HARRISONBURG - A big win over Towson was not the only positive to come out of Saturday's football game for James Madison. Trai Sharp, a tailback from Carrboro, N.C., verbally committed to the Dukes over the weekend while on an official visit, giving JMU its 13th recruit in the Class of 2015.

More notably, Sharp is rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com (on a 0-5 scale), a rare get for a Division I-AA program.

"The coaching staff made me feel like family when I came up last year," Sharp said Sunday afternoon by telephone from his home. "I guess just the way the program is built and people in the program, I totally trust everyone on the coaching staff."

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Sharp said he chose Madison over offers from four I-A programs: Duke, Illinois, Purdue and Appalachian State. He took unofficial visits to Duke, Illinois, North Carolina State and Purdue, but this weekend's visit to JMU was Sharp's first official trip.

Sharp initially committed to N.C. State, according to 247Sports, only to learn that he would not receive the scholarship offer due to miscommunication between himself and the school.

Coaches are prohibited under NCAA rules from talking publicly about recruits before the player signs his letter of intent. The earliest Sharp can sign is Feb. 4, 2015.

Sharp cited his relationship with JMU coach Everett Withers, a fellow North Carolina native, as well as the shared bond between himself and quarterback Vad Lee, a star at nearby Hillside High School in Durham.

"I know Vad is from North Carolina, his hometown is right down the street from mine," Sharp said. "Him being there meant something as well."

Sharp's primary recruiter is JMU running backs coach Zak Kuhr. The Dukes, who have recruited heavily on the offensive and defensive lines, now have six commitments with star ratings by Rivals.com: Sharp, defensive linemen Andre' Booker Jr. and Jordan Brooks, quarterback Kevin Johnson, linebacker Kirk Robinette and defensive back Charles Tutt.

Sharp is currently rehabbing a twisted ankle, and he missed all but three games during his junior year at Carrboro High School with a knee injury. In those three games, he scored 11 touchdowns.

His signature season came as a sophomore when Carrboro, located near the University of North Carolina, went 15-1 and made the 2A championship game in 2012. During the run to the state-title game, Sharp rushed for 2,300 yards and 38 touchdowns, amassing 3,100 all-purpose yards.

"I guess I use my speed more than anything, but I have no problem running between the tackles," said Sharp, whose high school runs an uptempo spread offense similar to JMU's. "Just trying to get in open space."

Sharp, who also is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN, said the plan is for him to get early playing time at JMU, even with four tailbacks projected to return next season.

"Obviously I'm going to have to work for that, I'm not going to walk out and expect to get early reps," Sharp said. "But the plan is for me to get early reps."

Sharp announced his decision publicly via Twitter: "Made my final decision and I am gonna be continuing my education and football career at James Madison University next year!"

"It was kind of a no-brainer," he said in the telephone interview.