Why Landon Ellis’ breakout performance was crucial for JMU
The junior Richmond transfer had a career-best performance on Saturday, but the thought of him doing it again will pay dividends for the Dukes' other receivers.
Courtesy of JMU athletic communications
Before JMU’s game against Louisiana on Saturday, the Dukes hadn’t had a single game this season where a wide receiver caught five passes or more.
Junior wide receiver Landon Ellis’ six catches, 120 yards and three-touchdown performance changed that. Ellis scored all of the Dukes’ touchdowns on Saturday, including a 62-yard pass from redshirt junior Alonza Barnett III.
Ellis already has five touchdowns this season, which doubles his career total coming from Richmond.
He told Dave Riggert of the JMU Radio Network that the receivers and tight ends met with the quarterbacks for an additional meeting than usual last week.
Ellis added that Barnett spearheaded the meeting.
“We met with the quarterbacks twice this week, and I think that was huge to get on the same page,” Ellis told Riggert. “The communication was just a lot better this week. Also, physically, I felt a little different … I felt a little fresher, which feels like it made a big difference.”
Courtesy of JMU athletic communications
Barnett said the meetings helped “a ton” but there’s still a few things to sure up.
“Alonza heading that meeting is amazing,” Ellis said. “You can really see his leadership show in those meetings. He’ll be a little loose with the guys, keep it fun, but to know his thought process … having him tell where we need to be goes a long way. Those meetings are definitely going to continue for the rest of the season.”
Even though JMU’s first half was plagued with turnovers, Saturday was by far the Dukes’ most efficient game through the air this year. Barnett was able to find a rhythm early in the quick passing attack, completing eight of his first 10 passing attempts.
Maryland transfer, Braeden Wisloski played a key role in opening up Louisiana’s defense. He finished the game with seven catches for 69 yards, which is a career-high for both of those categories. His eight targets on Saturday were the most a JMU player has had all season, just ahead of Ellis’ seven during the same game.
Wisloski entered Saturday’s game having played on just 22 passing snaps all season, but on Saturday, he played on 18. Wisloski’s presence out of the slot paid dividends for Ellis’ day, and Ellis’ performance will pay dividends for other receivers as the year progresses.
Redshirt senior Nick DeGennaro was Richmond’s true No. 1 wide receiver for the past couple of seasons, not Ellis. That doesn’t mean that Ellis can’t be for JMU, if he isn’t already, but a similar performance for DeGennaro feels past due.
Ellis putting a stellar performance on tape will reward him with much more attention from opposing defenses for the rest of the year. He might continue to win his matchups regardless, or his performance will open defenses up for DeGennaro and Jaylan Sanchez.
Ellis’ size and physicality also provide something the Dukes didn’t have in the receiver room dating back to last season. His willingness to win routes in the middle of the field is crucial for an offense that typically picks defenses apart underneath or outside of the numbers.
Or if you ask JMU head coach Bob Chesney about Ellis, he’ll probably bring up his blocking ability.
“He’s a big-body receiver,” Chesney said of his evaluation of Ellis at Richmond. “What stood out to me is just how committed he was to the team there, as far as his responsibility. When the ball would be in the air and not go to him, he would block and just physically block and never quit on a play. And that’s the mentality he brings into it. He’s a leader, he’s poised. He’s very, very smart, and his best days are certainly ahead of him.”