2004 Army Football Preview

Seth Gulsby/Carlton Jones

It didn?t take the first spring practice under head coach Bobby Ross to breathe new life into the lungs of Army?s football program. That phenomenon transpired last Dec. 9, when the legendary gridiron mentor was introduced as the Black Knights? 34th head coach, handed the keys to a proud program that had fallen on hard times.

Ross? arrival along the banks of the Hudson created an immediate ?buzz? around the college football world, stoked the cooling embers of a unit that had struggled to find its way in recent years. When an individual with a proven track record the likes of Ross takes control, success generally follows closely behind.

A tried and tested architect of football majesties, Ross has crafted a hall of fame career out of building championship programs, applied his meticulous formula for success at both the college and professional levels. Following a brief respite from the daily rigors of coaching, Ross has returned to the lifestyle so ingrained in his fabric, so natural to his being. With a boundless sense of energy, unbridled enthusiasm and the ever-present diligence so crucial to his past prosperity, Ross has quickly shaped the face of this Army program in his own winning persona.

It is the promise of those future riches that has vitalized all those associated with the Black Knights, from the youngest fan to the oldest general.

?They say confidence comes from winning, but even before that if you don?t have the winning, it?s got to come from preparation,? Ross explains. ?When I first got here, I asked the players, ?How many of you want to win?? All of them raised their hands. Then I asked, ?How many of you want to prepare to win??

?I remind the players all the time, when you go into an exam and you?re prepared, you feel pretty good, you feel pretty confident. If you?re not prepared, you don?t feel very confident. So we?re REALLY going to stress the preparation phase of things. The next thing is for us to play with great effort. That?s something that we all have control over. Sometimes people think they have an understanding of effort, but they may not understand effort. When I talk about effort, I?m going to talk about commitment, and it?s not a part of what I can do. It?s ALL of what I can do. I?m not just talking about a part of me, I?m talking about ALL of me. I?m really going to be persistent in that. That is going to be a key and important part of things for us. Big plays and good things don?t happen automatically?you make them happen, and it starts with effort.

?I told our players, every game that we take the field, we?re going to talk about playing from the bottom of our heels to the top of our heads, and leave a little bit of ourselves out there. If we do that and we play well, we?ll be OK, we really will. We can?t beat ourselves, that?s going to be a huge factor. The other factor is that I want us to be a tough football team, I mean a REALLY TOUGH football team.?

Ross entered his first spring practice session at the Army helm with modest goals in mind. He wanted to introduce his offensive and defensive systems, evaluate personnel, create a work ethic and develop mental and physical toughness amongst his players. According to Ross his club successfully met each of those initiatives, despite injuries to several key players that precluded their involvement in spring drills.

?All of those things were accomplished,? he says. ?It was a very good spring on a number of different fronts. We surpassed the expectations I held heading into things. We made progress. All in all, it was a successful spring. I feel good about it.

?One of the real keys for this team is to cut down on turnovers and mental mistakes. I was very pleased with the progress we made in both of those areas as the spring progressed. We cannot be a team that beats itself. We?re really trying to make that a huge issue with this team.?

It certainly should be. Army has led the country in turnovers each of the last two seasons, committing a whopping 78 giveaways during that span. Additionally, the Black Knights have been haunted by ill-timed penalties and blown assignments the past several years.

Another point of emphasis for Ross and his coaching staff during the spring was the development of a productive running attack. Army ranked last nationally in rushing a year ago, averaging just 63.5 ground yards per game. But gone is the passive one-back scheme that failed to yield a consistent rushing threat, replaced instead by a shiny new two-back set designed with a power running game in mind. Ross has repeatedly stressed the need for an effective running game and the benefits drawn from such an attack, but he?s also preached balance.

?I think we have a good, solid running attack, which is one of the real keys to the success of our football team, and I like our backs a great deal,? Ross states firmly. ?A good running game does a number of things for us: first of all, it helps to develop toughness of mind and I think that?s very important. Secondly, it keeps the defense off the field. And finally, it complements our throwing game. I do not want to be one-dimensional, that?s for sure. I think a solid running game will greatly help our current passing attack.

?We certainly got more accomplished in the running game than I thought we would entering the spring. I am very pleased with that phase of our offense. We have the makings of being very productive in the running game.?

