HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III was selected as one of three finalists for the 2025 Bill Dudley Award, which is given to the top Division I football player in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
This is the second straight year Barnett has been recognized as a finalist.
Barnett was voted 2025 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Sun Belt quarterback.
He’s guided JMU to a 12-1 overall record while accounting for 3,077 yards and 35 touchdowns. Barnett is 193-of-322 for 2,533 passing yards and 21 touchdowns with interceptions while rushing for 544 yards and a team-best 14 touchdowns on the ground. His 14 rushing scores ranks tied for 13th nationally and sixth amongst all FBS quarterbacks.
The Whitsett, N.C., native also ranks 10th in the FBS in point responsibility (16.3), 24th in yards per completion (13.12) and 31st in passing touchdowns (21).
Barnett, who recovered from a torn ACL in November 2024, never missed a game this season, starting all 13 heading into the College Football Playoff. JMU is ranked as the fifth-highest conference champion, earning the No. 12 seed for the playoff where the Dukes will face No. 5 Oregon on Friday, Dec. 20 in Eugene.
Barnett’s inclusion as a finalist marks the 18th time that a JMU player has been named a Dudley Award finalist since 1990.
JMU has won six Dudley Awards all-time, with previous recipients including Rodney Landers (2008), Stephon Robertson (2013), Vad Lee (2014, 2015), Bryan Schor (2016) and Jalen Green (2023).
The other finalists include Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph and Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor.
The winner will be announced on Thursday night at 7:45 p.m.
— JMU Athletics —
