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One of the biggest offseason stories for the Army Black Knights is senior quarterback Jabari Laws has returned to the field after missing the past 22 months with a torn ACL.
“It was a wonderful feeling,’’ Laws said. “I’m definitely going to call my mom and dad. Just being back playing at Michie Stadium is something I probably will never forget. It’s wonderful to be back.’’
Laws required multiple surgeries to reconstruct his knee, but he is expected to compete for the starting job as the regular season approaches. He looked sharp in his return to the intrasquad scrimmage, connecting with junior running back Braheam Murphy for a long catch-and-run touchdown.
Another player to keep an eye on is linebacker Arik Smith, who was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. Named for Ronnie Lott, the IMPACT Trophy is awarded to college football’s best defensive impact player. The IMPACT acronym stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.
In 2020, Smith tied for the team lead in tackles with 78. He also led the team with 3.5 sacks and hauled in an interception.
Army Black Knights Standings
The Army Black Knights have consistently been a dominant force in the NCAAF with their disciplined approach to the game. With a strong defense and a well-rounded offense, the team has been able to maintain a solid record in recent years.
The stats and standings of the Army Black Knights speak for themselves, with the team currently ranking among the top tier in the league.
Army Black Knights Betting Trends
Army Black Knights Seasons Summary
Army finished the 2020 season with a 9-3 record, their fourth season with a winning record among the last 5. They closed out the regular season with a pair of wins over rival service academies (15-0 over Navy, then 10-7 over Air Force).
However, the Black Knights came up short in bowl season. First, their appearance in the Independence Bowl never came to fruition as the game was canceled. Then, after being rescheduled into another bowl game, Army lost to West Virginia 24-21 in the Liberty Bowl.
As they’ve been known to do, Army was a dominant rushing attack in 2020. The Black Knights averaged 273 rushing yards per game, good for fourth in the nation. Despite never hitting 100+ passing yards in a game, Army ranked third in passing yards per completion.
With a solid group of returning players and the experience of multiple big-game moments, Army is in line for another successful season in 2021.
Army Black Knights Key Players
Because Army’s offense revolves around a punishing rushing attack, their quarterbacks have to be able to run effectively. Tyhier Tyler was Army’s leading rusher last season, but he’s no threat to pass the ball, only completing two of four attempts last season. Christian Anderson is a better passer but doesn’t have the same speed and burst that Tyler does. Jabari Laws should see the field quite a bit as well.
Most of the running backs are big, physical, punishing rushers. Cade Barnard, Jakobi Buchanan, and Anthony Adkins are all at least 235 lbs and can impose their will on opposing defenders. And for the speed factor, Tyrell Robinson is 5’9”, 180 lbs, and averaged seven yards per carry last season.
Defensively, Arik Smith is a senior and a co-captain who will likely lead the team in tackles again this season. Nearly everyone is back in the secondary, including safety Cedrick Cunningham and cornerbacks Cameron Jones and Jamari Moore.
New Additions
Unlike other college football programs, Army rarely has players arriving or departing through the transfer portal because of their status as a service academy. New additions are almost exclusively incoming freshmen and walk-ons or players who were injured and missed time.
To that end, the Black Knights have five freshman quarterbacks in the fold, accounting for half the quarterback room. Bryson Daily, Simeon Evans, Ahlon Mitchell, Gary Phillips, and RJ Rosales will all look to shine early and make a name for themselves, though with five upperclassmen ahead of them, and it’s possible none see the field this season.
Linebacker Tyler Rafferty is one of the few local players hailing from nearby Newburgh. Joining him on defense is cornerback Jordan Burrell, a three-star recruit (Army’s highest-graded recruit in the class). Burrell also received offers from Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Marshall, Temple, and Virginia Tech.
