Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | PUNT | YDS | AVG | LONG | IN20 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 20-13vs Liberty | 4 | 187 | 46.8 | 54 | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 87-3vs Wagner | 1 | 49 | 49.0 | 49 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 236 | 47.9 | 54 | 1 |
#11
Patrick Rea
5th-year punter for James Madison. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 195 lb · Melbourne, VIC · St. Patrick's College Ballarat
Returning to James Madison for 2026
The numbers
47.2
yards per punt · 2026
5 punts · long of 54 · 1 inside the 20
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 punts, 49 avg, vs Wagner
Patrick Rea
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane. Patrick Rea has played for three head coaches across four seasons and two programs.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
3 coaches2022
James Madison
2024–2025era →
Bob Chesney
James Madison
Played under 3 different head coaches: Curt Cignetti, Bob Chesney, and Billy Napier. Multi-era developmental context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2022Louisiana Tech3-9HC: Sonny Cumbie · Balanced
2024Louisiana Tech5-8HC: Sonny Cumbie · Run-leaning
2025James Madison12-2HC: Bob Chesney · Run-heavy
2026James Madison2-0HC: Billy Napier · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Not enough tracked stats yet to summarize this season.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Billy Napier
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 87–3
vs Wagner
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
James Madison
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Punter · James Madison
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +6 net (37 in / 31 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
James Madison · Last season: 12-2 (AP #19) · Talent rank #101 · 2026 recruiting class #80
DNA match
Player DNA
Steady
Handles the punting job without giving the return man a lane.
P
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Robert LeFevre’s 2021 season.
Matches Robert on
Yards / punt
Weight
In-20 rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Reis Vernon's junior season at Kansas (2022).
Matches Reis on
Class year
In-20 rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Patrick Rea
Background
2025: College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Played in all 14 games, serving as team's primary punter and holder Had 48 punts for 1,968 yards, averaging 41.0 yards per punt Had six punts over 50 yards, 16 punts inside the 20 and three touchbacks Season-long 61-yard punt at Marshall (N...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology