JMU football adds two transfers

James Madison University football has added two transfers to the 2012 roster in redshirt-freshman quarterback Lafonte Thourogood (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes (Vanderbilt)) and redshirt-senior defensive lineman Isaiah Hamlette (Stafford, Va./Brook Point (Virginia Tech)), Head Coach Mickey Matthews announced.

Thourogood, a 6-2, 220-pound quarterback, redshirted his freshman year at Vanderbilt in 2011, playing on the practice squad for much of the season before shifting to running back late in the season. At Ocean Lakes, he ranked by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 25 dual-threat quarterback after lettering four years and serving as a team captain for two.

Despite injuries during his senior year, he was named First Team All-Beach District and the team’s MVP after accounting for nearly 2,000 total yards and 27 touchdowns. In his junior year, he had 812 rushing yards, 1,012 passing yards and a combined 23 touchdowns. A two-sport standout, Thourogood also lettered as a sprinter on the Ocean Lakes’ state champion track squad. He also was solid in the classroom, making the Honor Roll all four years.

At 6-5 and 290 pounds, Hamlette saw action in 13 games last season for the Hokies, playing both on defense and special teams. He had seven tackles on the season, including three total tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry against Appalachian State. He also had three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and his first career sack for six yards in the ACC Championship Game against Clemson. He saw limited action in his redshirt-freshman and sophomore seasons with Virginia Tech, playing in a combined four contests.

Out of Brooke Point High School, Hamlette was an Associated Press Second Team All-State performer and ranked the No. 19 player in the state by The Roanoke Times.  He was also a First-Team All-Northwest selection as well as Honorable Mention All-Met by the  Washington Post while helping lead the squad to a district championship. He was also a three-sport athlete in high school, also playing basketball and throwing the discus and shot put for the track team.

The Dukes open the 2012 season at home, hosting Saint Francis (Pa.) at Bridgeforth Stadium on Sat., Sept. 1.