Madison Commits Like Cignetti

HARRISONBURG — Curt Cignetti’s hiring is already popular with James Madison’s recruiting class.

Prospects can ink their Letter of Intent beginning Wednesday when the NCAA’s early signing period begins.

“I think it’s a great hire,” Shelby (N.C.) cornerback and Dukes commit Dorian Davis said. “I have a pretty good relationship with him, I think. He offered me at Elon, so I’m excited.”

Cignetti was named the eighth coach in JMU history on Friday after a two-year run at Elon where he led the Phoenix to consecutive FCS playoff appearances.

JMU athletic director Jeff Bourne said even though the search for a coach was detailed — lasting 12 days — he was pleased a decision was made in time to aid recruiting.

“Getting [Cignetti] on board by Wednesday was critical,” Bourne said. “Getting here and getting him out on the road this weekend was just as important.”

Cignetti took off to visit commits after signing a six-year contract with JMU at the school on Friday. He has Saturday and Sunday to meet those players and secure the 12-man class before the dead period — when coaches can’t have any in-person contact with a recruit or the recruit’s parents — begins Monday and lasts through Jan. 10.

Former JMU coach Mike Houston left for East Carolina on Dec. 3.

“The way the timeline came out, we had to be extremely judicious in what we did,” Bourne said. “But at the same time, we had to move very quickly.”

Davis was the first commit in JMU’s 2019 class when he gave his verbal in April.

Both Davis and Gaffney (S.C.) tight end Hunter Bullock are enrolling at JMU in January and will practice with the Dukes in the spring.

“I think it’s a great decision,” Bullock said of Cignetti. “He turned around Elon quick, so we should get rolling fast at JMU.”

Hermitage (Richmond) running back CJ Jackson and Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) defensive end Jalen Green garnered multiple FBS scholarship offers including ones from Power Five schools before committing to JMU.

Jackson, a Rivals.com two-star prospect, said: “I think it was a great hire. [Cignetti is] a very experienced coach and has a great résumé. He’s been nothing but a winner at his previous programs. Looking forward to speaking him.”

Jackson chose JMU over ECU, Old Dominion and Purdue. Green picked JMU over Virginia.

“Not exactly 100 percent familiar with [Cignetti’s] work,” Green said. “But I’ve heard nothing but good things. Can’t wait to meet him.”

Fellow defensive line commit Carlo Jones of The Avalon School (Wheaton, Md.) said he was still committed to JMU and planned to use the weekend to study up on Cignetti.

“I’m pretty sure the athletic director and staff made a good decision on selecting [Cignetti],” Jones said. “We’ll see what he’ll bring to the table. I’ll be doing my research.”

Thomas Dale (Chester) defensive end Rick D’Abreu, who committed to JMU in August, but received a visit from Houston and ECU defensive line coach Jeff Hanson earlier this week, said hiring Cignetti was “a good move by Mr. Bourne.”

During the time between Houston’s departure and Cignetti’s arrival, JMU assistants Warren Belin and Corico Wright handled keeping the class intact. Bourne said it was up to Cignetti to decide whether or not to keep Belin and Wright on staff at JMU. Both Belin and Wright were hired by Houston last offseason.

“That would be up to Coach Cignetti and what he wants,” Bourne said. “I’m certainly appreciative of what Corico and Coach Belin have done for us. They’ve done a great job fighting to hold onto the recruits we have. They’ve just been tireless really with their efforts and I think it speaks extremely well of them as coaches and individuals.”