2021 Army Black Knights football team explained

Year:	2021
Team:	Army Black Knights
Sport:	football
Conference:	Independent
Record:	9–4
Head Coach:	Jeff Monken
Hc Year:	8th
Off Coach:	Brent Davis
Oc Year:	8th
Off Scheme:	Triple option
Def Coach:	Nate Woody
Dc Year:	2nd
Codef Coach1:	Shiel Wood
Codc1 Year:	1st
Def Scheme:	3–4
Captain:	Marquel Broughton
Captain2:	Nolan Cockrill
Captain3:	Cedrick Cunningham Jr.
Captain4:	Arik Smith
Stadium:	Michie Stadium
Champion:	Armed Forces Bowl champion
Bowl:	Armed Forces Bowl
Bowl Result:	W 24–22 vs. Missouri

The 2021 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Black Knights were led by eighth-year head coach Jeff Monken and played their home games at Michie Stadium. They competed as an independent. The Black Knights finished the season with a record of 9–4, sharing the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy with Navy and Air Force after all three service academies finished with 1–1 records against each other. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl where they defeated Missouri, 24–22.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released.

Lott IMPACT Trophy^[1]	Arik Smith	LB	SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy^[2]	Nolan Cockrill	DL	SR
Outland Trophy^[3]	Nolan Cockrill
Ray Guy Award^[4]	Zach Harding	P	SR
Paul Hornung Award^[5]	Tyrell Robinson	RB	SO
Wuerffel Trophy^[6]	Jabari Laws	QB	SR

Schedule

^[7]

Game summaries

At Georgia State

Statistics	ARMY	GSU
First downs	20	14
3rd down efficiency	10–16	4–10
4th down efficiency	3–3	0–1
Plays–yards	71–356	48–177
Rushes–yards	67–258	28–48
Passing yards	98	129
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	3–4–0	12–20–1
Penalties–yards	2–20	5–55
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	42:07	17:53

Western Kentucky

Statistics	WKU	ARMY
First downs	22	23
3rd down efficiency	7–10	9–13
4th down efficiency	0–2	2–3
Plays–yards	59–477	73–416
Rushes–yards	19–42	67–339
Passing yards	435	77
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	28–40–1	5–6–0
Penalties–yards	5–20	5–40
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	20:22	39:38

UConn

Statistics	UCONN	ARMY
First downs	9	24
3rd down efficiency	3–10	5–9
4th down efficiency	1–3	2–3
Plays–yards	45–225	70–504
Rushes–yards	19–116	67–397
Passing yards	109	107
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–26–1	3–3–0
Penalties–yards	3–31	1–15
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	19:24	40:36

Miami (OH)

Statistics	MIAMI	ARMY
First downs	13	16
3rd down efficiency	2–11	8–18
4th down efficiency	1–2	3–3
Plays–yards	47–232	68–384
Rushes–yards	20–28	63–384
Passing yards	204	0
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–27–1	0–5–0
Penalties–yards	2–6	6–80
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	20:24	39:36

At Ball State

Statistics	ARMY	BALL
First downs	18	12
3rd down efficiency	4–16	3–12
4th down efficiency	3–6	0–2
Plays–yards	76–279	54–269
Rushes–yards	61–213	26–36
Passing yards	66	233
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	5–15–2	17–28–0
Penalties–yards	4–40	9–55
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	38:10	21:50 Ayden Beck from Lauren not like him

At Wisconsin

Statistics	ARMY	WIS
First downs	13	18
3rd down efficiency	6–14	3–10
4th down efficiency	2–2	2–2
Plays–yards	56–266	58–310
Rushes–yards	50–179	43–198
Passing yards	87	112
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	5–6–0	8–15–0
Penalties–yards	3–26	4–20
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	29:13	30:47

No. 16 Wake Forest

Statistics	WF	ARMY
First downs	22	31
3rd down efficiency	7–8	9–16
4th down efficiency	0–1	3–4
Plays–yards	52–638	83–595
Rushes–yards	23–180	70–416
Passing yards	458	179
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–29–0	10–13–1
Penalties–yards	6–66	7–64
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	17:17	42:43

Vs. Air Force

Statistics	ARMY	AF
First downs	13	22
3rd down efficiency	5–14	6–16
4th down efficiency	1–2	2–5
Plays–yards	56–322	73–401
Rushes–yards	43–108	50–175
Passing yards	214	226
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	8–13–0	13–23–1
Penalties–yards	4–30	4–30
Turnovers	0	1
Time of possession	29:03	30:57

