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Thornton Named Preseason All-Sun Belt, JMU Picked Sixth in East Division
7/25/2022 1:00:00 PM | Football
NEW ORLEANS – James Madison wide receiver Kris Thornton was selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team offense, and the Dukes were picked to finish sixth in the East Division, as the Sun Belt Conference rolled out its 2022 preseason awards and coaches poll on Monday.
Thornton had a breakout season in 2021, as he made 83 receptions for 1,097 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 83 grabs tied the JMU single-season record, while his receiving touchdowns and yards ranked third and fourth, respectively, on the JMU's single-season record list.
A Phil Steele FCS Fourth Team All-American and First Team All-CAA pick, Thornton ranked fourth in the FCS in receiving scores, 15th in total touchdowns (14) and 18th in receptions per game (5.9). Thornton had three 100-yard games and four games with at least two total TDs. That included his JMU single-game record four receiving touchdowns back on Nov. 6, 2021.
JMU enters its first season as a member of the Sun Belt and a Football Bowl Subdivision program in 2022. Last year, the Dukes finished their final FCS season with a 12-2 overall record and 7-1 mark in conference play, winning the league title for the sixth time in seven seasons. The Dukes return a pair of FCS All-Americans in Thornton and long snapper Kyle Davis, as 58 letterwinners and 10 starters are back from the 2021 squad.
The Dukes totaled 31 points in the East Division poll, finishing just four points behind Georgia Southern for fifth and six points ahead of seventh-place Old Dominion.
App State was selected as the preseason favorite in the East after receiving 10 first-place votes, while reigning Sun Belt champion Louisiana tallied 12 first-place votes to pace the West.
2022 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
West Division
Thornton had a breakout season in 2021, as he made 83 receptions for 1,097 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 83 grabs tied the JMU single-season record, while his receiving touchdowns and yards ranked third and fourth, respectively, on the JMU's single-season record list.
A Phil Steele FCS Fourth Team All-American and First Team All-CAA pick, Thornton ranked fourth in the FCS in receiving scores, 15th in total touchdowns (14) and 18th in receptions per game (5.9). Thornton had three 100-yard games and four games with at least two total TDs. That included his JMU single-game record four receiving touchdowns back on Nov. 6, 2021.
JMU enters its first season as a member of the Sun Belt and a Football Bowl Subdivision program in 2022. Last year, the Dukes finished their final FCS season with a 12-2 overall record and 7-1 mark in conference play, winning the league title for the sixth time in seven seasons. The Dukes return a pair of FCS All-Americans in Thornton and long snapper Kyle Davis, as 58 letterwinners and 10 starters are back from the 2021 squad.
The Dukes totaled 31 points in the East Division poll, finishing just four points behind Georgia Southern for fifth and six points ahead of seventh-place Old Dominion.
App State was selected as the preseason favorite in the East after receiving 10 first-place votes, while reigning Sun Belt champion Louisiana tallied 12 first-place votes to pace the West.
2022 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
- App State – 94 points (10)
- Coastal Carolina – 77 points (2)
- Georgia State – 68 points (1)
- Marshall – 62 points
- Georgia Southern – 35 points (1)
- James Madison – 31 points
- Old Dominion – 25 points
West Division
- Louisiana – 95 points (12)
- South Alabama – 79 points (2)
- Troy – 76 points
- Texas State – 41 points
- Southern Miss – 40 points
- Arkansas State – 37 points
- ULM – 24 points
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