NEW ORLEANS – James Madison has been voted the preseason favorite to finish atop the East Division in 2023, and four student-athletes were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, the league office announced Monday.

The Dukes, who finished tied for first in the East Division standings a year ago, received four first-place votes and 78 total points to edge out the top spot in the East.

Close behind was App State, which was second with four first-place votes and 75 points. Coastal Carolina had three first-place votes and 71 points, while Marshall took fourth with 68 points and a pair of first-place nods.

JMU will face the league’s top-two predicted West Division teams this season, as Troy was first with 10 first-place votes and 92 points, and South Alabama claimed second with four first-place votes and 85 points.

JMU was well represented on the preseason all-conference squad, as offensive lineman Nick Kidwell, defensive lineman James Carpenter and punter Ryan Hanson each received First Team honors. Rounding out the awards with a Second Team selection was linebacker Taurus Jones.

Kidwell is entering his fourth straight season as a starter at right tackle and was a Second Team All-Sun Belt honoree a season ago. He additionally took home Virginia Sports Information Directors First Team All-State accolades after he and the offensive line aided JMU in ranking top 30 nationally in six statistical categories. JMU was sixth in time of possession (33:44), seventh in yards per completion (14.54), 13th in scoring (37.0), 16th in pass efficiency (157.2), 29th in total offense (452.5) and 30th in passing touchdowns (27).

Carpenter, who joined Kidwell on both the All-Sun Belt Second Team and All-State First Team, started all 11 games at nose guard in 2022. He tallied 52 total tackles with 11.5 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and three pass breakups. Carpenter had a career-high nine tackles versus Marshall and a career-high 1.5 sacks twice. He also produced a career-best three tackles for loss at Louisville.

Hanson, who transferred to JMU from Arkansas State, was a 2021 Third Team All-Sun Belt punter. Last season, he averaged 43.7 yards per punt on his 48 attempts. For his career, he averages 43.1 yards per punt and has 30 kicks over 50 yards, including a career-long 73-yarder versus Texas State in 2021.

Jones broke out in his first year starting at linebacker in 2022, as he was voted Third Team All-Sun Belt and Second Team All-State. He led the Dukes with 82 total tackles to go with 10.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, two recoveries, an interception and four breakups. Jones posted a career-high 13 tackles twice and career-best 2.5 tackles for loss in two outings. He tallied seven or more tackles in eight of his 11 starts.

Highlighting the individual awards were Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall and Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson, who were selected as the Sun Belt’s Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

Voting for the predicted order of finish and All-Sun Belt Team was conducted by the head coach and one media member from each of the league’s 14 institutions.

Sun Belt Football Media Days kick off the season for the league this week in New Orleans, as the West Division teams goes on Tuesday, July 25, while the East Division squads will be live at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel on Wednesday, July 26.

JMU opens the 2023 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Sept. 2 when it hosts Bucknell in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium.

2023 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
1. James Madison – 78 points (4)
2. App State – 75 points (4)
3. Coastal Carolina – 71 points (3)
4. Marshall – 68 points (2)
5. Georgia Southern – 52 (1)
6. Georgia State – 31
7. Old Dominion – 17

West Division
1. Troy – 92 points (10)
2. South Alabama – 85 points (4)
3. Louisiana – 64 points
4. Southern Miss – 62 points
5. Texas State – 36 points
6. Arkansas State – 33 points
7. ULM – 20 points

— JMU Athletics —