JMU Names Captains; DT Emmons To Miss UNC Game

HARRISONBURG – Justin Thorpe’s coaches picked him as the James Madison football team’s quarterback last Monday. This Monday, his teammates voted him as one of its captains.

Thorpe, a junior, joins senior defensive end D.J. Bryant, senior linebackers Vidal Nelson and Pat Williams, senior center Roane Babington, and junior tight end Brian Barlow as the Dukes’ captains for the 2011 season, JMU coach Mickey Matthews said Tuesday after practice.

“It’s a big deal to me,” Thorpe said. “I feel blessed that my teammates believe I’m a captain. I’m vocal out here and I’m appreciative that the guys respect me and look up to me.”

Nelson said it's only natural for the quarterback to be a captain.

“The quarterback is such a central part of the whole team, not just the offense,” Nelson said. “Justin has really come into camp and matured. His teammates love him. He loves his teammates. I think that’s going to be great for Justin.”

While four of the captains are seniors, Nelson said it speaks volumes that a pair of juniors were selected.

“It’s crazy when I think they’re juniors,” said Nelson, who was a captain as a junior himself. “I feel like they’re the same age as me. They’re great leaders.”

Barlow said the fact that teammates actually voted for him as captain made the achievement extra special.

“It’s one thing to be picked by coaches to be all-conference or something,” Barlow said. “It’s another thing to get picked by your teammates as a leader. I think it’s one of the greatest honors you can get.”

Offensively, JMU doesn’t have many prominent seniors – only Babington and wide receiver Kerby Long.

Defensively, the Dukes are loaded with veteran players and three picked as captains are three of the most experienced.

“There’s a lot of games played amongst us three,” Nelson said. “And there’s been a lot of hard work put in amongst us three.”

D-Line Hurting: Neither starting defensive tackle – senior Nick Emmons or junior Sean O’Neil – practiced Tuesday because of knee injuries. Matthews said Emmons will miss the North Carolina game and possibly the following week’s home game against Central Connecticut State because of a strained ligament in his knee. Emmons was injured during practice Monday when running back Dae’Quan Scott stumbled into the back of his leg.

O’Neil showed up for weight lifting Monday with a swollen left knee, but Matthews expects him to play Saturday.

Catch of the day: Cornerback Ricky Nichols made a pair of impressive interceptions on deep passes up the sideline against him Tuesday during one-on-ones. On the first, Nichols outran Marquis Woodyard and made a juggling, diving catch for the pickoff. Woodyard ended up leap-frogging over Nichols as the defensive back came down with the ball.

A few passes later, Nichols made a jumping interception on the same route, pulling the ball away from Woodyard.