One area that remains unsettled, though is the quarterback position. Ross and his staff began the spring utilizing eight different players at the spot in an effort to provide every quarterback in the program a fair chance at competing for the starting berth. Midway through spring drills, he whittled the number of those competing for the starting job to three?junior Zac Dahman and seniors Reggie Nevels and Matt Silva?ensuring those players received the majority of the repetitions the rest of the way. But none of the three distanced himself from the others, so the job will remain open heading into preseason camp.

?Things haven?t cleared up at that position,? Ross admits. ?As we got it watered down, the top three received more ?reps? and when they received more ?reps? they got better. That has a lot to do with the development of our passing game. Right now our running game is ahead of our passing game and the unsettled nature of our quarterback position has a lot to do with it.

?My biggest concern overall at this point will be our development at quarterback. Each of those young men has made an improvement in the area they might have been weakest in. But we?re striving for consistency of accuracy. Part of that comes from knowing what they have to do on every play, and they?re still learning that within our system. Their learning curve has been hampered somewhat because we?re still working three players at the position. But I don?t know any other way to do it. We?ll go into the first week of preseason camp with all three, then we?ll have to make a decision based on which one is playing the best and which one has retained the most.?

There?s no such uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball, where Ross broke spring camp feeling optimistic about his club?s fortunes. Featuring a four-man front and four defenders along the back as well, Army?s new stop scheme promises to employ more zone coverage than the recent past, a system better suited to the players currently in the Black Knights? program.

?I?d say we did pretty well defensively during the spring,? Ross mentions. ?We?re a little undersized up front so we?ll have to do some different things against the run to protect against that, but we did those things well. Our defense played with excellent pad level this spring. I also thought that our general overall tackling improved, which is another indication of toughness and a key to stopping big plays. The secondary played well in the spring. It is a position of experience and I feel good about it right now.

?I was very pleased with the way we worked defensively. Our effort was really good. I expected that and we lived up to my expectations. We were a very aggressive group and we played with a lot of intensity. I think we?ll be pretty competitive, but my biggest concern is our lack of size.?

One of Ross? most pointed missions entering the spring was to develop a fairly structured three-deep at every position by the time the Black Knights? broke from their month-long training session. With the exception of the quarterback position, the long-time field boss feels his team?s depth chart on both sides of the ball has begun to take shape.

?One of our goals going into the spring was to establish a depth chart,? Ross states. ?I think we came out of things in pretty good shape in that area as well. Quarterback is perhaps the only position where there is not a clear-cut one-two-three situation.

?We accomplished more than I thought we would overall during the spring. Offensively, we?ve come along farther in the running game, and we?re probably about where I expected we?d be in the passing game. I was pleased with our performance on defense as well. It?s been fun for me. I love being on the field. Working with these young men is fun. They?re responsive; they take to coaching; and they work very hard. I?ve been very pleased with that. Their effort has been outstanding. Those things just have to carry over into the season. If we can get our injured players back healthy, we have a chance to be pretty competitive.

?One of the real keys for us this summer is to make sure our players continue to get their workouts in and do everything possible to stay on track regarding their continued development. What we can?t do is ?undo? everything that?s already been done. That is huge. That is an extremely important part of it. And it?s going to be very important that we maintain a top level of conditioning. We?re going to work very hard at it. I?m not going to pass up on a chance to get better. I?m going to tell you that right now.?

It?s a familiar formula for Bobby Ross, an impassioned drive for success that has helped fashion football fortunes everywhere he?s been. Army?s players and fans alike strongly believe this latest stop will yield similar riches. The excitement surrounding Michie Stadium these days says as much.

Offensive Overview
Quarterback

An area that has featured a great degree of turbulence the past several years will remain unsettled entering preseason camp.

Head coach Bobby Ross began spring drills utilizing eight different quarterbacks. Part of that reasoning was to accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of every player he had inherited from last year?s squad, another part was to provide each young man with a fair chance to compete for the starting position.

Midway through spring drills, Ross and his staff pared the number of those vying for the lead role to three?junior Zac Dahman and seniors Reggie Nevels and Matt Silva. But none of the three separated himself from the others over the final weeks of spring practice and the starting job remains open heading into preseason camp.

Dahman has received the bulk of the playing time the past two years, in large part due to the leg injuries that have hounded Nevels during that period. Dahman has made 15 career starts, completed 51.5 percent of his passes and established new single season Academy records for pass attempts (436) and completions (230) a year ago. He could be the Black Knights? most accurate passer, but lacks the mobility Nevels? natural athleticism provides.

