COLLEGE FOOTBALL
James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III won the Dudley Award, given to the top Division I football player in Virginia, on Richmond TV station WTVR on Thursday night.
Barnett has accounted for 35 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards of offense in leading the Dukes to the Sun Belt championship and the College Football Playoff. He became the second JMU player to win it in three years, joining Jalen Green in 2023, and the fourth Dukes quarterback all-time to gain the state’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Barnett, who recovered from a torn ACL in November 2024, never missed a game this season.
The other finalists were Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph, now in the transfer portal, and Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor.
Va. Union’s Allen takes Lanier Award
Meanwhile, Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen won the Lanier Award, which goes to the top Division II or III player in Virginia.
Allen broke the VUU and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association rushing record with 2,403 yards and scored 30 touchdowns. He led every level of the NCAA in rushing while helping the Panthers reach the Division II playoffs.
The other Lanier finalists were Christopher Newport quarterback Connor Barry and Randolph-Macon linebacker Daniel Eliasek.
A panel of 16 sportscasters and sportswriters from across the state voted on each award.
Some UVA players reportedly to enter portal
Some Virginia players plan to enter the transfer portal, according to Pete Nakos of On3, based on reports from them or their representatives. Players can return to their previous schools even if they enter the portal, though they are declaring themselves open to recruitment from other schools.
Those UVA players include:
**Cornerback Ja’Son Prevard, who gained All-ACC honorable mention and who made the game-ending interception in a memorable victory over Florida State in Charlottesville. He has 24 tackles, three pickoffs and five pass breakups this year.
**Edge Mekhi Buchanan, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound pass rusher with 20 career tackles and one pass breakup. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
**Cornerback Dre Walker, who has 18 career tackles, five pass breakups and an interception.
Also planning to enter the portal, according to Nakos, is Duke running back Peyton Jones, a former Maury High standout. He had 317 yards rushing and three touchdowns in 2024, but only had 10 carries for 34 yards and a TD in four games this season.
Liberty All-Conference USA running back Evan Dickens also is entering the transfer portal, according to Nakos. Dickens rushed for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Also going to the portal are Virginia Union All-CIAA offensive lineman Mathias Nielsen, a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder from Denmark, and Wake Forest wide receiver Reginald Vick. Before he joined the Demon Deacons, he played for Virginia Union, amassing 48 catches for 1,164 yards.
HOCKEY
Admirals to celebrate Throwback Night
The Norfolk Admirals will celebrate Throwback Night in Friday’s 7:05 p.m. game against the Reading Royals, which will begin a two-city, three-game, three-night series. The Saturday and Sunday games will be in Pennsylvania.
An auction on throwback jerseys is underway.
The Admirals (5-13-2-0) will try to end a seven-game regulation losing streak that has sent them to the ECHL North Division cellar. Reading (11-9-2-0), a Philadelphia Flyers affiliate, is third in the eight-team division and has won its last two games.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Bryant & Stratton climbs to 15th in nation
Bryant & Stratton College’s team has climbed to No. 15 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II rankings. The Bobcats next will take on No. 20 Cleveland Community College at 2 p.m. Sunday in Atlantic Shores Christian’s gym.
COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY
W&M’s Irons shares CAA rookie award
William & Mary’s Perry Irons was named a Coastal Athletic Association Women’s co-Rookie of the Year. She became the 14th Tribe women’s runner to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
Competing in her first season of cross country, Irons finished as the runner-up at the conference championship meet. She turned in the sixth-fastest 6-kilometer time in school history: 20 minutes, 1.2 seconds. It was the fastest for a Tribe runner since Emily Stites’ 19:57.5 at the NCAA Southeast Region championship meet in 2015.
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD
UVA’s Martin named ACC Athlete of Week
Virginia senior Gary Martin earned ACC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors after an outstanding performance in his season opener in Boston.
At the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, Martin finished third in a UVA-record 13:05.57 in the 5,000-meter invitational.
He also owns the UVA record in the indoor mile (3:48.82) and 3K (7:36.09).
GOLF
UVA coach will be aide on Palmer Cup team
Virginia head men’s coach Bowen Sargent will be one of four assistant coaches for Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup in the summer of 2026.
The Ryder Cup-style competition, which features U.S. men’s and women’s collegiate golfers playing side-by-side against a team of their international counterparts, will be played July 3-5 at Tralee Golf Links in Barrow County Kerry, Ireland. Of the 29 all-time matches since 1998, USA holds a 15-13-1 edge. Current Cavalier Ben James played for Team USA in 2023 and 2024.
Sargent will join assistants Emily Fletcher (Northwestern), Beth Miller (Northwestern) and Thomas Sutton (Arizona State) with head coaches Laura Ianello (Texas) and Trey Jones (Florida State) to lead Team USA.
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/11/jmu-qb-alonza-barnett-iii-wins-dudley-award/
