JMU Picked to Finish Third in CAA, Five Dukes Voted Preseason All-CAA

BALTIMORE, Md. – James Madison football was predicted to finish third in the 2016 Colonial Athletic Association standings, and five players were voted to the Preseason All-CAA Team, as announced at CAA Football Media Day on Tuesday morning at M&T Bank Stadium.

Both the order of finish and Preseason All-CAA Team were selected in a vote by the league's 12 head coaches and sports information directors.

The Dukes captured their first conference title since 2008 last season after going 9-3 overall and 6-2 during conference play, sharing the crown with Richmond and William & Mary. JMU advanced to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, earning the No. 5 overall seed to receive a bye to the second round where it hosted Colgate.

Five Dukes were named to the Preseason All-CAA Team, which included two of three returning All-Americans. The Dukes receiving CAA nods were redshirt senior offensive lineman Mitchell Kirsch, redshirt junior defensive lineman Andrew Ankrah, senior wide receiver Brandon Ravenel, redshirt senior cornerback Taylor Reynolds and senior safety Raven Greene.

The five preseason all-conference selections were the most since 2007 when four Dukes were awarded across five positions. It is also the first time since 2006 that five different players received the preseason accolade.

Kirsch was a STATS FCS Second Team and Associated Press Third Team All-American, as well as a First Team All-CAA selection last season after the Washington, D.C., product helped JMU rank as one of the most prolific offenses in the country. It ranked second nationally in scoring (44.3) and total offense (528.8) with a program-record 6,345 yards of total offense. The Dukes 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%).

Ankrah joined Kirsch on the STATS FCS All-America Second Team and All-CAA First Team a year after ranking third nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.42) and eighth in sacks per game (0.88). The Gaithersburg, Md., native tallied 56 total tackles (33 solo) to go with 10.5 sacks, a CAA-best five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Ankrah produced a career-best 3.5 sacks in JMU's 48-45 win at FBS-foe SMU.

Ravenel was a First Team All-CAA receiver a year ago after hauling in 57 receptions for 683 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned nine kickoffs for 350 yards and a touchdown. Ravenel ranked fifth in the CAA in receptions per game (4.8) and receiving yards per game (56.9) and 10th in receiving touchdowns. The Stafford, Va., native caught the game-winning pass with 17 seconds left at Delaware and had five or more catches in six games.

Reynolds was named to the All-CAA First Team following a season in which he led the CAA and ranked sixth nationally in passes defended per game (1.6). The Newark, Del., native had 46 total tackles (30 solo) to go with 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 16 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. He tied his single-game career high with two interceptions at Elon and returned a 77-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the regular-season finale against Villanova.

Greene was a Second Team All-CAA safety in 2015 after ranking 13th in the CAA in tackles per game (7.3) and tied for third in fumble recoveries (2). The Virginia Beach, Va., product had 88 total tackles (50 solo) to go with two interceptions (one for TD), two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Greene scored his first career touchdown on a 35-yard interception return at William & Mary and recorded a career-best 11 tackles versus Richmond.

JMU opens the 2016 season, presented by CarMax on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Morehead State. Season tickets, as well as single-game tickets and mini-plans, are on sale now by visiting JMUTickets.com or by calling 540-568-3853.

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