Despite breaking preseason camp as Army?s starter the past two years, Nevels has been limited to just eight starts during his Army career due to physical ailments. He injects a welcomed dose of speed and quickness into the Black Knights? lineup and boasts the type of creativity Ross craves in his quarterback. But Nevels must improve on his overall consistency in order to claim the starter?s role. He capped the spring in strong fashion, completing 7 of 8 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns while working with Army?s second team offense in the ?Black/Gold? scrimmage.

Silva, meanwhile, has seen spot duty the past two years and could lay claim to the top job with a solid preseason camp. He features a strong throwing arm and the ability to move a team downfield. Junior Connor Crehan and sophomore Chase Laws round out the top five players at the position.

?Quarterback is still the big question mark for us,? Ross says. ?Some of that is because we started working out eight players at the position. I list the top three alphabetically right now. I won?t list them any other way, because I just don?t know at this time. Dahman and Silva had decent springs and Nevels has a lot of ability and has worked hard. He?s got a good arm and a nice, quick release, but has been inconsistent. He was very solid during our spring game and moved our second team offense down the field for two scores. That was very good to see.

?We?re just going to have to continue to work hard and see what develops. We?ll go into the first week of preseason camp with all three competing for the starting job. Then we?ll make a decision and give one young man the majority of the snaps to prepare as the starter.?

Fullback
Based on the fact that Army did not employ a fullback in recent years while operating out of a one-back set, head coach Bobby Ross held concerns regarding his options at the position entering spring workouts. Ross was confident in his ability to uncover a quality running back on the Black Knights? roster, but remained uncertain of the presence of a player that possessed the skills necessary to flourish at fullback.

Those fears were allayed at the outset of spring camp thanks to the emergence of sophomore Tielor Robinson. A backup at running back last season, Robinson saw action in all 13 games and finished third on the squad with 91 rushing yards. He also displayed soft hands out of the Black Knights? backfield, registering 12 receptions.

Robinson boasts an outstanding blend of power and quickness and promises to receive playing time at both running back and fullback in Ross? new two-back system.

?Fullback was a great concern entering spring practice,? Ross states. ?But Tielor Robinson really stepped up this spring. He is a very good football player and will see playing time at running back and fullback. He is a 220-pounder that runs hard and has good speed for his size. He has excellent hands and is a very aggressive blocker. I?ve been very pleased with him. I think he?s going to be a ?big-time? player for us.?

In an effort to help bolster the overall numbers of his squad, Ross adopted a page from former head coach Jim Young?s program-building manual and held open tryouts within the Corps of Cadets. In addition to boosting the sheer volume of players on his roster, Ross was hoping to uncover a few players that might help fill holes on his squad. The legendary mentor may have discovered one of those hidden ?gems? in senior Gary Whidden. A ?walk-on? with no previous varsity experience, Whidden provided much-needed depth at the fullback position this spring. He features an excellent burst at the line of scrimmage and demonstrated the skill level and toughness necessary to contribute this fall. Sophomore Jacob Miraldi rounds out the three-deep at the position after spending last season as a member of the Black Knights? scout team. Miraldi is another hard-nosed ?grinder? who blocks with a fury and may see significant playing time during goal-line situations.

?We?ve had some ?walk-ons? that have come along and done well for us at fullback,? Ross offers. ?Whidden and Miraldi improved throughout the spring. All of our backs have decent size. None of them are light.?

Two other ?walk-ons,? B.J. Laney and Geoffrey Whitfield, also contributed during the spring and could factor into the mix during preseason camp.

Running Back
Junior Carlton Jones enjoyed the finest spring of any player on Army?s roster according to head coach Bobby Ross and his staff. Army?s leading rusher each of the past two seasons, Jones adapted extremely well to Ross? power running attack and displayed the skill set necessary to excel this fall.

A shifty runner with excellent quickness and a tireless work ethic, Jones boasts a keen field sense and strong knack for exploiting creases in an opponent?s defense. He is capable of gaining tough yards inside and boasts the speed required to rip off long-gainers. Presented with the coaching staff?s ?Sledgehammer Award,? at the end of spring, Jones helped establish a practice standard during the club?s first practice period under Ross? direction. The ?Sledgehammer Award? is presented to the Army player who ?consistently demonstrated the greatest physical and mental toughness during spring ball.? According to Ross, Jones fit the bill.

?Carlton Jones had a great spring. He runs hard, blocks well and catches the ball nicely out of the backfield. He?s got good speed and the ability to evade defenders. We thought his overall production this spring was very outstanding. His effort was superb throughout the entire spring. I?ve been very pleased with him.?

