Topical JMU football coach Billy Napier expects secondary to be versatile CATIE HARPER Daily News-Record Jul 23, 2026 46 mins ago 0 × Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save James Madison head coach Billy Napier is excited about his first defense with the Dukes.kAmp=E9@F89 E96 F?:E 762EFC6D A=6?EJ @7 ?6H 7246D[ }2A:6C 36=:6G6D E96 A=2J6CD H9@ 92G6 6>6C865 E9:D @77D62D@? 92G6 A@D:E:@?65 y|& 7@C DF446DD]k^AmkAmQx E9:?< E92E H6VG6 8@EE6? =6256CD9:A 7C@> D@>6 8FJD[Q }2A:6C D2:5] Q|2J36 E96C6VD 366? A=2J6CD E92E 92G6 6>6C865 7C@> =2DE J62CVD E62> E92E 5:5?VE 92G6 9F86 C@=6D] %96J H6C6 C@E2E:@?2=[ 3FE E96J C62==J DE6AA65 :?E@ E96 DA@E=:89E] xEVD <:?5 @7 =:<6[ Vw6J[ :EVD >J E:>6] xVG6 366? H2:E:?8 >J EFC?]VQk^Am James Madison safety KJ Flowe runs a drill during practice. Daniel Lin / DN-R kAm%92E 6>6C86?46 >2J 36 >@DE :>A@CE2?E :? E96 D64@?52CJ]k^Am People are also reading… Appalachian Power again reducing water releases from SML amid drought MLB power rankings: Red Sox win streak hits 13 as worst-to-first quest continues Finding 'Project Flash:' How Franklin County residents learned the county was talking to a data center developer Governor visits Smith Mountain Lake to emphasize water conservation in drought FIFA refereeing officer defends officials after Argentina-Egypt controversies Roanoke-area drought now in Va. emergency status, could lead to mandatory restrictions Mixed results in latest water quality testing at Smith Mountain Lake FOIA documents reveal months of talks on 'Project Flash' in Franklin County Manager at Roanoke kennel City Dogs charged with cruelty to animals After vehicle chase, Franklin County deputies arrest man for felonies Sidewalk extension approved in Rocky Mount Pirate Days returns next weekend at a new location amid drought Franklin County School Board opens application process to fill vacant seat Rocky Mount water main work temporarily stopped for possible fuel leak Tuggle’s Gap restaurant reopens at historic roadside landmark kAmy|& C6EFC?D D6G6C2= 6IA6C:6?465 4@?EC:3FE@CD 2=@?8 E96 5676?D:G6 =:?6[ :?4=F5:?8 p>2C %9@>2D[ z6==D qFD9 2?5 |J492= |4|F==:?] (9:=6 %9@>2D 2?5 |4|F==:? =@8865 >@C6 D?2AD E92? qFD9 =2DE D62D@?[ qFD9 82:?65 G2=F23=6 6IA6C:6?46 =2E6 :? E96 J62C]k^AmkAm%96 D64@?52CJ[ >62?H9:=6[ F?56CH6?E 2 >2;@C @G6C92F=]k^AmkAm$276EJ y24@3 %9@>2D :D :? E96 }u{[ H9:=6 %J=6C qC@H? EC2?D76CC65 E@ x@H2] r@C?6C324<D t=:;29 rF=A 2?5 yFDE:? t28=:? 