Upcoming Event: Football versus Liberty on September 5, 2026 at Noon
FB
Noon
James Madison
vs Liberty
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Dukes Pick Up National Ranking in Athlon Preseason Poll
6/8/2016 5:30:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Fresh off back-to-back playoff appearances, the James Madison football team garnered a No. 14 ranking in the Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top 25 poll, Athlon announced Wednesday.
The Dukes finished the 2015 season with a 9-3 overall record and were co-champions of the Colonial Athletic Association with a 6-2 league mark. It was JMU's first conference crown since 2008. The Dukes ranked 11th in the final STATS FCS Top-25 Poll.
JMU returns seven offensive and nine defensive starters from last season's team, including All-American defensive lineman Andrew Ankrah and offensive lineman Mitchell Kirsch. Also back are five other All-CAA selections in wide receiver Brandon Ravenel (First Team), cornerback Taylor Reynolds (First Team), running back Cardon Johnson (Second Team), safety Raven Greene (Second Team) and punter Gunnar Kane (Third Team).
Madison was one of the nation's most prolific offenses, ranking second in both scoring (44.3) and total offense (528.8). It led FCS in third-down conversions (54%) while also ranking fourth in completion percentage (66.9%), seventh in rushing (273.8) and ninth in red-zone scoring (89.4%). JMU gained a program-record 6,345 yards in 2015 after rushing for 3,285 yards and passing for 3,060 yards.
JMU was one of five CAA schools to receive a preseason ranking in the Athlon poll as it was joined by Richmond (No. 4), William & Mary (No. 13), Towson (No. 18) and Villanova (No. 20). Five-time, defending national champion North Dakota State was ranked atop the preseason poll.
The Dukes open the 2016 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Sept. 3 at home against Morehead State.
The Dukes finished the 2015 season with a 9-3 overall record and were co-champions of the Colonial Athletic Association with a 6-2 league mark. It was JMU's first conference crown since 2008. The Dukes ranked 11th in the final STATS FCS Top-25 Poll.
JMU returns seven offensive and nine defensive starters from last season's team, including All-American defensive lineman Andrew Ankrah and offensive lineman Mitchell Kirsch. Also back are five other All-CAA selections in wide receiver Brandon Ravenel (First Team), cornerback Taylor Reynolds (First Team), running back Cardon Johnson (Second Team), safety Raven Greene (Second Team) and punter Gunnar Kane (Third Team).
Madison was one of the nation's most prolific offenses, ranking second in both scoring (44.3) and total offense (528.8). It led FCS in third-down conversions (54%) while also ranking fourth in completion percentage (66.9%), seventh in rushing (273.8) and ninth in red-zone scoring (89.4%). JMU gained a program-record 6,345 yards in 2015 after rushing for 3,285 yards and passing for 3,060 yards.
JMU was one of five CAA schools to receive a preseason ranking in the Athlon poll as it was joined by Richmond (No. 4), William & Mary (No. 13), Towson (No. 18) and Villanova (No. 20). Five-time, defending national champion North Dakota State was ranked atop the preseason poll.
The Dukes open the 2016 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Sept. 3 at home against Morehead State.
Players Mentioned
KAT
/ Football
S
/ Football
RB
/ Football
P
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ FootballSaturday, April 25
Thursday, April 23
Thursday, April 23
Tuesday, April 21
