JMU'S MOATS, THORPE WIN CAA INDIVIDUAL FOOTBALL AWARDS

11/23/2009 8:00:00 PM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va., Nov. 23, 2009 - James Madison senior defensive end Arthur Moats (Portsmouth, Va./Churchland) was named conference defensive player of the year and Dukes' redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina) league rookie of the year in the Colonial Athletic Association Monday.

CAA coaches voted for the conference awards that also included JMU players being named to 11 positions on the all-league first, second and third teams.

Moats during the 2009 season led JMU in tackles with 90. He tied for the CAA lead in quarterback sacks with 11 and is the national Football Championship Subdivision leader in tackles for loss with an average of 2.14 per game.

Thorpe this season ran for a team-leading 654 yards and five touchdowns, threw for 1,260 yards and six scores and compiled 1,914 yards of total offense.

Moats recognition was JMU's sixth league defensive player of the year honor during Coach Mickey Matthews' 11 seasons with the Dukes. Chris Morant (1998-2000) won the award in 1999; Derrick Lloyd (1999-2001) was the co-recipient in 2001; Tony LeZotte (2004-07) was honored in 2005 and 2007; and Akeem Jordan (2004-07) was the 2007 winner.

The CAA's other top individual awards went to Villanova wide receiver Matt Szczur as offensive player of the year and special teams player of the year, Villanova's Andy Talley as league coach of the year, and William & Mary defensive back B.W. Webb as conference defensive rookie of the year.

JMU's first-team all-league honorees included Moats on the defensive line and senior offensive guard Dorian Brooks (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) on the offensive line.

Dukes named to the second all-league teams included senior Scotty McGee (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) as a cornerback, kickoff returner and punt returner, and senior defensive tackle Sam Daniels (Portsmouth, Va./Woodrow Wilson) on the defensive line.

Third-team selections from JMU included senior wide receiver Rockeed McCarter (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), senior tight end Mike Caussin (Springfield, Va./West Springfield), junior offensive tackle Theo Sherman (Danville, Va./Chatham), junior defensive tackle Ronnell Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) and sophomore linebacker Pat Williams (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial).

Moats in 2009 set JMU's season record of 23.5 tackles for loss, and his 11 sacks match the No. 4 season figure in team history. He completed his career with 29 sacks, JMU's second-best career mark. He was a third-team All-CAA honoree in 2008.

The Buchanan Award candidate as the top defensive player in the FCS, Moats also is the national tackles leader among defensive linemen.

Thorpe shared JMU's quarterback duties early during the season before assuming a full-time role when junior Drew Dudzik (Clifton, Va./Centreville) left the team's fifth game with a foot injury. Thorpe's 1,914 yards of total offense are a JMU freshman season record, and his 1,260 passing yards are JMU's No. 2 freshman season mark. Thorpe was named the CAA rookie of the week after throwing to 259 yards and three touchdowns Saturday (Nov. 21) in JMU's 43-12 win over Towson. He won or shared a weekly league player award four times during the 2009 season.

Brooks was a third-year starter on the offensive line for the Dukes, and he completed his career having made 37 consecutive starts. JMU in 2009 averaged 337.9 total yards and 180.5 rushing yards per game. Brooks was a third-team All-CAA selection in 2008.

McGee in 2009 took part in 41 tackles, including 27 solo stops and a tackle for loss. He had a team-best 12 pass deflections, recovered two fumbles and blocked a conversion kick. As a return specialist he averaged a CAA-best and No. 2 nationally 30.5 yards per kickoff return and 5.4 yards per punt return. McGee holds JMU career records of six kick returns for touchdowns, 2,166 kickoff return yards and a 30.5-yard kickoff return average. He was the 2008 CAA special teams player of the year.

Daniels in 2009 took part in 66 tackles, third on the JMU team. He had 27 unassisted stops, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, and he moved up from being a third-team all-league choice a year ago.

McCarter in 2009 had team highs of 29 receptions and 597 receiving yards, and he tied for the team lead with four touchdown catches. He completed his career ranked 15th in team history in receptions (76), 10th in receiving yards (1,362), and tied for seventh in scoring receptions (13).

Caussin this season was second on the team in receptions with 25 and receiving yards with 438, and he tied for the team lead with four touchdown catches. He completed his career ranked 18th in receptions (66), tied for 15th in receiving yards (1,009) and tied for fourth in touchdown catches in team history. All-time among JMU tight ends he is first in scoring catches and second in receptions and receiving yards.

Sherman was a JMU starter throughout 2009, and he completed the season having made 26 consecutive starts and having started 36 of JMU's 37 games during his career. He also was a third-team all-conference honoree in 2008.

Brown in 2009 made nine starts and finished the season with 26 tackles. He was credited with 15 unassisted stops, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and he had an interception.

Williams finished the season as JMU's No. 2 tackler with 87 stops, including 34 unassisted, eight for loss and a sack. He broke up two passes and had a fumble recovery during his first season as a linebacker after being the CAA's defensive rookie of the year last season as a strong safety.

Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Szczur, Villanova.
Defensive Player of the Year: Arthur Moats, JMU.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Matt Szczur, Villanova.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Justin Thorpe, JMU.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: B.W. Webb, William and Mary.
Coach of the Year: Andy Talley, Villanova.

