Possible James Madison-to-Indiana Transfers

Included is a list of current James Madison players who could possibly follow their JMU coaches to Indiana.

As happens with most head coaching changes (or coaching changes in general), there will be some James Madison players who transfer to Indiana after the hiring of former James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti this week. 18 Hoosiers have entered the portal since Tom Allen’s firing, and while that wave seems to have slowed in recent days, I’d expect more to enter the portal once the new staff decides they need those spots on the roster for better players or players that better fit their systems.

It’s also been reported that QB coach Tino Sunseri and OC Mike Shanahan will follow Cignetti to Bloomington (one could assume to serve those same positions, but that’s yet to be confirmed). I would expect some staffers from the defense to join them as well, given how strong that defense was.

Below, I put together a small list of James Madison players to watch for in the portal, given the changes occurring this week. I was very selective in the players I included, since the Big Ten is a step up from the Sun Belt and since they can’t bring the entire team to Bloomington. Let me provide some explanation for specific position groups.

First, here is Indiana’s current 2024 scholarship chart, as it stands. And here is a previous Bite-Sized Bison piece on who to retain from Indiana’s own roster in the portal.

QB: I don’t know what’s going to happen at QB, but if Jordan McCloud doesn’t go to the NFL, he likely wouldn’t stay at JMU, since his offensive staff has left. The staff will need to decide how it wants to handle that situation (keeping in mind NIL considerations), along with Brendan Sorsby in the portal. Tayven Jackson would likely back up again if either of them is at IU.

RB: Indiana needs RBs (plural), so I wouldn’t be surprised if the staff brought one to Bloomington, but neither of the available contributors there are impressive enough to assume they could jump to the Big Ten.

WR: Yes, please. 

OL: James Madison’s OL ranked 122nd in line yards per rush in 2023, and the team ranked 101st in rushing success rate. They were decently young along the line, but not many of them would be must-haves in a coaching transition – except one.

Front 7: I lumped this group together for a second because James Madison’s defense was insane this year. The Dukes were 1st nationally in defensive success rate (allowed 32.8% offensive success rate!) and 2nd nationally in defensive havoc rate (26.0%). Much of that began with the defensive front seven, which ranked 2nd nationally in havoc rate (16.4%). If the staff brings anyone to the program from James Madison’s defense, it would be a great addition, but I selected a handful who I’d be extremely excited about (based on 2023 performance and eventual upside).

DL: Indiana will need to add guys to the defensive line this offseason, even if they bring back some of the few who are currently in the portal. They will need some depth there to encourage rotation, and JMU has some guys.

LB: Indiana will lose its two starting LBs this offseason, including Aaron Casey. The good news is that there are two solid guys to bring to Bloomington, if the staff can.

Secondary: Same as the front seven. The DB havoc rate was also 2nd nationally (9.5%), which is insanely impressive because none of the four starters were older than sophomores. But I picked just one who would force me to run through a wall if he transferred to Indiana. 

Jordan McCloud (quarterback)

• 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year

• 68.9% completion percentage, 3,413 passing yards, 32 TDs, 9 INTs

• Graded by PFF as 26th-best QB in the nation

• 75.9% adjusted completion percentage (20th nationally)

• Pressured the 19th-most in the nation (graded 39th nationally when under pressure)

• Would be his fourth school (has his COVID year left) but showed significant improvement at JMU and both QB coach Tino Sunseri and OC Mike Shanahan will reportedly be at Indiana in some capacity

• Listed at 6-foot, 200 pounds

Elijah Sarratt (wide receiver)

• Junior in 2024

• 74 receptions, 1,076 yards, 8 TDs

• 2nd-most receiving yards, 3rd-most receptions in the SBC

• 3rd-highest contested catch percentage nationally (78.6%) – Donaven McCulley led Indiana at 27th nationally (64.3%) in 2023

• 6-foot-2, 207 pounds

Reggie Brown (wide receiver)

• COVID year in 2024

• 51 receptions, 1,010 yards, 9 TDs

• 3rd-most receiving yards, 2nd-most TDs, 3rd-highest average per reception (19.8) in the SBC

• 26th nationally in yards per route run (2.74)

• 6-foot-1, 195 pounds

Carter Miller (left guard)

• Redshirt sophomore in 2024

• Started at LG as a redshirt freshman and played 657 snaps in 2023

• Graded as the No. 13 guard in the Sun Belt

• Graded as the No. 13 guard nationally in the 2026 draft class

• Didn’t allow a sack on 371 pass-blocking snaps and allowed a team-low 9 QB pressures (tied for 10th lowest among OLs in the 2026 draft class)

Tyrique Tucker (defensive tackle)

• Redshirt sophomore in 2024

• Started at DT as a redshirt freshman and played 329 snaps in 2023

• 26 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks in 2023

• His 329 snaps ranked 26th of 187 DTs in the 2026 draft class

• Brother of Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, who was an FCS All-American LB at James Madison before transferring and playing at Texas in 2022

Mikail Kamara (defensive end)

• Two years of eligibility remaining

• 53 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 2 PBUs, 4 forced fumbles 

• 4th in SBC in TFLs

• 21st in run defense among all DEs nationally 

• Only suspicion is that he benefited from having Jalen Green rushing from the opposite side

Aiden Fisher (linebacker)

• Junior in 2024

• 90 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 7 PBUs

• 2nd on team with 741 snaps played

• Tied for 1st on team in stops (41) – Aaron Casey ranked 14th nationally with 53 stops

• 3rd nationally among LBs in PBUs

Jailin Walker (linebacker)

• Senior in 2024

• Graded by PFF as the best defender overall on James Madison’s roster (Jalen Green might have something to say about that)

• 55 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles (2nd on team in tackles)

• Among LBs with 400+ snaps, PFF grades Walker 2nd overall, 9th in pass rush, 8th in coverage, and 37th in run defense.

• Missed 3 games last season

D’Angelo Ponds (cornerback)

• Sophomore in 2024 (yes, he was a true freshman in 2023)

• 49 tackles tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 2 INTs, 12 PBUs, 2 fumble recoveries

• Graded as the 9th-best coverage CB in the country by PFF

• Also graded 14th in run defense among all CBs

• Allowed just 33 receptions on 71 targets (46.5% reception percentage – 5th in the nation)

• 4th in SBC in PBUs

• Rated as the No. 1,966 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class

Others who could be good additions:

DE Jamree Kromah (50 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, 10.0 sacks – former Rutgers DE)

DT James Carpenter (48 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF)

S Francis Meehan (45 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 3 INTs, 5 PBUs)

RB Kaelon Black (131 carries, 594 yards, 1 rushing TD, 23 catches, 220 yards, 3 receiving TDs – junior in 2024)

CB Trevell Mullen (former IU CB and brother of former IU CB Tiawan Mullen)

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