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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Three Football Dukes Named AP All-Americans
12/15/2016 9:38:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Three James Madison seniors were recognized amongst the best in country, as offensive lineman Mitchell Kirsch, running back Khalid Abdullah and receiver/returner Rashard Davis were all named Associated Press FCS All-Americans, the AP announced Thursday.
Kirsch was placed on the All-America First Team, while both Abdullah and Davis were All-America Second Team selections. It is the second straight year Kirsch earned a spot on the AP All-America squad, as he was a Third Team member in 2015. For both Abdullah and Davis, it was the first All-America nods of their respective careers.
A Washington, D.C., native, Kirsch is part of an offensive line that leads the country in scoring (49.6), completion percentage (71.8%) and team pass efficiency (179.27). The Dukes also rank second in first downs (350) third in both total offense (532.0) and in third-down conversions (52.7%), fourth in rushing (291.0) and sixth in turnovers lost (12). JMU, which did not concede a sack for six straight games during the Colonial Athletic Association slate, allows just over 1.0 sack per outing.
Abdullah has rushed for 1,528 yards and 20 touchdowns during his senior campaign, becoming the first JMU running back to earn AP All-America honors since Curtis Keaton was a Second Team member in 1999. The Newport News, Va., native leads the FCS in rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns (22). He is third in scoring (10.2), fourth in rushing yards and eighth in rushing yards per game (117.5). He leads the CAA in yards per carry (6.14), which is good for 18th nationally.
There's been none better than Davis on special teams this year, as the Charlottesville native has returned a JMU- and CAA-record four punts for a touchdown. He leads the nation with a 29.9 punt return average, accruing 419 return yards on 14 attempts. He also has 37 catches for 438 yards and two touchdowns. The former high school quarterback threw his first career touchdown pass in JMU's second-round playoff win. Davis is JMU's first AP All-American return specialist since Dwight Robinson was a Third Team honoree in 1993.
The three AP All-Americans was the most for JMU since producing three in 2008.
The fourth-seeded Dukes are in Fargo, N.D., to take on top-seeded North Dakota State Friday night in the FCS semifinals. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) from the Fargodome in a nationally-televised contest on ESPN2.
JMU's run through the 2016 postseason is presented by Excel Heating and Cooling.
Kirsch was placed on the All-America First Team, while both Abdullah and Davis were All-America Second Team selections. It is the second straight year Kirsch earned a spot on the AP All-America squad, as he was a Third Team member in 2015. For both Abdullah and Davis, it was the first All-America nods of their respective careers.
A Washington, D.C., native, Kirsch is part of an offensive line that leads the country in scoring (49.6), completion percentage (71.8%) and team pass efficiency (179.27). The Dukes also rank second in first downs (350) third in both total offense (532.0) and in third-down conversions (52.7%), fourth in rushing (291.0) and sixth in turnovers lost (12). JMU, which did not concede a sack for six straight games during the Colonial Athletic Association slate, allows just over 1.0 sack per outing.
Abdullah has rushed for 1,528 yards and 20 touchdowns during his senior campaign, becoming the first JMU running back to earn AP All-America honors since Curtis Keaton was a Second Team member in 1999. The Newport News, Va., native leads the FCS in rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns (22). He is third in scoring (10.2), fourth in rushing yards and eighth in rushing yards per game (117.5). He leads the CAA in yards per carry (6.14), which is good for 18th nationally.
There's been none better than Davis on special teams this year, as the Charlottesville native has returned a JMU- and CAA-record four punts for a touchdown. He leads the nation with a 29.9 punt return average, accruing 419 return yards on 14 attempts. He also has 37 catches for 438 yards and two touchdowns. The former high school quarterback threw his first career touchdown pass in JMU's second-round playoff win. Davis is JMU's first AP All-American return specialist since Dwight Robinson was a Third Team honoree in 1993.
The three AP All-Americans was the most for JMU since producing three in 2008.
The fourth-seeded Dukes are in Fargo, N.D., to take on top-seeded North Dakota State Friday night in the FCS semifinals. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) from the Fargodome in a nationally-televised contest on ESPN2.
JMU's run through the 2016 postseason is presented by Excel Heating and Cooling.
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