COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph, James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III and Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor were nominated for the Dudley Award, which goes to the state’s best Division I player.
Christopher Newport quarterback Connor Barry, Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen and Randolph-Macon linebacker Daniel Eliasek, all of whom led their teams to the NCAA playoffs, were nominated for the Willie Lanier Award. It goes to Virginia’s best player at the Division II and III levels.
A panel of 16 sportscasters and sportswriters from across the state voted on each award. They will be presented on WTVR-TV 6 in Richmond at 7:45 Thursday night.
Tribe’s Krueger makes FCS Freshman All-America
William & Mary defensive lineman Justin Krueger, a third-team All-CAA player, was selected to the FCS Football Central Freshman All-America Team. He led the Tribe with eight tackles for loss, was in on 52 tackles, forced two fumbles and broke up three passes.
JMU’s Knight named AP National Player of Week
James Madison running back Wayne Knight was named the Associated Player National Player of the Week. He ran for 212 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, caught two passes for 11 yards and returned a punt 11 yards as the Dukes beat Troy 31-14, eventually landing a CFP berth.
JMU aide named to ’35 Under 35′
JMU nickels coach Kyle Barnes was selected to the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, as announced by the American Football Coaches Association.
The 35 Under 35 is a program designed to identify and develop premier future leaders in the football coaching profession. The one-day institute features interactive lectures focused on topics tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression and family balance.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
ODU moves back tip on Cure Bowl day
Because the Old Dominion-South Florida Cure Bowl will kick off at 5 p.m. Dec. 17 in Orlando, Florida, the Monarchs moved the start of their men’s basketball Royal Rivalry against James Madison that night at Chartway Arena back one hour, to 8.
Monarchs to honor Goodson, Valentine
Old Dominion announced that on two Saturdays in January, it will retire the jerseys of two of the Monarchs’ all-time greats.
Adrienne Goodson’s jersey will be retired Jan. 17 when the ODU women host Marshall. It will be the annual Anne Donovan Classic, which honors the late former ODU All-American, as well as alumni day for all former ODU players.
Ronnie Valentine’s jersey will be retired a week later on Jan. 24, when the ODU men host Louisiana. It will be alumni night, with all former basketball players invited.
“It is truly an honor to retire the jerseys of two high-impact players,” ODU athletic director Wood Selig said in a release. “Ronnie Valentine and Adrienne Goodson each made significant and lasting contributions to ODU men’s and women’s basketball and are both revered by our long-time fans.”
Valentine, who led ODU’s debut in Division I in 1976-77, scored 2,204 points and is the Monarchs’ all-time leading scorer. ODU said he was the first player in Division I history to score in double figures in every game he played (101). He guided the Monarchs to their first D-I NCAA Tournament as a senior in 1980.
Goodson, as a freshman, helped ODU win the 1985 national championship. She finished with 1,574 career points and 863 rebounds, and she was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and an All-American as a senior. She played 14 seasons of pro basketball.
VWU rises to No. 11
Virginia Wesleyan (7-1) rose two spots to No. 11 in the d3hoops.com national poll, which remains filled with teams from Virginia.
Besides VWU, Randolph-Macon is second, Mary Washington fifth, Roanoke 13th and Hampden-Sydney 15th. Christopher Newport is third among the others receiving votes and therefore 28th overall.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NSU, W&M players gain conference honors
Norfolk State guard Da’Brya Clark was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
The 5-foot-7 guard from Baltimore totaled 46 points, 16 rebounds, 10 steals and six assists as the Spartans defeated Shaw and North Carolina A&T.
William & Mary junior center Jana Sallman was named the Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Week. She shot 8 of 12 for 17 points in a victory at Wake Forest, then had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a win at American.
TRACK AND FIELD
UVA track boss honored by USATF
Vin Lananna, who is Virginia’s Director of Track and Field and Cross Country/Associate Athletics Director for Administration, received the annual Robert Giegengack Award presented by USA Track and Field.
The award recognizes someone who excels in contributing to the excellence and high standards of athletics. The award is USATF’s only accolade not limited to one of the sport’s three disciplines (track and field, long-distance running and race-walking), or to any one of the three principal areas of consideration (official, coach or administrator).
https://www.dailypress.com/2025/12/08/odu-qb-colton-joseph-among-dudley-award-nominees/