Seth Gulsby also authored a strong spring performance, impressing Ross and his coaches with a terrific work ethic and burning desire to compete. Gulsby carries a great deal of intensity into every snap and utilizes his plus speed effectively. The hard-charging junior amassed 54 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries during Army?s ?Black/Gold? scrimmage and put forth a solid case for playing time this fall.

?Gulsby is in the same mold as Jones,? Ross says. ?He?s not quite as advanced in the blocking aspect of things as Jones, but that?s because he started his career on defense. He will be a major contributor to our football team this fall.?

In addition to Jones and Gulsby, sophomore Tielor Robinson could also see playing time at running back. Listed as Army?s starter at fullback entering preseason camp, Robinson provides excellent depth and flexibility with his ability to handle both positions with equal acumen. Junior D.J. Blackledge also made a strong impression on the coaching staff this spring.

?I feel that our running backs are ?top-notch,?? Ross stresses. ?With those four players, we?re competitive with any football team at the position.?

Wide Receiver
All-Conference USA candidate Aaron Alexander heads Army?s corps of wide receivers. After utilizing three wideouts often times in recent years, the Black Knights promise to line up in two-receiver sets on most occasions in head coach Bobby Ross? new offensive scheme.

Standing 6-6 with excellent leaping skills, Alexander provides a dangerous aerial target in any system. The senior wideout established a new single season school record for receptions last fall (64), shattering a standard that was originally established in 1970. Alexander averaged 13.5 yards per catch and pulled down six scoring passes, one shy of the single season Academy record.

?Aaron Alexander will be one of our starters at wide receiver,? explains Ross. ?He probably made 10 ?circus catches? in the spring, ?big-time? catches. He can be a very good player in our system.?

Junior Bruce Brown and sophomore Walter Hill follow Alexander on the depth chart, with each battling for additional field duty when Army employs a three-wideout look. Hill registered 18 receptions in his debut season in the ?Black, Gold and Gray? last fall, while Brown has received limited game action during his first two seasons.

The battle for lead snaps at the other wide receiver slot will carry into the fall with juniors Blaine Cooper and Jacob Murphy topping the list of candidates. Both have displayed productive stretches during their careers in the ?Black, Gold and Gray.? Murphy started three games and registered 17 receptions before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last October, while Cooper filled a reserve role after drawing three starts as a freshman.

?We have good smart kids that block well at wide receiver,? Ross offers. ?Because we don?t have any ?blazers,? in the group, we must be good route-runners and we must be very well-timed.

?Our depth is pretty decent and we have a lot of receivers that are very similar. Bruce Brown is quick and Walter Hill is a precise route-runner. Blaine Cooper and Jacob Murphy also did some nice things this spring.?

Tight End
One of head coach Bobby Ross? greatest areas of concern entering spring practice, Army?s tight end picture yielded one of the veteran field boss? most pleasant surprises.

With incumbent Doug Horaist (6-3, 238) sidelined this spring due to a shoulder injury, sophomore Tim Dunn (6-4, 243) and junior Jared Ulekowski (6-3, 235) staked their claims to the starter?s berth. While neither player has received extensive field duty in the past, both emerged as potential starters based on impressive spring showings.

Dunn is the stronger run-blocker of the two, but Ulekowski might boast the softest hands on the squad.

A master technician, Dunn adapted extremely well to Army?s new offensive system. He is an excellent blocker and features the ability to catch the ball in traffic. Ulekowski, meanwhile, owns an excellent understanding of Ross? offensive schemes. A dangerous ball-catching weapon over the middle of the field, he registered five receptions for 96 yards in Army?s spring-ending ?Black/Gold? scrimmage and provides Army with a valuable dimension in the throwing game.

Although Dunn broke spring camp listed atop the depth chart, both players should see appreciable amounts of playing time this fall. Sophomore Chase McCoy (6-4, 254) will enter preseason camp listed third on the depth chart at the position.

?We went the entire spring at tight end with players that hadn?t really played that much in the past and I was really pleased with their performance,? comments Ross. ?I was particularly pleased with Tim Dunn and Jared Ulekowski. They have really taken to the position quite well. I was very worried about this area heading into the spring, because they really didn?t use a tight end that much in the past. In our system, the tight end must be a ?two-hatted? player. The tight end must be able to run-block and be a receiver.

?This area exceeded my expectations in a positive way. Dunn is a very good blocker and Ulekowski may have the best hands on the team. Both have become very good route-runners and they catch the ball well, particularly Ulekowski. He?s a good ?North-South? runner and turns upfield with the ball extremely well.?