2=D@ 56A2CE65[ H:E9 rF=A AFCDF:?8 E96 }u{ 2?5 t28=:? EC2?D76CC:?8 E@ r@=@C25@] }:4<6=324< sy q2C<D52=6 7@==@H65 y|&VD AC6G:@FD 4@249:?8 DE277 E@ &r{p]k^Am kAms6DA:E6 E9@D6 56A2CEFC6D[ }2A:6C C6>2:?D 4@?7:56?E :? E96 A=2J6CD H9@ DE2J65]k^Am kAmsFC:?8 $F? q6=E |65:2 s2JD[ D276EJ zy u=@H6 H2D E96 7:CDE 5676?56C }2A:6C >6?E:@?65 H96? 5:D4FDD:?8 E96 8C@FA]k^AmkAmu=@H6VD C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ :?4C62D6 E9:D D62D@?] p=E9@F89 =:DE65 2D 2 D276EJ[ }2A:6C D2:5 u=@H6 — =:<6 >F49 @7 E96 D64@?52CJ — H:== 36 2D<65 E@ A=2J >F=E:A=6 A@D:E:@?D]k^Am James Madison safety Seth Gathers runs a drill during practice. Daniel Lin / DN-R kAmQx? E96 D64@?52CJ[ 2=E9@F89 H6 5@ C64CF:E D276E:6D 2?5 4@C?6CD[ H6 C62==J 6G2=F2E6 E96 ,5676?D:G6 324<D. :?56A6?56?E @7 A@D:E:@?D[Q }2A:6C D2:5] Q(6 H2?E 96:89E[ =6?8E9[ DA665] (6 H2?E 32== D<:==D[ 32== ;F58>6?E] (6 H2?E E96 23:=:EJ E@ A=2J >2?\E@\>2?] %96J 92G6 E@ 36 23=6 E@ E24<=6] (6 H2?E G6C:7:65 DA665]Qk^Am kAm}2A:6C 25565 E92E D276E:6D >FDE 2=D@ 4@>>F?:42E6 H6== 2?5 BF:4<=J AC@46DD 56G6=@A:?8 A=2JD]k^Am kAm#2E96C E92? =@4<:?8 A=2J6CD :?E@ @?6 A@D:E:@?[ E96 4@249:?8 DE277VD AC:@C:EJ :D 86EE:?8 E96 7:G6 36DE 5676?D:G6 324<D @? E96 7:6=5]k^AmkAmQ%96C6VD 8@:?8 E@ 36 D@>6 8FJD E92E 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 86E >@C6 C6AD E92E A=2J65 4@C?6C >@DE @7 E96 DAC:?8[Q }2A:6C D2:5] Q%96JVC6 8@:?8 E@ 36 E2<:?8 D@>6 D276EJ DE2CE C6AD] qFE H6 8@E E@ 86E E96 36DE A=2J6CD @? E96 7:6=5 2?5 42?VE 92G6 2? :?;FCJ 2?5 E96? E96 ?6IE 36DE A=2J6C DE2?5:?8 36D:56 >6]Qk^Am kAm}2A:6C 6IA64ED u=@H6 E@ DA6?5 E:>6 2E D276EJ[ H9:=6 C65D9:CE 7C6D9>2? 4@C?6C324< #@55C6J |4(:==:2>D :D 6IA64E65 E@ >@G6 :?D:56 2?5 A=2J ?:4<6= :? 46CE2:? A24<286D]k^Am kAmw6 2=D@ 9:89=:89E65 ;F?:@C y2J@? w2CG6J 2?5 C65D9:CE 7C6D9>2? $6E9 v2E96CD 2D A=2J6CD H9@ 92G6 6>6C865 2E D276EJ E9:D @77D62D@?]k^Am kAms6AE9 2E 4@C?6C324<[ }2A:6C D2:5[ D9@F=5 2==@H E96 sF<6D E@ 4C62E6 255:E:@?2= 7=6I:3:=:EJ @? E96 324< 6?5]k^AmkAmQ%92E 42? 96=A FD[Q }2A:6C D2:5] Q$@[ x E9:?< E96 56AE9 2E 4@C?6C :D 8@:?8 E@ 2==@H FD E@ >@G6 D@>6 8FJD :? E96C6 2E D276EJ 2?5 96=A FD @FE]Qk^Am kAm%96 6I24E 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 5676?D:G6 324<D E92E E2<6D E96 7:6=5 282:?DE {:36CEJ :? E96 D62D@? @A6?6C C6>2:?D F?D6EE=65]k^AmkAm$E:==[ }2A:6C =:<6D H92E 96 92D D66? 7C@> E96 8C@FA 9625:?8 :?E@ 72== 42>A]k^Am Contact Catie Harper at 540-208-3268 or charper@dnronline.com. | Follow Catie on Twitter: @CatieHarper 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! 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