn State while his brother Nick Johns plays at Akron and his brother Mitchell Johns plays at Navy.

Cignetti called Jones, “the kind of guy that jumps out on tape right away.” This past fall the linebacker was the 3A All-Region and Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year. Although, he never publically committed to the Dukes until his LOI rolled in this past December, he selected Madison over successful Group of Five programs Central Florida and Appalachian State as well as in-state Group of Five program Old Dominion.

The 6-foot-2, 288-pound offensive lineman played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas after his senior season this past fall. He also briefly opened up his recruitment when Houston’s staff departed for East Carolina, but Cignetti and his staff managed to reel Morris back in to have him sign in December. Of Morris, Cignetti said, “Real blue collar, tough guy that’ll play center or guard for us. An inside guy.” Morris, who played at the same high school that produced current Dukes defensive lineman Paris Black, is the only offensive lineman in the class.

With 10 total scholarship offers including one from SEC member Kentucky and another from AAC member Cincinnati, it’s no surprise Cignetti said White, “could excel on either side of the ball and has the potential to impact the team early on.” The Dukes will play White at safety where he can use his speed, quickness and athleticism to his advantage. White was an All-County and All-Conference safety this past fall, and racked up six interceptions and 143 tackles over the past two years at West Orange.