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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
James Carpenter Honored as Burlsworth Trophy Finalist
11/14/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison defensive lineman James Carpenter has been announced as a finalist for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding college football player who started their career as a walk-on.Â
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He is one of three players across the Football Bowl Subdivision chosen as a finalist for the honor, which is now in its 14th year.
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Oklahoma wide receiver Drake Stoops and Missouri running back Cody Schrader are the other two finalists. There were 73 players originally nominated and 10 selected as semifinalists.
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Carpenter, who began his career at JMU in 2019 while the program was a Football Championship Subdivision squad, was a walk-on in his first two seasons with the Dukes.Â
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After playing all eight games with seven starts in JMU's spring 2021 season, he was awarded a scholarship prior to the fall 2021 campaign.
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In his 37 career games, which he's started in 34, he has tallied 129 tackles with 27 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, nine pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Through 10 starts this season, Carpenter has 41 tackles with eight TFL, four sacks, one interception, four breakups and a fumble recovery.
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The Roanoke, Va., native was on the watch list for both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy and was named a College Football Network Midseason First Team All-American. He was previously a Second Team All-Sun Belt and VaSID First Team All-State selection in JMU's first FBS season in 2022.
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The winner of the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Dec. 4 at the Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony at the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.
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He is one of three players across the Football Bowl Subdivision chosen as a finalist for the honor, which is now in its 14th year.
Â
Oklahoma wide receiver Drake Stoops and Missouri running back Cody Schrader are the other two finalists. There were 73 players originally nominated and 10 selected as semifinalists.
Â
Carpenter, who began his career at JMU in 2019 while the program was a Football Championship Subdivision squad, was a walk-on in his first two seasons with the Dukes.Â
Â
After playing all eight games with seven starts in JMU's spring 2021 season, he was awarded a scholarship prior to the fall 2021 campaign.
Â
In his 37 career games, which he's started in 34, he has tallied 129 tackles with 27 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, nine pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Through 10 starts this season, Carpenter has 41 tackles with eight TFL, four sacks, one interception, four breakups and a fumble recovery.
 Â
The Roanoke, Va., native was on the watch list for both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy and was named a College Football Network Midseason First Team All-American. He was previously a Second Team All-Sun Belt and VaSID First Team All-State selection in JMU's first FBS season in 2022.
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The winner of the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Dec. 4 at the Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony at the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.
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Players Mentioned
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