Alonza Barnett III News, Rumors, Updates - James Madison Dukes

Louisville uses defensive score to thwart James Madison 28-14

Louisville defensive end AJ Green recovered a fourth-quarter fumble in the James Madison end zone and the Cardinals rallied to beat the Dukes 28-14

SEPTEMBER 6 • Associated Press

Starts on Saturday in win Barnett was 14-for-22 passing for 130 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 45-10 victory versus Weber State. He also had five rushes for 30 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Barnett started over transfer Matthew Sluka and lead the Dukes to a blowout win over Weber State. He did not turn the ball over in the win. A tougher test with Louisville is up next where eyes will be on Barnett to see how secure his starting job is.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Starts on Saturday in win Barnett was 14-for-22 passing for 130 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 45-10 victory versus Weber State. He also had five rushes for 30 yards with one touchdown.

SEPTEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Barnett, Sluka double up to lead James Madison to 45-10 romp over Weber State

Starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III and reserve quarterback Matthew Sluka each threw for a touchdown and ran for another in the first half and James Madison dominated Weber Sta...

AUGUST 31 • Associated Press

Starting for Dukes in Week 1 Barnett will start for James Madison against Weber State in Week 1, per Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.com.

Impact This is somewhat surprising, as Barnett battled UNLV transfer Matthew Sluka all offseason for the QB1 gig in Harrisonburg. Barnett was cleared for contact just days before the Dukes' opener, so James Madison rolling with Sluka wouldn't have been shocking. Still, Barnett has proven he's a talented option under center, and he'll get a chance to hold down the starting quarterback role. It's worth noting, however, that both quarterbacks have played early in the game.

AUGUST 30 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for contact Barnett (leg) is cleared for contact, JMU Sports News reports.

Impact Now that Barnett is healthy, he is officially in the running to be James Madison's starting quarterback come Week 1 against non-FBS side Weber State. Considering his clearance is fairly recent before JMU's upcoming game, it would not be surprising if the Dukes go another route at QB. But considering how well James Madison's 2024 team did with him under center, perhaps the Dukes may not take any risk and go with their proven option in Barnett.

AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE

Not ready for live reps Barnett (leg) remains limited to non-contact work as the Dukes start live reps at fall camp, JMU Sports News reports.

Impact Barnett, who burst onto the scene for JMU last season, continues to work through a lingering leg injury suffered last season. The 6-foot redshirt junior threw for 2,598 yards (213-of-355), 26 touchdowns and four interceptions across 12 games last season, adding on 135 yards and seven touchdowns with his legs. Barnett projects to be a high-upside fantasy option this season, so his practice participation is worth monitoring as the Dukes approach their Week 1 opener against Weber State.

AUGUST 9 • ROTOWIRE

Not cleared for contact or full movement Head coach Bob Chesney indicated that Barnett (leg) has yet to be cleared for contact for full movement at this point, JMU Sports News reports.

Impact Chesney didn't clarify if Barnett has a specific timetable for clearance, though it's also unclear if he was asked about it. Either way, the Dukes hit the transfer portal hard at the quarterback position this offseason, adding Matthew Sluka from UNLV and Camden Coleman from FCS Richmond, suggesting there's likely uncertainty regarding Barnett's status for 2025. More information on his status should surface either over the summer or during fall camp.

APRIL 8 • ROTOWIRE

Will be limited come spring Barnett (leg) is reportedly on schedule with his recovery but won't participate fully in spring camp, per JMU Sports News.

Impact Barnett missed the Dukes' bowl game against Western Kentucky with a leg injury that JMU head coach Bob Chesney recently described as "serious." Thus, it tracks that the gunslinger will still be in the process of rehabbing when JMU opens its spring camp. The Dukes have plenty of options at quarterback, however, having landed Matthew Sluka and Camden Coleman via the transfer portal this winter. That will set him back in the quarterback competition, but Barnett is still coming off an impressive season in which he tossed for 2,598 yards, 26 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 442 yards rushing and seven scores on the ground.

FEBRUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to be out for bowl game Barnett is expected to be out for James Madison's game Wednesday against Western Kentucky because of a leg injury, Mark Giannotto of USA Today reports.

Impact According to the USA Today article, Barnett is hurting from an apparent leg injury, which will cause him to sit out James Madison's bowl gam and last matchup of 2024.

DECEMBER 16, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Quiet in loss Barnett completed 14 of 19 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during Saturday's 35-33 overtime loss versus Marshall. He also had 14 rushes for 24 yards.

Impact Barnett's interception proved costly, being returned for six to tie the game at 17-all late in the third quarter. Outside of the interception, Barnett was decent, completing 73.7 percent of his passes in total and accounting for a pair of touchdowns. He'll still have a bowl game to add to his season totals, but he's thrown for 2,596 yards and a 26:4 TD:INT while adding 442 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

DECEMBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Middling in defeat Barnett was 21-for-36 passing for 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during Saturday's 34-20 loss against Appalachian State. He also had 13 rushes for 23 yards.

Impact Barnett threw for less than 250 yards for a sixth straight game and completed merely 58.3 percent of his pass attempts. Through 11 games, Barnett has racked up 2,458 passing yards and a 24:3 TD:INT while rushing for 418 yards and seven scores. He'll look to close out the regular season on a high note in Week 14 against Marshall.

NOVEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Scores thrice in win Barnett was 18-for-26 passing for 192 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 35-32 win over Old Dominion. He also had 13 rushes for 70 yards with two touchdowns.

Impact Barnett forged an unstoppable connection with Yamir Knight, with 121 of Barnett's 192 passing yards going to Knight. He was also a factor on the ground, exceeding 50 rushing yards for the first time since Week 6 and notching his second game with multiple rushing touchdowns. He's tallied 29 total touchdowns through 10 games and has thrown just two interceptions.

NOVEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Alonza Barnett III accounts for 3 TDs, James Madison beats Old Dominion 35-32

Alonza Barnett III threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Yamir Knight to give James Madison the lead for good and ran for TDs of 50 and 8 yards to help the Dukes beat Old Dominion 35-3...

NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • Associated Press

Shows well in blowout Barnett completed 20 of 30 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns during Saturday's 38-7 win over Georgia State. He also had nine rushes for 33 yards.

Impact Barnett had thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three straight outings prior to Saturday's victory, and he also notched his most rushing yards since Week 6. The redshirt sophomore has been outstanding in his first season as a starter, totaling 2,034 passing yards and a 21:2 TD:INT while adding 325 yards and five scores as a rusher.

NOVEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Barnett throws for 2 TDs, Knight scores twice, James Madison tops Georgia State 38-7

Alonza Barnett III threw three touchdown passes, Wayne Knight had the first two touchdowns of his career and James Madison coasted to a 38-7 win over Georgia State

NOVEMBER 10, 2024 • Associated Press

Off game in win Barnett was 15-for-25 passing for 135 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during Saturday's 32-15 victory versus Southern Miss. He also had 14 rushes for three yards.

Impact Barnett threw for more than 200 yards in four of his first five games this season, but he's now failed the reach the threshold in three consecutive contests. He also threw his first interception since Week 1. Even with a quiet October, Barnett's having a great 2024 campaign, throwing for 1,793 yards with an 18:2 TD:INT while adding 292 yards and five scores on the ground across eight games.

OCTOBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Quiet in loss Barnett completed 22 of 41 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 28-14 loss versus Georgia Southern. He also had 11 rushes for -20 yards.

Impact Barnett finished with less than 200 passing yards for a second straight game, though he wasn't able to supplement the lack of yardage with touchdowns Saturday like he had in Week 7. Additionally, Barnett snapped a steak of four consecutive games with a rushing touchdown and tallied negative rush yards for the first time this year. Still, Barnett ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in passing yards (1,658) and boasts a 16:1 TD:INT to pair with his five rushing TDs.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Scores four times Barnett completed 16 of 28 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns during Thursday's 39-7 victory over Coastal Carolina. He also had five rushes for 13 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Barnett tallied at least four touchdowns for the third time in four games, but he finished with his fewest yards from scrimmage since Week 2. The redshirt sophomore has accumulated 20 touchdowns in six games and has thrown just one interception. He ranks third in the Sun Belt in passing yards and has the most rushing yards of any quarterback in the conference.

OCTOBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Alonza Barnett III, Lloyd Summerall III spark James Madison to 39-7 romp over Coastal Carolina

Alonza Barnett III sandwiched a touchdown pass and a touchdown run around a pick-6 by Lloyd Summerall III in a big second quarter and James Madison breezed to a 39-7 victory over C...

OCTOBER 11, 2024 • Associated Press

Tallies 300 all-purpose yards Barnett was 20-for-47 passing for 251 yards during Saturday's 21-19 defeat versus Louisiana-Monroe. He also had 15 rushes for 49 yards with one touchdown.

Impact After throwing five touchdown passes in back-to-back games, Barnett's lone score Saturday came on the ground. The redshirt sophomore completed a season-low 42.6 percent of his pass attempts, though he's now gone four straight games without an interception. Through five games, Barnett has thrown for 1,273 yards and rushed for 312 yards with 16 total touchdowns.

OCTOBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Remarkable once again Barnett was 20-for-28 passing for 280 yards and five touchdowns during Saturday's 63-7 win versus Ball State. He also had 10 rushes for 60 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Barnett accounted for seven touchdowns last week against North Carolina and chipped in six more scores against Ball State on Saturday. On top of completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 1,022 yards and 12 touchdowns, Barnett has been excellent as a runner, accumulating 263 yards and three scores across four games. While it's unlikely JMU will continue to score 60 points per game, Barnett has certainly done enough to enter fantasy conversations.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Alonza Barnett III continues stellar play with 6 more TDs in leading James Madison past Ball State

Alonza Barnett III threw for 280 yards and five touchdowns — his second straight game with five TDs through the air — and he added 60 yards on the ground with another score to help...

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • Associated Press

Accounts for seven touchdowns Barnett was 22-for-34 passing for 388 yards and five touchdowns during Saturday's 70-50 victory over North Carolina. He also had 13 rushes for 99 yards with two touchdowns.

Impact Barnett was featured in James Madison's historic win over North Carolina in which they scored 53 points in the first half. Barnett accounted for 487 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns, looking nothing short of unstoppable. Barnett has rushed for more than 85 yards in two of three games and had averaged just 177 passing yards in the Dukes' first two games. He'll look to keep the ball rolling in Week 5 against Ball State.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

AP Player of the week: James Madison's Alonza Barnett III accounts for 7 TDs in win over Tar Heels

James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III is The Associated Press national player of the week in college football

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • Associated Press

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