Bucknell

Statistics	BUCKNELL	ARMY
First downs	11	30
3rd down efficiency	4–12	4–6
4th down efficiency	0–1	1–1
Plays–yards	52–175	65–486
Rushes–yards	20–39	61–428
Passing yards	136	58
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16–32–1	3–4–0
Penalties–yards	5–45	5–49
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	25:37	34:23

UMass

Statistics	UMASS	ARMY
First downs	12	20
3rd down efficiency	5–10	6–15
4th down efficiency	1–2	3–6
Plays–yards	52–277	71–419
Rushes–yards	39–199	59–377
Passing yards	78	42
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	7–13–2	2–12–0
Penalties–yards	3–20	5–50
Turnovers	4	1
Time of possession	27:04	32:56

At Liberty

Statistics	ARMY	LIB
First downs	21	20
3rd down efficiency	7–14	5–14
4th down efficiency	2–2	2–7
Plays–yards	66–322	72–384
Rushes–yards	62–220	25–79
Passing yards	102	305
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	3–4–0	24–47–2
Penalties–yards	2–20	7–56
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	36:13	23:47

Vs. Navy

Statistics	ARMY	NAVY
First downs	11	13
3rd down efficiency	4–12	6–15
4th down efficiency	0–1	2–2
Plays–yards	49–232	58–278
Rushes–yards	33–124	52–196
Passing yards	108	96
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	7–16–0	4–6–0
Penalties–yards	2–10	5–40
Turnovers	0	0
Time of possession	25:35	34:25

The Army Black Knights camouflaged uniform honored the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas (ODAs) from the 5th Special Forces Group of Task Force Dagger. In the immediate wake of the 9/11 attacks, ODAs were called upon to rapidly deploy from Fort Campbell, Kentucky to Afghanistan. The uniforms also pay tribute to service members and veterans, marking not only the end of the "Forever War" in Afghanistan, but the 20-year anniversary of 9/11.

Each jersey features an Army patch and a mirror patch emblazoned with the words "De Oppresso Liber", which is Latin for "from being an oppressed man to being a free one.", which is the motto for the Army Special Forces. The jerseys also has the collar devices worn by the Special Forces, showcasing crossed arrows and the letters U and S with "United We Stand" on the back of the jersey.

The helmets also bear the Special Forces crest and crossed arrows, an American flag, and unit insignia for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment's Night Stalkers. The date of the 2001 terrorist attacks are located front and center.

The cleats have a pentagon-shaped logo with the twin towers of the World Trade Center in red, white and blue.^[8]

Vs. Missouri – Armed Forces Bowl

Statistics	MIZ	ARMY
First downs	28	21
3rd down efficiency	6–11	5–14
4th down efficiency	0–1	5–5
Plays–yards	71–433	64–306
Rushes–yards	37–195	55–211
Passing yards	238	95
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	27–34–0	6–9–0
Penalties–yards	5–40	4–35
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	29:00	31:00

Personnel

Coaching staff

	Head coach	2014	2014	Millikin
Offensive staff
Brent Davis	Offensive coordinator/offensive line	2014	2014	Georgia
	Tight ends	2020	2019	Western Illinois–Quad Cities
	Wide receivers	2020	2020¹	Elon
Saga Tuitele	Offensive line	2020	2020²	Portland State
Mike Viti	Fullbacks	2016	2016	Army
Tucker Waugh	Slotbacks	2015	2007³	DePauw
Cody Worley	Quarterbacks	2020	2020	Furman
Defensive staff
	Defensive coordinator	2020	2020	Wofford
Cortney Braswell	Inside linebackers	2021	2021	Dalton State
Daryl Dixon	Cornerbacks	2019	2016	Florida
John Loose	Assistant head coach/outside linebackers	2020	2014⁴	Ithaca
Eric McDaniel	Defensive line	2021	2021	Purdue
	Co-defensive coordinator/safeties	2021	2020	Wofford
Special teams staff
Sean Saturnio	Special teams coordinator	2020	2014	Hawaii
Quality control staff
John French	Offensive Quality Control	2020	2020	Kentucky
Wes Fleming	Defensive Quality Control	2021	2021	St. Ambrose
Strength and conditioning staff
Scott Swanson	Director of strength and conditioning	1998	1998⁵	Wake Forest
Conor Hughes	Head Football Strength and Conditioning	2019	2017	Springfield (Mass.)
Tevin Geddis	Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning	2021	2021	Kansas State
Brandon Reyes	Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning	2020	2020	West Florida
Blair Vaughan	Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning	2020	2020	Western Kentucky
Robert Williams	Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning	2021	2021	Miami (OH)
Support staff
	Chief of Staff/director of football operations	2018	2018	Navy
MAJ Blake Powers	Admissions Support Officer	2018	2018	Indiana
Eric Sheridan	Offensive recruiting coordinator	2021	2021	Saint Francis
Delbert Tyler II	Defensive recruiting coordinator	2021	2021	Hampton
Cody Moore	Director of recruiting	2021	2021	Oklahoma Panhandle
	Director of player development	2021	2021	Army
Ayden Opfer	Graphic Content & Communications Coordinator	2021	2021	Bowling Green
Nick So'oto	On-Campus Recruiting coordinator	2021	2021	LSU
Josh Smick	Director of Video Operations and Analytics	2021	2021	Clemson
Faith Hoover	Director of Video Operations and Analytics	2021	2021	Virginia Tech

