LeZotte geats up for final season at JMU

Nathan Chiantella / photo editor Red-shirt senior quarterback Matt LeZotte throws to red-shirt junior wide receiver Tahir Hinds (No. 7) during summer training camp. LeZotte has passed for the fourth most yards in JMU history.

Almost five years have lapsed since Matt LeZotte left Augusta, Ga., for JMU’s campus. In those years, the red-shirt senior quarterback has witnessed only one winning season, when he red-shirted behind then-starter Charles Berry in 2000.

In his final season at JMU, LeZotte hopes to include one more winning campaign before he dons a cap and gown.

"You go through a lot in a five-year career," LeZotte said. "And the only reason you do it is to go out on a positive note."

Since LeZotte became a Duke, JMU has a record of 19-27, progressively improving every year since the quarterback took over the starting position.

Last year, the Dukes came up a victory short of a winning record, finishing at 6-6. This year, however, JMU returns 19 starters, 10 of whom play on the offensive side of the ball.

Overall, the Dukes brandish a supporting cast that is going to make a case for its place in JMU history.

"This will be the best team I’ve had," coach Mickey Matthews said. "This team will be better — top to bottom — than any before."

LeZotte will have a strong backfield behind him in the tailback tandem of red-shirt sophomores Alvin Banks and Maurice Fenner.

Looking downfield, LeZotte will find a receiving corps that may lack his preferred target of past-years Alan Harrison, but has made amends in its depth. It has added red-shirt senior, and Duke University transfer Khary Sharpe.

"We haven’t had the chance to open it up and throw the ball," LeZotte said. "But now, because of the depth, there should be a lot of big plays."

Throughout his career, injuries have been a constant hindrance to LeZotte’s progress.

Last season, LeZotte was sidelined by a thigh injury. In 2002 he had more problems with the legs, and in 2001, a shoulder problem suffered in the season opener kept him from the next three games. However, one game stands out in his mind as one he would like to have back.

"The Rhode Island game last year," LeZotte said. "I pulled myself out because of a strained quad in the second quarter. I felt like I could’ve had a really big game and I ended up not being able to play."

But the biggest aspect of the 2004 Dukes that LeZotte will find to his liking is a healthy offensive line to prevent those pestering injuries.

That line returns red-shirt junior guard Matt Magerko, who moves back his original position from center, and red-shirt senior center Leon Steinfeld who is coming off a knee injury that sidelined him all of last season.

Both will provide LeZotte with a reason to remain in the pocket and look to his deep receiving corps.

"We have been through a lot together — it’s not just me," LeZotte said of his offensive line. "We have been through trials and tribulations and they are going to do a great job this year."

Aside from winning and barring injury, LeZotte sits in a prime position to lay claim to a number of JMU’s all-time offensive records. He ranks fourth in total passing yards with 4,228 and third in completions with 342.

He is fifth in touchdown passes with 23 and fifth in total offense, compiling 4,342 yards.

LeZotte believes that talent and staying power have something to do with it.

"I think records are a little bit of both," he said. "We haven’t run a wide-open offense since I’ve played here.

"The number of games also helped me out," LeZotte added. "You may have great receivers, you may run the ball really well, but a lot of numbers have to do with team success — some individual, but mostly team."

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