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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
JMU'S LANDERS WINS TOP STATE FOOTBALL AWARD
12/11/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va, Dec. 11, 2008 – James Madison senior quarterback Rodney Landers (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) Thursday evening received the Dudley Award as Virginia's top Division I college football player for the 2008 season.
The award was presented at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and is named for former University of Virginia standout "Bullet" Bill Dudley. Landers was among three finalists for the award, which is sponsored by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and is the first JMU player to receive the honor.
Landers this season has led the Dukes to a 12-1 record and to a spot in this weekend's NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national semifinals. JMU has won its last 12 games, won the Colonial Athletic Association title with an 8-0 league record and has been the nation's No. 1-ranked FCS team in every major poll since late September.
The other finalists invited to Thursday's Dudley ceremonies included Virginia Tech cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris and Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim.
Also included among Thursday's activities were playing position state honors presented by the Touchdown Club of Richmond. Landers was named the Division I offensive back of the year for the state, Harris the top defensive back, Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe the top offensive lineman, and Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury the leading defensive lineman. For Division II and III players, Hampden-Sydney tailback Josh Simpson was named the leading offensive back, Randolph-Macon's Kevin Wagner the top offensive lineman, Christopher Newport defensive end DeShaun Park the top defensive lineman, and Virginia State linebacker Isaac Mitchell the leading defensive back.
While JMU has tied its team record with 12 consecutive victories this season, Landers has passed for 1,519 yards and 21 touchdowns and run for 1,686 yards and 16 scores. He is the FCS's top rushing quarterback by nearly 50 yards per game at 129.7 yards per outing, and he has completed 64.2 percent of his passes (111-173) with only four interceptions.
Landers has set JMU season records for total offense (3,205), touchdown passes and rushing yards by a quarterback, and he is within 33 yards of Curtis Keaton's (1998-99) JMU season rushing yards record of 1,719. Landers has 3,393 career rushing yards and 3,273 career passing yards – nearly all coming in two seasons as a starter – and he is among only five FCS players to reach the 3,000-yard career marks in both categories.
With Landers as a starter during the last two seasons, JMU has a 20-5 overall record and a 20-3 mark in FCS play.
JMU meets Montana at 8 p.m. Friday (Dec. 12) at home in the FCS playoffs. The winner of the nationally televised (ESPN2) game advances to next Friday's (Dec. 19) NCAA title game in Chattanooga, Tenn.
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