James Carpenter Nominated for 2023 Burlsworth Trophy

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison defensive lineman James Carpenter has been nominated for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding college football player who started as a walk-on.

He is one of 73 players across the Football Bowl Subdivision nominated for the honor, which is now in its 14th year.

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 35 career games, which he's started in 32, he has tallied 127 tackles with 26.0 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Through eight starts this season, Carpenter has 39 tackles with seven TFL, four sacks, one interception, three breakups and a fumble recovery.

Through eight games as a starter this season, Carpenter has racked up a total of 39 tackles including seven TFLs for 37 yards. He has also recorded four sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and four passes defended.

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.

Finalists for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Nov. 14 and the winner of the award will be unveiled on Dec. 4 at the Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.