Key Subtractions
Army didn’t have anyone selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, but they still lost some key seniors. Fullback Sandon McCoy, a team captain, graduated after finishing 18th in the nation with eight rushing touchdowns last season. While he wasn’t a threat to break off big runs, he was a crucial player in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Linebacker Jon Rhattigan is gone as well, leaving a noticeable hole in the middle of the defense. Rhattigan tied with Smith, each putting up 78 tackles a year ago. Daryan McDonald and Malkelm Morrison are expected to take on a lion’s share of the snap count following Rhattigan’s departure.
Nose tackle Nick Stokes is out as well. After bulking up to reach 300 lbs during his senior year, Stokes was key in plugging up the middle of the line. Edge rusher Amadeo West (28 tackles, two sacks) has graduated, meaning there is plenty of opportunity for new playmakers on the defensive line.
Army Black Knights Conference Outlook
The Black Knights are an independent program, not bound to a conference. As a result, Army can only compare themselves to the opponents on the schedule and not have an overall ranking.
Wisconsin is Army’s only 2021 opponent who is ranked entering the season (the Badgers are No. 12 in the FBS). However, Liberty has a chance to join the Top 25 ranks before the year is out. Those will be the toughest tests for Army, but the Black Knights know better than to take any opponent for granted.
The regular season closes on December 11 with the annual Army-Navy game, one of the greatest traditions in collegiate athletics. Army won last season’s game 15-0, their fourth win in the past five years. Before that, Navy dominated the matchup, winning 14 straight meetings. The army the lion’s share is poised to win again in 2021, and the Black Knights should once again be playing in a bowl game.
Army Black Knights Team Offense
As mentioned, Army’s offense features an old-school, ground-and-pound approach, dominating time of possession and keeping their opponents from a counterattack. In 2021, the Black Knights will rely on sophomore running back Tyrell Robinson. He has the most big-play potential of anyone in the Army backfield, is dangerous in space, and is a threat to break off a screen for huge yardage.
Tyhier Tyler is likely to get the start under center, and the offense will revolve around him even more than most college quarterbacks. Tyler did not play in 2018 or 2019 but came on strong in 2020, rushing for 578 yards and five touchdowns on 4.2 yards per carry. He should throw the ball a few more times this season (Tyler went 2-of-4 for 53 yards without a score last year), but that’s not his role in the offense.
Wide receivers Reikan Donaldson and Michael Roberts are back, as is tight end Chris Cameron, but none of them reached double-digit receptions in 2020. Roberts was the only one to record a receiving touchdown.
Army Black Knights Team Defense
Army’s defense put up excellent numbers in 2020, though part of that was because of how much the offense controlled possession and set the tempo. However, they were still a formidable unit, leading the nation in yards allowed at just 275 per game and ranking second in points allowed per game (14.8).
The Black Knights also tallied 14 interceptions, tied for ninth in the nation.
If there’s an area for improvement, it’s in the pass rush. Army recorded 18 sacks in 2020, just below the league average and median total. While part of that is because several of the Black Knights’ annual opponents are run-heavy, the team forced just eight fumbles, recovering six. Wisconsin and Liberty will test Army’s pass defense (especially Liberty, where quarterback Malik Willis could be a first-round draft pick) and could ultimately decide whether the Black Knights get to play in a bowl game.
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Army Black Knights FAQs
The Black Knights’ head coach is Jeff Monken, who has a 49-39 coaching record entering 2021.
At the end of the 2020 season, Army has a 6-3 record in bowl games.
Who is Army’s all-time leading rusher?
Mike Mayweather is the all-time leading rusher for the Black Knights, posting 4,299 rushing yards in his career.
Who are some notable Army football alumni?
President Dwight D. Eisenhower played for the Army football team in 1912, as did Omar Bradley, both of whom went on to become Army Generals. The Black Knights had back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners in 1945 and 1946 with Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis; Pete Dawkins also won the Heisman in 1958.
What is the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy?
The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is awarded to the winner of the college football series between the Army, Navy, and Air Force service academies. In the event of a tie, both schools share the title, but the previous trophy holder retains possession. Army has won the trophy nine times, most recently in 2020. The Black Knights have won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy three times in the past four years.
