Moreland, Amos Named To AP All-America Team

HARRISONBURG — Whoever Jimmy Moreland needed to defend, he did so while making it look easy in his final season at James Madison.

The Dukes senior cornerback was voted a first-team All-American by the Associated Press on Tuesday for his dominant 2018 with the Dukes.

Moreland recorded 56 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a blocked punt, 10 pass breakups and five interceptions including three he returned for touchdowns this fall.

He also was tasked with defending the opponent’s top receiver each week.

The All-America honor is just the latest accolade for Moreland, a Royal Palm Beach, Fla., native who was the Colonial Athletic Association’s Defensive Player of the Year, a Buck Buchanan Award finalist and is a Bill Dudley Award finalist. The Bill Dudley Award winner will be announced Wednesday at a ceremony hosted by the Touchdown Club of Richmond.

Moreland was one of two Dukes voted to the AP All-America team as sophomore punt returner and safety D’Angelo Amos earned a second-team selection in the all-purpose position.

Amos had 64 tackles and two fumble recoveries to go along with three punt return touchdowns. Amos’ three punt return scores and an average of 22 yards per return led the FCS this season.

Both Moreland and Amos played critical roles in helping JMU win at Villanova in October. A blocked punt from Moreland in the first half setup two punt return touchdowns for Amos in the second half to enable the Dukes to separate from the Wildcats.