JMU Honors Team Award Winners from Historic 2025 Season

Trent Hendrick prior to JMU's 2025 game versus App State.

4/22/2026 3:51:00 PM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison football announced its 2025 annual award winners on Wednesday, highlighted by quarterback Alonza Barnett III, running back Wayne Knight and linebacker Trent Hendrick being recognized as the program's Most Valuable Players.

Barnett repeats as JMU's Dean Ehlers Team MVP winner after being voted Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, as a quarterback has now received the program's top nod for the third time over the past four years.

Knight was selected as the Gary Clark Offensive MVP after being named a Second Team All-American and JMU's first finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, which is presented to the country's outstanding all-purpose player. Hendrick, who garnered Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, was named the Charles Haley Defensive MVP. Additionally, wide receiver Jayden Mines, who played a key role on special teams, was named the Challace McMillan Special Teams Award recipient.

Hendrick added a second team award to his ledger, as he was named the Bob Yetzer Leadership Award winner. This accolade is given to the player that best exemplified determination, dedication and leadership during the 2025 season. For the second straight year, JMU's kicker claimed the Casey Carter Academic Achievement Award, as the honor was presented to Morgan Suarez.

The Jack Cavanaugh Award is presented to a senior athlete who has maintained good standing during their full tenure at JMU, has greater than a 3.0 GPA, has received no disciplinary referrals from the university and embodies leadership qualities; exemplified academics, leadership, dependability, trustworthiness, consistency and commitment over their full tenure. For the second consecutive year, two individuals were given the prestigious honor in offensive lineman Pat McMurtrie and defensive lineman Immanuel Bush.

McMurtrie was also named JMU's Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second straight season, while Sahir West was given Defensive Lineman of the Year.

The Hess-Green Award, presented to a player who returned to the field of play after a significant injury and overcame hardship, was given to Barnett, who did not miss a single start last fall after sustaining a season-ending ACL injury in the 2024 regular-season finale.

Safety Jacob Thomas, who was a two-year walk-on to begin his career before becoming one of the program's leaders and captains was named the 2025 winner of the John David Kraus Memorial Award, which is given to a player best exemplifying spirit and determination.

Nickel DJ Barksdale is a repeat winner of JMU's Unsung Hero Award after starting every game in the secondary for the second consecutive season and ranking as one of the Sun Belt's top performers in both pass breakups and passes defended. Center Zach Greenberg, who returns to JMU for his final season, was give the Iron Dukes Award, which is given to a player who is tough and is a team-before-self individual.

Rounding out the team awards are the Doug West Scout Team MVPs, which was presented to four Dukes from the 2025 year. Quarterback Blake Kendall was the offensive honoree for the second straight year, linebacker Lee Johnson was recognized from the defense and both receivers Miles Halbert and Chase Pensyl were the special teams picks.

2025 Season Team Awards
Dean Ehlers Team MVP: Alonza Barnett III Gary Clark Offensive MVP: Wayne Knight Charles Haley Defensive MVP: Trent Hendrick Challace McMillan Special Teams Award: Jayden Mines Bob Yetzer Leadership Award: Trent Hendrick Casey Carter Academic Achievement Award: Morgan Suarez Jack Cavanaugh Award: Pat McMurtrie & Immanuel Bush Offensive Lineman of the Year: Pat McMurtrie Defensive Lineman of the Year: Sahir West Hess-Green Award: Alonza Barnett III John David Kraus Memorial Award: Jacob Thomas Unsung Hero: DJ Barksdale Iron Dukes Award: Zach Greenberg Doug West Scout Team Offensive MVP: Blake Kendall Doug West Scout Team Defensive MVP: Lee Johnson Doug West Scout Team Special Teams MVP: Miles Halbert & Chase Pensyl