HARRISONBURG, Va. – Athlon Sports acknowledged 11 James Madison student-athletes with 12 preseason honors, because the group rolled out its preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team for the 2023 season this week.
 
Headlining the checklist for JMU had been a quartet of First Team All-Sun Belt honorees in defensive lineman James Carpenter, offensive lineman Nick Kidwell, punter Ryan Hanson and linebacker Taurus Jones.
 
Making the Second Team had been receiver Reggie Brown, offensive lineman Tyler Stephens and linebacker Jailin Walker. Third Team accolades went to operating again Kaelon Black as an all-purpose participant, tight finish Zach Horton and offensive lineman Tanner Morris, whereas Josh Sarratt earned Fourth Team distinction each at security and as a punt returner.
 
Carpenter began all 11 video games at nostril guard final season, incomes Second Team All-Sun Belt and VaSID First Team All-State honors. He tallied 52 tackles with 11.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks.
 
Stephens and Morris began all 11 video games on the road, whereas Kidwell made 9 begins at proper deal with. Kidwell was a Second Team All-Sun Belt honoree and took dwelling First Team All-State laurels. The group aided JMU in rating thirteenth nationally and first within the Sun Belt in scoring, at 37.0 factors per sport. The Dukes ranked twenty ninth within the FBS and third within the SBC in whole offense (452.5). JMU additionally led the convention and ranked seventh nationally in yards per completion (14.52), whereas its passing common (265.7) was third within the Sun Belt and its dashing common (186.7) was fourth.
 
Hanson joined this system within the spring after spending the earlier three at SBC foe Arkansas State. Previously a Third Team All-Sun Belt punter in 2021, Hanson performed in 35 profession video games, averaging 43.1 yards per punt. Last season, he had 48 punts with a median of 43.7 per try.
 
Jones was a Third-Team All-Sun Belt linebacker in his first season as a starter in 2022. Also named Second Team All-State, he led the Dukes with 82 tackles with 10.5 for a loss, one sack, and a pair of compelled fumbles and recoveries. Jones additionally had 5 passes defended, which included his first profession interception.
 
Brown is JMU’s main returner within the vast receiver room and is coming off his first season as a main starter. In eight video games with 5 begins final fall, Brown made 24 receptions for 401 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. That included a career-high 136 yards at Georgia Southern.
 
Walker, an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt choose in 2022, had a stable 12 months in 12 months one beginning on the linebacker place. He produced 63 tackles with three for a loss and a sack. He additionally led the group with three interceptions and two pick-sixes whereas additionally including 5 move breakups. Walker was additionally a Pro Football Network Honorable Mention Midseason All-American.
 
Black returned from a season-ending damage final 12 months, showing in 9 video games with a begin at operating again. Voted the VaSID University Division Offensive Rookie of the Year, Black had 69 carries for 333 dashing yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.8 per rush. He additionally added 17 catches and 177 receiving yards with a pair of scores. His season was highlighted by a season-high 108 all-purpose yards at App State, the place he rushed for 85 yards and a landing and caught a 23-yard landing move.
 
Horton is JMU’s high tight finish returner in 2023 after showing in all 11 video games with 5 begins a season in the past. In JMU’s first FBS marketing campaign, he had 13 receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Sarratt performed in all 11 video games with 10 begins at security whereas serving as JMU’s main punt returner in 2022. He made 40 tackles with 4.5 for a loss and a sack. On the return facet, Sarratt averaged 5.9 per return on 19 makes an attempt, with 4 of 10 yards or longer.
 
The official preseason all-conference group from the league shall be unveiled main into Sun Belt Conference Media Days, which takes place July 25-26 in New Orleans.