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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Knight Named AP National Player of the Week
12/8/2025 5:44:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison running back Wayne Knight has been named the Associated Press National Player of the Week after his play in last weekend's Sun Belt Football Championship game.
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This is Knight's first career national player of the week honor.
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In JMU's 31-14 win against Troy last Friday, Knight had 21 carries for a career-high 212 rushing yards and a touchdown, averaging 10.1 yards per rush. His night was highlighted by a career-long 73-yard touchdown that gave JMU the lead for good.
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He also had two receptions for 11 yards and added an 11-yard punt return to finish with 234 all-purpose yards, which set a Sun Belt Football Championship record.
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Knight, a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, ranks third nationally in all-purpose yards (147.0), seventh in yards per carry (6.65), 17th in rushing yards per game (97.2) and 27th in punt return average (9.0).
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JMU (12-1) earned the No. 12 seed and will face No. 5 Oregon in Eugene in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 20. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) and will be nationally televised on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
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This is Knight's first career national player of the week honor.
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In JMU's 31-14 win against Troy last Friday, Knight had 21 carries for a career-high 212 rushing yards and a touchdown, averaging 10.1 yards per rush. His night was highlighted by a career-long 73-yard touchdown that gave JMU the lead for good.
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He also had two receptions for 11 yards and added an 11-yard punt return to finish with 234 all-purpose yards, which set a Sun Belt Football Championship record.
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Knight, a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, ranks third nationally in all-purpose yards (147.0), seventh in yards per carry (6.65), 17th in rushing yards per game (97.2) and 27th in punt return average (9.0).
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JMU (12-1) earned the No. 12 seed and will face No. 5 Oregon in Eugene in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 20. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) and will be nationally televised on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
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