Topical JMU football coach Billy Napier expects secondary to be versatile CATIE HARPER Daily News-Record Jul 23, 2026 1 hr ago 0 × Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky 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… Smyth sheriff reports first numbers from photo-enforced I-81 work zone Smyth Strong Award: Honoring Greer for giving others' hope Smyth hospital CEO says SCCH is not at risk of closure Smyth asks court to OK 1% sales tax referendum for schools Smyth County continues to explore data center regs Family, Smyth Animal Rescue unite to keep Olivia's light shining Marion massage therapy practice adds acupuncturist, new therapies Marion PD chief reports on first 6 months of Flock cameras in town School-based health clinics' closure prompts officials to turn to legislators DIARY OF A WORD NERD: Limiting the spread of political violence Alyssa's Angels: Working to make a difference in Chilhowie, beyond Prostitution ring at Roanoke bridal shop: First conviction gets man for racketeering For 25 years LASO offers skills, life lessons Chilhowie, industries address forever plastics Virginia Tech shrinks presidential search committee, citing competition for candidates 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? 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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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