2009 ALL-CAA FOOTBALL
(as voted by the league's head coaches)

OFFENSE - FIRST TEAM

Position, Player, School, Year
QB, Chris Whitney, Villanova, Junior
RB, John Griffin, Northeastern, Junior
RB, Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sophomore
FB/HB, Chris Zardas, Massachusetts, Senior
WR, Victor Cruz, Massachusetts, Senior
WR, Mark Duncan, Delaware, Senior
WR, Matt Szczur, Villanova, Junior
WR, Landis Williams, Maine, Senior
TE, Scott Sicko, New Hampshire, Senior
OL, Dorian Brooks, JMU, Senior
OL, Vladimir Ducasse, Massachusetts, Senior
OL, Ben Ijalana, Villanova, Junior
OL, Matt McCracken, Richmond, Senior
OL, Michael Silva, Richmond, Senior
PK, Tom Manning, New Hampshire, Senior
KR, Matt Szczur, Villanova, Junior
PR, Derek Hatcher, Richmond, Senior

DEFENSE - FIRST TEAM

Position, Player, School, Year
DL, Brandon Gilbeaux, Delaware, Senior
DL, Tim Kukucka, Villanova, Senior
DL, Sean Lissemore, William & Mary, Senior
DL, Arthur Moats, JMU, Senior
DL, Adrian Tracy, William & Mary, Senior
LB, Luke Bonus, Hofstra, Senior
LB, Eric McBride, Richmond, Junior
LB, Collin McConaghy, Richmond, Senior
LB, Terence Thomas, Villanova, Junior
CB, Justin Rogers, Richmond, Junior
CB, Anthony Walters, Delaware, Junior
S, David Caldwell, William & Mary, Senior
S, Charles Graves, Delaware, Senior
S, Jeromy Miles, Massachusetts, Senior
P, David Miller, William & Mary, Junior

OFFENSE - SECOND TEAM

Position, Player, School, Year
QB, R.J. Archer, William & Mary, Senior
RB, Chad Kackert, New Hampshire, Senior
RB, Tony Nelson, Massachusetts, Senior
FB/HB, Everette Benjamin, Hofstra, Junior
WR, Kevin Grayson, Richmond, Junior
WR, Brandyn Harvey, Villanova, Senior
WR, D.J. McAulay, William & Mary, Senior
WR, Aaron Weaver, Hofstra, Junior
TE, Rob Varno, William & Mary, Senior
OL, Tyler Eastman, Maine, Senior
OL, Tom Neill, New Hampshire, Senior
OL, Kevin Newhall, Northeastern, Senior
OL, Corey Nicholson, Delaware, Senior
OL, C.J. Muse, William & Mary, Senior
PK, Brian Pate, William & Mary, Senior
KR, Scotty McGee, JMU, Senior
PR, Scotty McGee, JMU, Senior

DEFENSE - SECOND TEAM

Position, Player, School, Year
DL, Sam Daniels, JMU, Senior
DL, Kyle Harrington, Massachusetts, Senior
DL, Phil Matusz, Villanova, Senior
DL, Martin Parker, Richmond, Junior
LB, Tyler Holmes, Massachusetts, Sophomore
LB, Osyai Osunde, Villanova, Senior
LB, Jake Trantin, William & Mary, Sophomore
LB, Sean Ware, New Hampshire, Senior
CB, Scotty McGee, JMU, Senior
CB, Dino Vasso, New Hampshire, Junior
CB, B.W. Webb, William & Mary, Freshman
S, Anthony Bratton, Delaware, Junior
S, Terrence Klein, New Hampshire, Senior
P, Tim Edger, Rhode Island, Sophomore

OFFENSE - THIRD TEAM

Position, Player, School, Year
QB, Eric Ward, Richmond, Senior
RB, Aaron Ball, Villanova, Junior
RB, Justin Forte, Richmond, Senior
FB/HB, Kendall Gaskins, Richmond, Freshman
WR, Tre Gray, Richmond, Sophomore
WR, Shawn Leonard, Rhode Island, Senior
WR, Rockeed McCarter, JMU, Senior
TE, Mike Caussin, JMU, Senior
OL, Brian Brannigan, Villanova, Senior
OL, Brant Clouser, Villanova, Junior
OL, Drew Lachenmayer, Richmond, Junior
OL, Derek Moore, Hofstra, Sophomore
OL, Theo Sherman, JMU, Junior
PK, Armando Cuko, Massachusetts, Senior
KR, Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sophomore
PR, B.W. Webb, William & Mary, Freshman

DEFENSE - THIRD TEAM

Position, Player, School, Year
DL, Ronnell Brown, JMU, Junior
DL, Brandon Collier, Massachusetts, Senior
DL, Kyle Maroney, New Hampshire, Senior
DL, Parker Miles, Richmond, Senior
DL, Jordan Stevens, Maine, Senior
LB, Rob Damon, Rhode Island, Junior
LB, Donte Dennis, Maine, Sophomore
LB, Marquis Kirkland, Villanova, Junior
LB, Patrick Weldon, Richmond, Junior
LB, Pat Williams, JMU, Sophomore
CB, Steven Barker, Maine, Junior
CB, Jimmy Pitts, Villanova, Sophomore
S, John Dempsey, Villanova, Junior
S, Michael Ireland, Richmond, Senior
P, Ed Wagner, Delaware, Junior