James Carpenter Announced as Semifinalist for Burlsworth Trophy

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – James Madison defensive lineman James Carpenter has been announced as a semifinalist 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 10 players across the Football Bowl Subdivision chosen as a semifinalist for the honor, which is now in its 14th year. There were 73 players originally nominated.

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 36 career games, which he's started in 33, he has tallied 128 tackles with 27.0 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Through nine starts this season, Carpenter has 40 tackles with eight TFL, four sacks, one interception, three breakups and a fumble recovery.

Through nine games as a starter this season, Carpenter has racked up a total of 40 tackles including eight TFLs for 42 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.

Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalists
Sean Atkins, USF
Bryson Barnes, Utah
James Carpenter, JMU
Joe Evans, Iowa
B.J. Green III, Arizona State
Austin Moore, Kansas State
Cody Schrader, Missouri
Jake Springfield, Oklahoma State
Drake Stoop, Oklahoma
Kyle Thornton, Washington State

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