James Madison redshirt senior quarterback Vad Lee added another preseason accolade heading into the 2015 season as he was named to the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List, the organization announced Monday.
Last season, Lee was named an Associated Press Third Team All-American and finished fourth in the voting for this award, formerly known as the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). He broke numerous passing records, leading JMU to its most prolific offensive year in school history.
Lee threw for 3,462 yards (282-for-465) with 30 touchdowns and tallied 4,288 total yards of offense after rushing for a team-best 826 yards, to go with nine rushing scores. He also broke JMU’s single-game passing record twice, becoming the first Duke to throw for more than 400 yards in a game with 406 at Villanova (Sept. 20) and 433 at Richmond (Nov. 15). He surpassed 300 yards through the air five times and put together a six-game streak with at least 250 passing yards.
He was a Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection and became JMU’s third-ever winner of the Bill Dudley Award, presented to the top Division I player in the state, while also being voted the Virginia Sports Information Directors State Player of the Year.
Lee was one of 32 returning players in the Football Championship Subdivision to grace the list and was joined by fellow Colonial Athletic Association quarterbacks Sean Goldrich of New Hampshire and John Robertson of Villanova, who won the award last season.
One former JMU player has been honored by the CFPA, as Stephon Robertson was the co-winner of the FCS Linebacker Award in 2013.
The goal of the CFPA awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
The winner will be announced on Jan. 13, 2016.
JMU opens the 2015 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Sept. 5 at home against Morehead State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and all ticket packages are on sale now by going to www.jmutickets.com or by calling 540-568-3853.
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Chris Graham
