Rea Named Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison punter Patrick Rea has been named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.

Rea played a key role in the starting field position battle in the Dukes' 26-13 win at San Diego State last Saturday, placing three punts inside the 20-yard line. He also landed a fourth punt on the 20.

In all, the Melbourne, Australia, native punted six times for 248 yards, a 41.3-yard average.

The win came on JMU's longest regular-season road trip in program history and helped the squad improve to 3-0 for the sixth time in the last seven years.

The honor is the first of Rea's career and the second straight a week that a Duke has been named the Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week. Last week, wide receiver Michael Scott took home the accolade.

Additionally, Rea is the first JMU punter to win the award since Ryan Hanson on Oct. 23, 2023.

JMU opens conference play at Old Dominion on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff at S.B. Ballard Stadium in Norfolk is set for 6 p.m. ET, and it was be streamed live on ESPN+.

Calendar

Players Mentioned

Patrick Rea

Michael Scott

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Scoreboard

Calendar

Completed Event: Football versus Liberty on September 5, 2026 , Win , 20, to, 13

Completed Event: Football versus Wagner on September 12, 2026 , Win , 87, to, 3

Completed Event: Football at San Diego State on September 19, 2026 , Win , 26, to, 13

Upcoming Event: Football at Old Dominion on September 26, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football versus Marshall on October 3, 2026 at 3:45 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football at Georgia Southern on October 10, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Georgia State on October 17, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at App State on October 22, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football versus Troy on October 29, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football at Southern Miss on November 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

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