Bryan Schor knows a thing or two about the tight end position at James Madison.

The former quarterback often had a tight end on the receiving end of his passes during his two seasons as the Dukes’ starter. Now, he’s coaching the position group at the same school where he made his name.

“I’ve cared a lot about every coaching job I’ve ever had,” Schor said. “But this one is just a little bit different. There’s a tie that I have to the players that I haven’t had before.”

While Schor is not new to the program, many of JMU’s tight ends are.

The Dukes return a handful of young players at the position, including redshirt sophomore Ryder Post and redshirt freshmen Brian Hnat and Ethan Gurela. The group also includes freshman Max Roche, who enrolled early and participated in spring practice.

Hnat is the most experienced returning tight end. The Andover, Massachusetts, native appeared in five games last season, including JMU’s postseason game against Oregon.

“He’s a really talented young player,” Schor said. “The sky’s the limit for him. I push him every day, remind him there’s no self-imposed limitations for him. He can do everything as a tight end here.”

Schor said his message to Hnat, Post, Gurela and Roche is centered on pushing one another to improve. The second-year position coach said the group arrives each day eager to learn and prepares as if it is competing for a starting role.

While Schor is excited about the young talent in the room, the Dukes also needed experience.

After Logan Kyle graduated and Josh Phifer transferred to UCLA while Lacota Dippre transferred to Florida, JMU turned to the transfer portal to add veteran depth.

The Dukes brought in three experienced tight ends: Cole Keller, KD Mosley Jr. and Thatcher Miller.

Keller and Miller enter the season as redshirt seniors, while Mosley is preparing for his redshirt junior campaign.

“I think we’re in a great spot,” Schor said. “KD Mosley has had a really good spring, came off of injuries, played himself into shape, getting better every day. Cole Keller, a big, long tight end … going to have an opportunity to be a really good player. Thatcher Miller, transfer from West Chester, big body, on-the-ball tight end. Really got better every single day this spring.”

With a mix of veteran transfers and younger returners, establishing chemistry has been a priority.

Keller, who previously played for offensive coordinator Cam Aiken at East Tennessee State, said building relationships within the position group is critical because of the amount of time players spend together.

Through spring practice, Keller said the room has come together quickly.

“Coming in, you’re always a little bit nervous about that,” Keller said. “I’ve been in rooms where it didn’t gel, and that really sucks, so, but, yeah, that’s not the case here.”

Keller also credited Hnat, Post and Gurela for helping welcome the newcomers.

The ETSU transfer said the returning players did a “really good job” of establishing the standard at JMU.

“You never know what you’re going to get with other guys,” Keller said. “So coming from different programs and stuff … I think this is the best room I’ve been in as far as total cohesiveness and we really love each other.”

Schor has also been pleased with the versatility of the position group and the depth the staff assembled.

While joking that there “better be” versatility at tight end, Schor emphasized that adaptability is essential for success at the position.

Miller arrives with the most proven receiving production. During his career at West Chester, he caught 48 passes for 634 yards and nine touchdowns.

Keller is a former wide receiver who played the position at Washburn before converting to tight end and spending a season at ETSU. He enters the season with 47 career receptions for 521 yards and four touchdowns.

Mosley has been used less frequently as a receiver but arrives with 16 receptions for 187 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate career.

As a coach, Schor said he constantly challenges players to improve weaker areas of their game. If a player excels as a receiver, Schor wants him to become a better blocker, and vice versa.

“The tight end is, in my opinion, the most versatile position in football,” Schor said. “It’s the only position where you’re going to start as an offensive lineman and end as a receiver or really vice versa. So you have to have versatility in that room and those guys have to understand that we’re going to ask you to do a ton of different things.”

Update on Mosley’s misdemeanor charges

Not long after arriving at JMU, Mosley was charged with possessing a fictitious ID, assault and battery, and disorderly conduct.

However, the assault and battery charge and the fictitious ID charge were both dismissed through nolle prosequi at Mosley’s most recent court appearance on May 12. The disorderly conduct charge carries a deferred disposition date of Nov. 10.

A JMU official previously told the Daily News-Record in February that the program was aware of the charges.

Mosley has remained with the program and participated in spring practice.