Keith Gaither also served as the wide receivers coach at Army from 2015 to 2016
Saga Tuitele also served as the offensive line coach at Army from 2007 to 2008.
Tucker Waugh also served as the wide receivers coach at Army from 2000 to 2004.
John Loose also served as the linebackers coach at Army from 1992 to 1999.
Scott Swanson also served as an assistant strength & conditioning coach at Army from 1995 to 1996.

Source:^[9]

Roster

The Army football roster for the Week 1 game at Georgia State (as of August 30, 2021):^[10]

2021 Army West Point Black Knights roster

Quarterback

1 Jabari Laws, Senior (5'9, 180)
2 Tyhier Tyler, Junior (5'8, 185)
3 Ahlon Mitchell, Freshman (5'11, 180)
4 Christian Anderson, Senior (6'1, 195)
6 RJ Rosales, Freshman (5'8, 180)
7 Jemel Jones, Junior (5'10, 205)
9 Maurice Bellan, Junior (5'10, 185)
10 Gary Phillips, Freshman (6'0, 205)
16 Bryson Daily, Freshman (6'0, 220)
17 Simeon Evans, Freshman (6'0, 200)
18 Cade Ballard, Sophomore (5'9, 205)

Slot Back

5 A.J. Howard, Senior (6'0, 200)
8 Braheam Murphy, Junior (5'10, 185)
11 Brandon Walters, Senior (5'11, 180)
19 Laquan Veney, Freshman (5'11, 185)
21 Tyrell Robinson, Sophomore (5'9, 180)
22 Miles Stewart, Freshman (5'10, 200)
25 Markens Pierre, Senior (5'11, 205)
26 Bishop Johnson, Freshman (5'9, 165)
27 Markel Johnson, Freshman (5'8, 200)
28 Justin Lescouflair, Junior (5'10, 190)
30 Lucky Brooks, Freshman (5'10, 210)
37 Tyler Brennan, Sophomore (5'11, 200)
39 Ay'Jaun Marshall, Sophomore (5'11, 190)
43 TJ Rotello, Freshman (5'11, 190)

Fullback

23 Anthony Adkins, Sophomore (6'1, 245)
31 Jarel Dickson, Freshman (5'11, 235)
32 Tyson Riley, Sophomore (6'2, 260)
33 Jakobi Buchanan, Junior (6'0, 260)
34 AJ Williams, Freshman (6'0, 233)
40 Cade Barnard, Senior (6'3, 235)
42 Wilson Catoe, Senior (6'2, 245)
44 Lincoln Parker, Freshman (5'11, 230)
46 Shacori Williams, Sophomore (5'10, 225)

Wide receiver

13 Logan Burks, Freshman (6'6, 205)
14 Michael Roberts, Senior (6'3, 235)
15 Isaiah Gavin, Freshman (6'5, 187)
29 Cole Caterbone, Junior (6'1, 200)
38 Cam Schurr, Freshman (6'1, 190)
45 Casey Reynolds, Freshman (6'2, 200)
80 Ryan Jackovic, Junior (6'5, 220)
81 Brandon Jones, Sophomore (6'1, 210)
82 Veshe Daniyan, Junior (6'1, 190)
83 Reikan Donaldson, Junior (6'2, 190)
84 Isaiah Lige, Freshman
86 Isaiah Alston, Sophomore (6'4, 200)
87 Sean Eckert, Senior (6'3, 220)
89 Jalen Moy, Senior (6'4, 210)

Long snapper

50 Ryan Aguilar, Junior (6'2, 225)
69 Cole McCutcheon, Sophomore (5'11, 200)
77 Patrick Szczesniak, Junior (6'2, 225)

Kicker

29 Quinn Maretzki, Sophomore (5'10, 170)
94 Cole Talley, Junior (6'0, 200)
95 Trey Gronotte, Freshman (6'0, 180)
98 Tyler Johnson, Freshman (5'9, 182)
97 Richard McDermott, Freshman
99 Matthew Rhodes, Freshman (6'5, 200)

