Ron'Dell Carter, Liam Fornadel Named Top Lineman in State of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. – A pair of James Madison football players were named Touchdown Club of Richmond Division I position players of the year, as redshirt senior Ron'Dell Carter was tabbed Defensive Lineman of the Year and junior Liam Fornadel earned Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Carter is one of the country's top defenders, as he was named a Buck Buchanan Award finalist and Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year. The two-time First Team All-CAA defensive lineman ranks third nationally with 24.0 tackles for loss and 15th with 10.5 sacks. JMU's defense leads the FCS in rushing defense (65.1) and also ranks third in scoring defense (16.1) and total defense (276.9).

Fornadel, a two-year starter at right tackle, earned all-conference honors for the second straight year, being voted to the All-CAA First Team in 2019. He's part of an offensive line that leads the country in scoring (44.1) while also ranking second on third down (55.7%) and pass efficiency (177.38), seventh in total offense (482.6) and ninth in rushing (255.7).

This is the second time in three seasons that JMU student-athletes have been recognized as the state's top linemen, as Andrew Ankrah and Aaron Stinnie both won the awards back in 2017.

The duo will be honored at the Dudley & Lanier Awards Banquet in Richmond on Sunday, Dec. 15.

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