JMU Football Celebrates 2017 Season with Year-End Team Banquet

JMU Football Celebrates 2017 Season with Year-End Team Banquet

1/14/2018 11:36:00 AM | Football

@JMUFootball 2018 Season Tickets

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Seven days removed from competing in its second straight national championship game, the James Madison football team celebrated its 2017 season with the year-end team awards banquet on Saturday evening at the Festival Ballroom on JMU's campus.

Headlining the awards were seniors Bryan Schor, Andrew Ankrah, Jordan Brown and Kyre Hawkins. Schor was the recipient of the Gary Clark Offensive MVP for the second straight year, while Ankrah, Brown and Hawkins were named the Charles Haley Defensive MVPs.

Schor finished his career as JMU's all-time leader in career passing yards (7,078), passing touchdowns (62), completions (559) and total offense (8,241). A Second Team-All CAA honoree, he completed the 2017 campaign with 3,222 passing yards and 26 touchdowns while also rushing for 322 yards and seven scores. Schor ranked ninth nationally in completion percentage (65%) and 13th in passing touchdowns. Additionally, he finished eighth in the final voting for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award.

Ankrah was one of the nation's best on defense in 2017, as he was voted FCS Athletics Directors Association Defensive Player of the Year and finished third for the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award. A Consensus All-American, Ankrah earned First Team All-America accolades from the Associated Press, the FCS ADA, STATS, the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and HERO Sports. He tallied 59 total tackles (32 solo), to go with 15.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown. He finished his career ranking fourth all-time at JMU with 26.0 career sacks.

Brown garnered First Team All-America accolades from the AP and HERO Sports after leading the country with nine interceptions this past season. His nine picks set a JMU single-season record and he finished his career with 13, which ranks second all-time at JMU. On the year, Brown had 76 tackles (41 solo), to go with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, nine interceptions and six pass breakups.

Hawkins led the Dukes in tackles this season and earned HERO Sports Third Team All-America honors. The First Team All-CAA linebacker was twice named CAA Defensive Player of the Week. Hawkins finished his final season at JMU with 111 tackles (51 solo), to go with 14.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries and nine pass breakups. He ranked tied for third in the CAA in tackles for loss and 13th in tackles per game.

Hawkins was the lone JMU player to reel in multiple awards, as he was also the winner of the Iron Dukes Award, which is now in its second year.

Other winners included freshman Harry O'Kelly (Challace McMillan Special Teams MVP), as well as eight seniors in Terrence Alls (Casey Carter Academic Achievement Award), Taylor Woods (Unsung Hero), Raven Greene and John Miller (Bob Yetzer Leadership Award), Jonathan Kloosterman (Hess-Green Award), Brandon Hereford (John David Krauss Memorial Award), Aaron Stinnie (Offensive Lineman of the Year) and Simeyon Robinson (Defensive Lineman of the Year.

JMU newcomers earning team awards included freshman Liam Fornadel (Rookie of the Year), sophomore Joe Fishpaw (Doug West Scout Team Offensive MVP), freshman Sam Kidd (Doug West Scout Team Defensive MVP) and freshman Kyle Davis (Doug West Scout Team MVPs).

Houston also recognized JMU's four team captains. Ankrah, Green, Schor and Stinnie were honored for their season-long leadership, as the quartet were voted captains by their teammates.

JMU will participate in spring football in March and April to prepare for the 2018 season, which kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 1 at NC State. The 2018 season is presented by CarMax, and season tickets are on sale now at www.JMUTickets.com.

2017 JMU Football Team Awards
Bob Yetzer Leadership Award – Raven Greene & John Miller
Hess-Green Award – Jonathan Kloosterman
John David Krauss Memorial Award – Brandon Hereford
Linemen of the Year – Aaron Stinnie (Offensive) & Simeyon Robinson (Defensive)
Rookie of the Year – Liam Fornadel
Doug West Scout Team MVPs – Joe Fishpaw (Offensive), Sam Kidd (Defensive), Kyle Davis (Special Teams)
Unsung Hero – Taylor Woods
Iron Dukes Award – Kyre Hawkins
Casey Carter Academic Achievement – Terrence Alls
Challace McMillin Special Teams MVP – Harry O'Kelly
Charles Haley Defensive MVPs – Andrew Ankrah, Jordan Brown & Kyre Hawkins
Gary Clark Offensive MVP – Bryan Schor

2017 Team Captains
Andrew Ankrah
Raven Greene
Bryan Schor
Aaron Stinnie