CHARLESTON, S.C. – Eastern Kentucky University football player JJ Jude has earned a spot on the 2014 CFPA Quarterback Award Watch List, as announced yesterday by College Football Performance Awards (CFPA).
Jude, a native of Hagerhill, Kentucky, led Eastern with 637 yards on the ground last season. The sophomore twice reached the 100-yard plateau in 2013 including a career-best 195 rushing yards against Morehead State. Jude equaled a program record with four rushing touchdowns against the Eagles. He also piled up 114 yards and a score in the win over Southeast Missouri.
The running back position should be one of the stronger units for the Colonels this year. Jude joins newcomer Dy’Shawn Mobley and redshirt freshman Kentayvus Hopkins in the preseason backfield rotation. EKU averaged 198.7 yards per game rushing in 2013.
The initial CFPA watch list includes 38 returning performers, vying for the top running back award in the Football Championship Subdivision. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.
The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.
Former EKU star Jeremy Caldwell earned the 2011 CFPA Elite Kickoff Returner Award.
The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced Jan. 14, 2015. For more information on the CFPA, please visit collegefootballperformance.com.
Eastern Kentucky begins the 2014 fall season with a Thursday night road game at Robert Morris on Aug. 28.
Fans can reserve 2014 season tickets by contacting the EKU athletics ticket office at 859-622-2122.
