No one has bigger shoes to fill on JMU's football team than Marcus Haywood. He's the guy replacing four-time All-American free safety Tony LeZotte.

"Marcus, he's paid his due here, much like most of the old guys that are here," says senior defensive end Hassan Abdul-Wahid. "And that's a big position, filling that void for Tony."

Haywood spent last season alongside LeZotte as the Dukes' starting strong safety. Head coach Mickey Matthews says the fifth-year senior is a more natural free safety.

"I think he's really anxious to play at free safety, and fill those running, those tackling lanes like Tony LeZotte did," says Matthews. "And we're ready to see him do that."

Haywood says it's not just on him, but the entire defense to fill LeZotte's void. And he's confident the Dukes will be fine.

"We have a whole lot of older players," says Matthews. "We feel like everybody has a lot of experience, so we're ready to go once the season starts."