Three from JMU Football Named to CSC Academic All-District Team

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Three James Madison football players were selected to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Football Team in kicker Morgan Suarez, punter Patrick Rea and cornerback Mekhi Rodgers.

This is the third straight year Rodgers has garnered the award, having also received the honor in 2024 at Saint Francis and 2023 at Hobart College, while Suarez and Rea each earned the distinction last season while at Florida Atlantic and Louisiana Tech, respectively.

Suarez appeared in all 14 games, where he was JMU's primary kicker. He finished 14-for-19 on field goals and a perfect 65-for-65 on extra points to finish with 107 points. His scoring total was the seventh-most in JMU single-season history. He scored 15+ points twice, including a career-best 16 vs. App State after converting a career-high tying three field goals with seven PATs.

Rea played in all 14 games, serving as JMU's primary punter and holder. He had 48 punts on the year, averaging 41.0 per attempt. That included six boots over 50 yards, which was highlighted by a season-best 61-yarder at Marshall. Rea also had 16 punts inside the 20 and only had three touchbacks.

Rodgers played in 13 games with one start at corner for the Dukes. He made eight tackles with a pass breakup. Off the field, Rodgers was a Dean's List student in the spring 2025 term, his first at JMU.

For Suarez, he has been included on the ballot for the Academic All-America® Team, and that team will be unveiled on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

All-time, five former JMU student-athletes have combined for six Academic All-America® honors, with Jacob Dobbs most recently being named a Second Team Academic All-American in 2024.

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