Lee Named Finalist for Dudley Award, State’s Top Division I Player

RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison redshirt senior quarterback Vad Lee was recognized as one of the elite players in the state on Monday as the Touchdown Club of Richmond announced the signal caller as one of three finalists for the Dudley Award, honoring the top Division I football player in Virginia.

Lee will seek to become the first-ever repeat winner of the Dudley Award winner, having won the state's top accolade last season. In the history of the award, only one player has won the award twice, as Virginia Tech running back Lee Suggs garnered the Dudley in 2000 and 2002.

The Dudley Award is named after Bill Dudley, who was a standout at the University of Virginia and with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Two weeks ago, Lee was named CAA Offensive Player of the Year, the third such award for a JMU player in the team's 44-year history and first since 2008.

The Durham, N.C. native was one of the nation's top offensive players this season, ranking first in total offense (375.5) and completion percentage (68.3%), third in point responsibility (21.8) and fifth rush yards per carry (7.5). He also led the Colonial Athletic Association in passing touchdowns (21) and yards per play (8.6).

A three-time CAA Player of the Week, he passed for 2,190 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 814 yards and eight scores to finish his senior campaign with 3,004 total yards offense and 29 total touchdowns. In just 21 career games at JMU, Lee tied the program's passing touchdown record (51) while ranking second in total offense (7,292), third in passing yards (5,652) and completions (446) and fifth in pass attempts (705). He became the only player in Division I history (FBS and FCS) to pass and rush for 275 yards in the same game when he threw for 289 yards and ran for 276 more in JMU's 48-45 win at FBS foe SMU on Sept. 26.

Lee's season was cut short following a foot injury that would sideline him for the team's final four games.

The CAA is guaranteed to boast the Dudley Award winner again this year as Lee was joined by William & Mary free safety DeAndre Houston-Carson and Richmond running back Jacobi Green on the finalists list.

Last year, Lee became JMU's third Dudley Award honoree as Stephon Robertson won it in 2013 and Rodney Landers in 2008.

The winner will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the Dudley/Lanier awards banquet at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump in Richmond. Tickets for the event are $40 with a social at 6:30 p.m. and the banquet following at 7:30 p.m.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call Ron Axselle at (804) 740-7055 or contact him at coachax@verizon.net or call Rudy Ward at (804) 389-6819.

Calendar