Ratke, Carpenter Earn VaSID Major Awards, 13 Dukes Named All-State

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Place kicker Ethan Ratke and defensive lineman James Carpenter earned major awards on the 2020-21 Virginia Sports Information Directors University Division Football All-State Team, as Ratke was voted Special Teams Player of the Year and Carpenter was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Ratke is JMU's first VaSID Special Teams Player of the Year all-time, while Carpenter is the program's second Rookie of the Year in three years. JMU has now won a major VaSID award in eight straight seasons, the longest-active streak by any team in the state.

JMU led the way with 13 All-State honorees, including a VaSID-best nine First Team selections.

Ratke earned First Team All-America laurels from FCS ADA, Stats Perform, AFCA, Athlon Sports and HERO Sports while garnering Second Team honors from the AP. Voted CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, Ratke broke the CAA career records for field goals (72) and scoring (392) and currently ranks tied for second in FCS history in field goals, fourth in scoring among kickers and 18th among all players. He was perfect in the kicking game, making all 14 field goals and 31 extra points this season. He ranked fifth nationally in field goals per game (1.75) and seventh in scoring (9.1).

Carpenter, a former walk-on, earned a starting role as a redshirt freshman this spring, making seven starts in his eight appearances. He finished the season with 21 total tackles to go with 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception and a breakup. He ranked ninth in the CAA in tackles for loss and was second for the Dukes in tackles and TFLs by defensive linemen.

Joining Ratke on the All-State First Team were running back Percy Agyei-Obese, wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr., offensive linemen Raymond Gillespie and Truvell Wilson, defensive lineman Mike Greene, cornerback Wesley McCormick, punter Harry O'Kelly and long snapper Kyle Davis.

Also earning Second Team All-State honors were running back Jawon Hamilton, wide receiver Kris Thornton, cornerback Greg Ross and safety MJ Hampton.

Six JMU players earned All-State honors for at least the second time, including four straight years for Ratke. He also earned First Team accolades in 2018 and 2019 and was Second Team in 2017. Agyei-Obese repeated as a First Team honoree this year, while Greene, Hampton, Wilson and O'Kelly each earned Second Team honors once previously.

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