Centeio Voted Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Year, 12 Dukes Named All-Sun Belt

NEW ORLEANS – James Madison quarterback Todd Centeio highlighted the 2022 Sun Belt Conference annual awards, as he was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while 12 Dukes were named to the all-conference teams in a vote by the league's 14 head coaches and primary media voters, the Sun Belt announced Thursday.

Centeio made an immediate impact at quarterback, as he guided JMU to an 8-3 record and 6-2 mark in Sun Belt play to finish tied atop the East Division. In 10 starts, he completed 64% of his passes, throwing for 2,697 passing yards and 25 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also ran for 393 yards and seven scores, accounting for 3,090 total yards and 32 total touchdowns.

A midseason watch list honoree for the Maxwell Award, Manning Award, Davey O'Brien Award and CFPA National Performer of the Year, he led all Sun Belt players with four Offensive Player of the Week accolades. He ranks second nationally and leads the Sun Belt in both yards per completion (14.9) and yards per pass attempt (9.5). Centeio is also fifth in the FBS in pass efficiency (169.0), seventh in point responsibility (19.4), 14th in total offense (309.0), 18th in passing touchdowns (25) and 21st in passing average (269.7). He had four games with four or more passing touchdowns and three with five or more total scores.

Two Dukes earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors in wide receiver Kris Thornton and defensive end Isaac Ukwu. Joining Centeio on the Second Team were right tackle Nick Kidwell and defensive tackles James Carpenter and Jamare Edwards.

Making Third Team All-Sun Belt were running back Percy Agyei-Obese and linebacker Taurus Jones. Rounding out the Sun Belt awards were safety Sam Kidd, tight end Drew Painter, cornerback Jordan Swann and linebacker Jailin Walker, who were each Honorable Mention selections.

Thornton became JMU's first receiver to reach 1,000 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons, as he caught 59 passes for 1,015 yards and seven touchdowns. Thornton averaged 17.2 yards per catch and turned in five 100-yard games, including a career-high 173 at Arkansas State. He ranks third in the Sun Belt in receiving yards (92.3), tied for third in receiving touchdowns, sixth in receptions per game (5.4) and seventh in yards per catch. Thornton was one of just two SBC receivers to go over 1,000 receiving yards this year.

Ukwu turned in 40 tackles with 10.5 for loss, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a recovery, as he captained one of the nation's top defenses. He led JMU in sacks and tied for third in tackles for loss. Ukwu produced 1.5 or more TFL in five games and had at least a full sack in four games. He ranks fourth in the SBC in sacks per game (0.68).

Kidwell, who started nine games at right tackle, helped JMU's offense rank 16th nationally and first in the Sun Belt in scoring, at 37.0 points per game. The Dukes are also 28th in FBS and third in SBC in total offense (452.5). JMU also leads the league and ranks seventh in the country in yards per completion (14.52), while its passing game (265.7) is second in the Sun Belt and the run game (186.7) is fourth.

Carpenter had a breakout season at nose guard, making 52 tackles with 11.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks with three breakups. JMU's third-leading tackler was second on the team in TFL and third in sacks. Carpenter turned in 1.5 tackles for loss or more five times, including a career-high 3.0 at Louisville. He also had 1.5 sacks twice, as he ranks tied for 12^th in the SBC in sacks per game (0.5). His tackles total also ranks third by all SBC interior linemen.

Edwards produced 44 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while forcing a fumble and recovering another at the defensive tackle position. He led the Dukes in TFL, was second in sacks and fourth in total tackles. Edwards had at least 1.0 TFL six times, including a career-high 3.5 versus #23 Coastal Carolina. He had a full sack in four games, ranking seventh in the league in sacks per game (0.59).

Agyei-Obese capped off his illustrious career as JMU's third all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns, at 3,503. This season, he rushed for 908 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Agyei-Obese turned in three 100-yard games, including a career-best 158 at Arkansas State. He also rushed for 75 or more in nine of his 10 games. He's the Sun Belt's third-leading rusher (90.8) while also ranking fourth in yards per rush (5.7) and sixth in rushing scores (8).

Jones led the Dukes in tackles in his first season starting at linebacker. He made 81 tackles with 10.5 TFLs and a sack. Jones also recorded three takeaways with one interception and two fumble recoveries, to go with two forced fumbles and four pass breakups. He had seven-plus tackles in eight games, including a career-high 13 twice. Jones ranks tied for fourth in the conference in forced fumbles, tied for fifth in recoveries and 11th in tackles per game (7.4).

Kidd started seven games at safety before a season-ending injury. He made 31 tackles with 2.0 TFLs, one forced fumble, one recovery and four pass breakups.

Painter had 19 catches for 221 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He had four games with three or more catches and three games over 40 receiving yards. He was JMU's fifth-leading receiver and the top tight end target.

Swann had 24 tackles with 3.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a pair of breakups while starting at corner. He recorded picks versus Norfolk State and at Georgia Southern.

Walker, a Pro Football Network Midseason All-American had 63 tackles with 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, a team-high three interceptions and five breakups in his 10 starts. Walker returned two interceptions for touchdowns, with scores against Texas State and at Old Dominion. JMU's second-leading tackler ranks seventh in the Sun Belt in interceptions per game (0.3) and 15th in passes defended (0.8).

Headlining the awards was Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall, who was voted Sun Belt Player of the Year. Troy linebacker Carlton Martial was named SBC Defensive Player of the Year, CCU receiver Jared Brown was tabbed Freshman of the Year, while Troy's Jon Sumrall was selected as Coach of the Year.

In all, the Sun Belt recognized 140 all-conference selections across the three teams and honorable mention picks. All 14 teams received four honorable mentions. Coastal and Troy led the league with 13 honorees. Joining JMU with 12 awards were Georgia Southern and Southern Miss. Reeling in 11 selections were App State, Louisiana and South Alabama.

JMU's 2022 Sun Belt Conference Postseason Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Centeio
Newcomer of the Year: Todd Centeio
First Team All-Sun Belt: Kris Thornton, Isaac Ukwu
Second Team All-Sun Belt: Todd Centeio, Nick Kidwell, James Carpenter, Jamare Edwards
Third Team All-Sun Belt: Percy Agyei-Obese, Taurus Jones
Honorable Mention: Sam Kidd, Drew Painter, Jordan Swann, Jailin Walker

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