Tight end

84 Simon Dellinger, Sophomore (6'3, 265)
85 Chris Cameron, Senior (6'4, 265)
88 Joshua Lingenfelter, Sophomore (6'3, 250)

Offensive lineman

49 Danny Joiner, Freshman (6'2, 250)
50 Cooper Smith, Freshman (6'2, 285)
51 Kamaron Holloway, Senior (6'3, 280)
52 Davis Wulf, Freshman (6'1, 270)
53 Bill Katsigiannis, Freshman (6'1, 255)
54 Kaleb Luna, Freshman (6'3, 312)
55 Chris Hunter, Freshman (6'1, 270)
56 Mason Kolinchak, Senior (6'2, 275)
57 Connor Bishop, Junior (6'3, 280)
58 Sam Barczak, Junior (6'2, 275)
59 Will Jeffcoat, Freshman (6'2, 285)
60 Connor Finucane, Sophomore (6'4, 290)
62 Jono Horvath, Freshman (6'2, 260)
62 Aidan Perkins, Sophomore (6'2, 250)
63 Ben Koch, Junior (6'6, 285)
64 Beau Lombardi, Sophomore (6'2, 280)
65 Noah Knapp, Senior (6'0, 280)
67 Dean Powell, Senior (6'1, 285)
68 Jackson Filipowicz, Sophomore (6'3, 275)
69 Matthew Adoghe, Freshman (6'3, 320)
70 Zach Ward, Senior (6'6, 275)
71 David Hoyt, Freshman (6'4, 275)
71 Matthew Robbins, Freshman (6'5, 260)
72 Grady Chapman, Junior (6'4, 285)
72 Aidan Gaines, Sophomore (6'0, 285)
73 Dayton Baugh, Sophomore (6'4, 280)
75 David Hayward, Sophomore (6'3, 260)
77 Jordyn Law, Sophomore (6'4, 285)
78 Shayne Buckingham, Sophomore (6'4, 275)
79 Collin Morrison, Freshman (6'5, 250)
90 Will Montesi, Freshman (6'2, 225)

Defensive lineman

52 Austin Hill, Sophomore (6'1, 265)
59 Henry Janeway, Junior (6'4, 250)
73 Releigh Oxendine, Freshman (6'1, 270)
75 Tavo Gallardo, Freshman (6'0, 280)
76 Grayson Gilder, Sophomore (6'1, 280)
76 Charlie Rolenc, Freshman (6'1, 266)
79 Nikai Butler, Sophomore (6'2, 275)
81 Luc Rameau, Freshman (6'1, 230)
83 Lucas Scott, Freshman (6'3, 250)
84 Khalil Miller, Freshman (6'3, 250)
85 David Crossan, Freshman (6'3, 240)
86 Matthew Jordan, Freshman (6'2, 260)
87 Trey Sofia, Freshman (6'6, 240)
88 Dre Miller, Freshman (6'3, 260)
89 Kyle Lewis, Freshman (6'3, 240)
90 Malik James, Freshman (6'1, 287)
91 Ryan Duran III, Senior (6'5, 270)
92 Isaiah Filisi, Sophomore (6'3, 295)
93 Tyler Komorowski, Junior (6'3, 290)
95 (C) Nolan Cockrill, Senior (6'3, 290)
96 Darius Richardson, Junior (6'2, 275)
97 Kwabena Bonsu, Senior (6'4, 285)
99 Chris Frey, Junior (6'5, 280)

Punter

37 Brooks Hosea, Senior (6'0, 175)
46 Zach Harding, Senior (6'5, 225)
90 Billy Boehlke, Sophomore (5'9, 205)

Linebacker

20 Terrell Taylor, Freshman (5'11, 210)
22 Malik Birchett, Freshman (6'1, 225)
26 Josiah Banks, Freshman (6'1, 200)
32 Branson Owens, Freshman (5'11, 217)
33 Hamilton Baker, Sophomore (6'1, 220)
36 Shepherd Bowling, Freshman (6'0, 200)
36 Peyton Hampton, Junior (6'1, 235)
37 Blane Cleaver, Freshman (6'2, 215)
38 Brandon Castro, Freshman (5'11, 180)
39 Tyler Rafferty, Freshman (6'3, 215)
40 Camden Vining, Freshman (6'0, 235)
42 Brett Gerena, Freshman (6'0, 220)
43 Jackson Powell, Sophomore (6'0, 235)
45 Spencer Jones, Sophomore (6'1, 240)
46 Kalvyn Crummie, Freshman (6'1, 235)
49 Kemonte Yow, Senior (6'1, 240)
50 Gregory Johnson III, Freshman (5'11, 220)
51 Brian Burton, Freshman (5'10, 218)
53 (C) Arik Smith, Senior (6'0, 235)
54 Camden O'Gara, Sophomore (6'0, 230)
55 Trey Stephens, Sophomore (6'0, 225)
57 Harrison Thomas, Freshman (6'0, 232)
58 Keeron Henderson, Sophomore (6'2, 225)
74 Bo Kite, Freshman (6'2, 232)

