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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Players Mentioned
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