UCF RB Hamilton Transfers To JMU

HARRISONBURG — James Madison is bolstering its roster with an FBS transfer running back.

Central Florida’s Jawon Hamilton is joining the Dukes, he announced on Monday via Twitter. He is also listed in James Madison University’s student directory.

Hamilton has three years of eligibility left after taking a medical redshirt this past fall. He was the Knights’ starter before suffering a leg injury in UCF’s second game of the season.

The Miami, Fla., native and South Dade High School product helps JMU balance its running back classes with three seniors — Cardon Johnson, Marcus Marshall and Trai Sharp — set to graduate after this season. Madison didn’t sign a running back as part of its 2018 recruiting class.

Hamilton rushed for 546 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games with the Knights. He was a three-star prospect in high school by Rivals.com and held offers from Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Miami, Southern Illinois, Syracuse, Temple and Western Kentucky before inking with UCF.

Marshall, who transferred to JMU from Georgia Tech last year, led the Dukes with 850 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in his first season with the team. Both Johnson and Sharp have started games in their careers. Johnson, like Hamilton, is coming off a season-ending injury. Sophomore Percy Agyei-Obese also saw action and was the lone Dukes running back to practice throughout the entirety of the spring.