The Dukes claim dozens of All-Conference All-Sports and Preseason honors

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Football 25.five.2023 12:30:00

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – Athlon Sports honored 11 James Madison student-athletes with 12 preseason honors as the organization unveiled its preseason All-Sunbelt group for the 2023 season this week.

Heading the list for JMU was a quartet of initially-group All-Sun belt winners at defensive line James Carpenter, offensive lineman Nick Kidwellpunter Rian Hanson and linebacker Taurus Jones.

The other group was the recipient Reggie Brownoffensive lineman Tyler Stephens and linebacker Jailin Walker. Third group accolades went into the operating Kaelon Black as an all-objective player, tight finish Zach Horton and offensive lineman Tanner Morrisalthough Josh Sarratt he earned fourth group honors each at security and as a kick returner.

Carpenter began all 11 games at linebacker final season, earning second group all-sun and VaSID initially group all-state honors. He recorded 52 tackles with 11.five tackles for loss and five.five sacks.

Stevens and Morris began all 11 games on the line, although Kidwell produced nine begins at correct tackle. Kidwell was a second-group all-sun belt winner and took house initially-group all-state laurels. The group helped JMU rank 13th nationally and initially in the Sun Belt in scoring, with 37. points per game. The Dukes ranked 29th in the FBS and third in the SBC in total offense (452.five). JMU also led the conference and ranked seventh nationally in yards per completion (14.52), although its passing typical (265.7) was third in the Sun Belt and its rushing typical (186.7) was fourth.

Һanson joined the system in the spring just after spending the earlier 3 at SBC foe Arkansas State. Previously a third-group All-Sun Belt choice in 2021, Hanson has played in 35 profession games, averaging 43.1 yards per punt. Final season he had 48 punts with an typical of 43.7 per try.

Jones was a third-group All-Sun Belt linebacker in his initially season as a starter in 2022. Also named second-group All-State, he led the Dukes with 82 tackles with ten.five for loss, 1 sack and a pair of forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. Jones also had 5 passes defensed, such as his initially profession interception.

Brown is JMU’s major returner in the wide receiver space and is coming off his initially season as the key starter. In eight games with 5 begins final fall, Brown produced 24 receptions for 401 getting yards and 4 touchdowns. That incorporated a profession-higher 136 yards at Georgia Southern.

Walker, who earned All-Sun Belt honors in 2022, had a strong freshman year beginning at linebacker. He produced 63 tackles with 3 for loss and a sack. He also led the group with 3 interceptions and two choose-sixes although adding 5 pass breakups. Walker was also a midseason honorable mention Pro Football Network All-American.

Black returned from a season-ending injury final year, appearing in nine games beginning at operating back. Chosen as the VaSID Collegiate Division Offensive Rookie of the Year, Black had 69 carries for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging four.eight per rush. He also added 17 catches and 177 getting yards with a pair of scores. His season was highlighted by a season-higher 108 all-objective yards at App State, exactly where he rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown and caught a 23-yard touchdown pass.

Horton is JMU’s top rated returning tight finish in 2023 just after appearing in all 11 games with 5 begins a season ago. In JMU’s initially FBS campaign, he had 13 receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Sarat played in all 11 games with ten begins at security although serving as JMU’s key kick returner in 2022. He produced 40 tackles with four.five for a loss and a sack. On the return finish, Sarat averaged five.9 per return on 19 attempts, with 4 of ten yards or longer.

The league’s official preseason all-conference group will be unveiled ahead of Sun Belt Conference media days, July 25-26 in New Orleans.