KA
Khalid Abdullah
  • Sport & Recreation Mgt.
  • Newport News, Virginia

Khalid Abdullah of Newport News Named CAA Offensive Player of the Week

2016 Sep 28

James Madison senior running back Khalid Abdullah followed up his record rushing performance over the weekend by being named Colonial Athletic Association Football Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday morning.

Abdullah turned in his third straight 100-yard rushing game, going for a career-high 172 yards on 22 carries (7.8 per carry) to lead JMU to a 31-20 comeback victory at Maine on Saturday, Sept. 24. He scored two touchdowns, including a career-long 85-yard score early in the third quarter. That run was the fifth-longest in JMU football history.

The Newport News native moved into JMU's top-10 list for all-time rushing yards, as he now ranks 10th with 2,313 career yards. Adding in his two rushing scores, Abdullah is also tied for seventh in career rushing touchdowns (25) and eighth in total touchdowns (27).

On the season, Abdullah leads the CAA in yards per carry (6.53) and is second in rushing yards per game (111.0) and rushing touchdowns (6). His rushing TD total ranks fourth nationally and his yards per carry and rushing yards average are both 12th in FCS.

This is Abdullah's first career CAA weekly award and the team's second of the season. Senior receiver Rashard Davis was named Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 12.

The Dukes return home this weekend to host Delaware for Family Weekend. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium. The game will be sponsored by Sentara, and the 2016 season is presented by CarMax.