Protecting the ball was an issue for the 2018 JMU offense, a unit that turned the ball over 24 times off 15 interceptions and nine fumbles. Only 19 of the 124 FCS programs finished the year with more turnovers.
“Turnovers will kill you,” Cignetti said. “Before you win a football game you need to make sure you don’t lose a football game, and the quickest way to lose a football game is to turn the ball over.”
One obstacle for Cignetti, looking ahead to the 2019 season, is the level of talent lost in the 2018 graduating class. Graduate student Cardon Johnson and seniors Trai Sharp and Marcus Marshall finished their careers with a combined 6,040 rushing yards, 738 receiving yards and 64 total touchdowns.
With the three out the door, the Dukes have just sophomore Percy Agyei-Obese, redshirt sophomores Jawon Hamilton and Eric Kirlew and freshman Solomon Vanhorse. Agyei-Obese leads the remaining backs with 66 rush attempts, 441 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The other three have a combined 17 attempts and 100 rushing yards.
While the Dukes are young at running back, they’ll return 20 of 22 starters from 2018.
With Cignetti at the helm, the right quarterback in place and a strong run scheme with depth at the position, the Dukes will have a shot to return to their 2016 form — winning games with a top offense in the FCS.