In 2025, James Madison marched to the College Football Playoff, finishing 12-2 and ranked #19 in the nation. The Dukes were one of the most productive offenses in the country, finishing ninth nationally in scoring.
But when you look at who led the team in receptions, you might assume the stat sheet has a typo.
It was not a wide receiver. It was running back Wayne Knight.
That number tells us something important about how James Madison approached the passing game. Knight was not simply catching check downs when the quarterback ran out of options. The Dukes consistently built concepts that created space for their running back, isolated him against linebackers, and forced defenses to account for him in ways that opened opportunities for everyone else.
That is the part that really caught my attention.
James Madison found multiple ways to get Knight into the passing game without making the offense feel like it was forcing the ball to a running back. They used formations, motion, protection, route combinations, and defensive manipulation to create favorable matchups.
Let’s take a look at how they did it.
Post Wheel
This is one of my all time favorite route combinations, but James Madison puts a great twist on it.
If you told me JMU was in a 4 strong formation to the field and was running Post Wheel, there is almost no chance I would assume the wheel was coming from the boundary.
But that is exactly what the Dukes do.
The running back releases directly through the offensive line and into the boundary on the wheel route. The solo receiver runs the post while the tight end works a delayed cross underneath.
Suddenly, the quarterback has a clean and defined read with multiple levels of the defense being stressed.
Field side, JMU runs a simple slot fade.
The beauty of the play is not necessarily the route combination itself. It is how the offense creates the space for the running back to operate.
The pulling guard and quick play action from the quarterback immediately put the defense into chase mode. The running back then uses the gap created by the pulling guard to get into his route.
That accomplishes two things: First, it declutters the area where the running back is releasing. Second, it gives the linebacker a run action key before he has to transition into pass coverage. That small detail makes a major difference.
Here is another example, this time with orbit motion. The motion helps occupy the backside safety while the rest of the concept develops. That leaves an inside linebacker essentially isolated against one of JMU’s best receiving threats.
Even when the Ducks account for everyone in the formation, they still have a problem. Who is covering the running back? The linebacker.
That is the constant challenge when the running back is a legitimate receiving threat. The offense does not necessarily need to scheme him completely open. Sometimes it just needs to force the defense to cover him with the wrong player.
Y Cross, R Rail
One of the biggest themes this offseason here at Board Drill has been the use of Y-Cross across every level of football and from a variety of offensive systems.
James Madison gives us another version worth studying.
Instead of using the traditional running back flat route, the Dukes incorporate a rail route from the backfield.
The running back immediately attacks the edge while the tight end stays in protection. That gives the quarterback an easy access throw while keeping additional protection in the box.
It is a simple formula:
Increased protection.
A playmaker attacking the edge.
A familiar concept with a different presentation.
The rail route also gives the running back an opportunity to work vertically rather than simply catching the ball and turning upfield from the flat.
For a defense, that distinction matters.