Outside linebacker

2 Malkelm Morrison, Senior (5'10, 190)
7 Jimmy Ciarlo, Sophomore (6'2, 210)
18 Cole Mabry, Junior (6'2, 215)
30 Daryan McDonald, Junior (6'0, 225)
34 Andre Carter II, Junior (6'7, 250)
38 Fabrice Voyne, Junior (6'2, 235)
44 Nathaniel Smith, Junior (6'3, 260)
47 Jonzell Prudhomme, Sophomore (6'2, 225)
48 Jaylen Jacobs, Sophomore (6'2, 225)

Cornerback

1 Daelan Smith, Sophomore (5'10, 185)
3 Julian McDuffie, Senior (5'11, 185)
4 Jabari Moore, Sophomore (5'11, 195)
6 Caleb John, Senior (5'10, 195)
10 Cameron Jones, Junior (5'9, 180)
13 Bo Nicholas-Paul, Sophomore (5'11, 190)
17 Isaiah Morris, Junior (5'11, 185)
34 B.J. Smothers, Freshman

Defensive back

5 Damon Washington, Freshman (5'11, 189)
8 Spencer Williams, Freshman (6'0, 190)
9 Kahleef Jimmison, Freshman (5'9, 180)
11 Tommy Zitiello, Freshman (6'2, 203)
13 Donovon Blow, Freshman (5'11, 192)
14 Jordan Burrell, Freshman (6'0, 195)
16 D'Andre Tobias, Junior (5'11, 200)
19 Aaron Bibbins, Sophomore (6'1, 200)
20 (C) Marquel Broughton, Junior (5'10, 205)
21 Chance Keith, Freshman (5'11, 190)
22 (C) Cedrick Cunningham Jr., Senior (6'0, 215)
23 Cade Patton, Freshman (5'10, 155)
25 Mike Cerniauskas, Freshman (5'11, 210)
26 Quindrelin Hammonds, Sophomore (6'0, 190)
27 Deante Bernard, Sophomore (5'11, 190)
28 Max DiDomenico, Freshman (6'0, 200)
29 Adam Cash, Freshman (5'11, 215)
31 Leo Lowin, Sophomore (6'0, 215)
39 Tavores Pearson, Senior (5'9, 185)

Depth chart

The Army football depth chart for the 2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs. Missouri (as of December 19, 2021):^[11]

True freshman
Double position : *

Notes and References

Web site: Lott IMPACT Trophy Announces 2021 Watch List . The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation . LottIMPACTTrophy.org . June 15, 2021 . August 12, 2021.
Web site: 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List Unveiled. . Sportswriters.net . July 27, 2021 . July 27, 2021.
Web site: 2021 Outland Trophy Watch List Unveiled. . Sportswriters.net . July 27, 2021 . July 27, 2021.
Web site: Augusta Sports Council Announces 2021 Ray Guy Award Pre-Season Watch List . Augusta Sports Council . RayGuyAward.com . July 28, 2021 . July 31, 2021.
Web site: 57 Players Named to 2021 Paul Hornung Award Watch List . Louisville Sports Commission . LouisvilleSports.org . July 29, 2021 . July 31, 2021 . July 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210729150819/https://www.louisvillesports.org/ph-article/57-players-named-to-2021-paul-hornung-award-watch-list/ . dead .
Web site: Football's Jabari Laws Named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List . USMA Athletic Department . GoArmyWestPoing.com . July 29, 2021 . July 31, 2021.
Web site: 2021 Army Black Knights Football Schedule . GoArmyWestPoint.com . USMA Athletic Department . September 21, 2021.
Web site: In the annual football uniform dispute, 2021 Army trumps Navy. 3 December 2021.
Web site: 2021 Army Black Knights Coaching Staff . USMA Athletic Department . July 26, 2021.
Web site: 2021 Football Roster . USMA Athletics Department . August 30, 2021.
Web site: Missouri vs. Army (2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl) – Game Notes . USMA Athletics Department . December 19, 2021 . December 23, 2021.