Jalen Green Named CFN National Player of the Year, Eight Honored on All-America Team

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison defensive end Jalen Green was named the 2023 College Football Network National Player of the Year and headlined the CFN All-America Team, in which eight student-athletes were recognized.

Green is JMU's first Football Bowl Subdivision national player of the year remarkably in just the program's second season as an FBS member.

He additionally took home National Defensive Player of the Year and National Defensive Lineman of the Year, while the Dukes were recognized as the Defensive Line of the Year.

This season, Green led the country in sacks per game (1.72) and tackles for loss per game (2.3). His 15.5 sacks in just nine games broke the Sun Belt Conference single-season record and was the second-most sacks in JMU single-season history.

The Baltimore native was also voted Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Sun Belt and is a top-three finalist for both the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award and the Bill Dudley Award.

Entering bowl season, JMU as a team leads the country in rushing defense (61.5), yards per rush allowed (2.09) and tackles for loss (9.1) while ranking second in sacks (3.75). The Dukes are top 30 in the FBS in total defense (328.6) as well.

Joining Green as a CFN First Team All-American was offensive lineman Cole Potts. Taking Second Team accolades were punter Ryan Hanson and cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, while Honorable Mention All-America status went to wide receivers Reggie Brown and Elijah Sarratt, defensive lineman James Carpenter and special teams player Devyn Coles.

This is the first FBS All-America honor for each player, while both Sarratt and Carpenter were named FCS Freshman All-Americans in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Last week, Ponds was recognized as an On3 Freshman All-American, the first for JMU at the FBS level.

JMU on 2023 College Football Network All-America Team
Jalen Green, National Player of the Year
Jalen Green, National Defensive Player of the Year
Jalen Green, National Defensive Lineman of the Year
James Madison, National Defensive Line of the Year

First Team All-America
Jalen Green, Defensive End
Cole Potts, Guard

Second Team All-America
Ryan Hanson, Punter
D'Angelo Ponds, Cornerback

Honorable Mention All-America
Reggie Brown, Wide Receiver
Devyn Coles, Special Teams Player
James Carpenter, Defensive Line
Elijah Sarratt, Wide Receiver

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