Other players providing depth at tight end include sophomores Paul Padegimas (6-6, 244) and Quentin Willard (6-3, 205).

Offensive Line
With designs on developing a powerful running attack, head coach Bobby Ross entered spring practice casting a keen eye toward his club?s offensive line. Despite the absence of several impact players this spring due to injuries, Ross was pleased with the overall development of the Black Knights? front wall.

?I think the offensive line is the real key to our success, I really do,? Ross stresses. ?I?ve always believed that. Having said that, I think we made really huge strides in that area. I?m very pleased with where we?re at on the line.

?I was especially pleased with the way our players picked up our run-blocking schemes. I knew we would be reasonably good with our pass protections, but our guys have really come along nicely in the running game. They?ve taken it to heart and done some really nice things.?

All-conference candidate Joel Glover (6-5, 283) anchors the group from his left tackle position. A two-year starter, Glover has been Army?s most consistent performer up front since breaking into the lead cast as a sophomore and carries an 18-game starting string into his final campaign. Following a solid showing this spring, classmate Adam Wojcik (6-3, 282) appears to be the front-runner at left guard, while junior Justin Troy (6-2, 285) took advantage of an injury to last year?s starter at center, David Evetts (6-1, 275), and projects to the top job at that position. Troy, who assumed a starting role late last season after Evetts was originally injured, has made tremendous strides, and was voted the team?s most improved offensive player at the conclusion of spring drills. A healthy return by Evetts could result in a fierce battle for playing time at that spot.

?Right now, Justin Troy has made that a very competitive position,? Ross states. ?Justin can also play guard for us if we get in a pinch, so I think he is very valuable.?

On the right side of the line, junior Pete Bier (6-4, 289) and senior Seth Nieman (6-5, 292) will enter preseason camp listed as the starters at guard and tackle, respectively. Bier started much of last season at left guard, while Nieman manned the lead role at right tackle throughout last fall. Seniors Jake Holly (6-2, 286) and Andy Dytrych (6-2, 281) should also figure prominently after sitting out spring drills due to injuries. Holly began last season as the starter at right guard before suffering a knee injury during the second game of the season. He has been sidelined ever since, but is expected to be at full strength this fall. The same can be said for Dytrych, who replaced Holly in the Black Knights? lead cast, but sat out the spring due to a shoulder problem.

In all, Army?s most battle-tested unit sports eight different players that have started games during their collegiate careers. The veteran foursome of Glover (18), Nieman (13), Dytrych (12) and Bier (11) have combined to draw 54 starting assignments.

?Our offensive line is talented,? says Ross, ?and if we get those injured players back healthy this fall, I think we can have a very deep unit. Glover and Wojcik are real solid at left tackle and left guard, and I was very pleased with the development of Justin Troy at center. If Holly and Dytrych return at full strength, there will be excellent competition at the right guard position. Seth Nieman has dropped some weight and gained mobility as a result. I was very pleased with him as well.?

Ross also cited sophomores Nathan Collier (6-6, 294), Jonathan Connon (6-6, 313) and Sean Whaley (6-3, 253) at tackle, along with senior Regan Tatford (6-4, 285) and sophomores Scott Harris (6-4, 275), Miles Murray (6-2, 260) and Greg Arrowsmith (6-1, 265) at guard as having put forth productive spring efforts. That group will be responsible for providing Army?s depth up front.

Defensive Overview

Defensive Line
A host of battle-tested veterans return along the Black Knights? defensive line with no fewer than eight lettermen filling spots at the four positions listed on Army?s depth chart. Seniors Will Sullivan (6-3, 255) and Trey Landry (6-2, 281) head the group at left end and right tackle, respectively. Sullivan paced the Black Knights in both tackles for loss (13) and quarterback sacks (3) last fall, establishing himself as a dominant player along Army?s front wall. He battled through nagging shoulder and leg ailments this spring and could see playing time at either end or tackle. Landry put forth an inspired effort during spring drills and surfaced as one of the club?s most improved players on either side of the ball. Both head into preseason camp listed as starters.

?Will Sullivan is a very solid player,? head coach Bobby Ross mentions. ?He has gotten much bigger and much stronger. Landry really had an outstanding spring. I think he is a much better player than he was last season. It?s obvious he?s made a strong commitment to being very good, and it showed this spring.?

Junior Tommy Ryan (6-2, 266) enjoyed an excellent spring as well, splitting time between the tackle and end spots. Regardless of his position, Ryan is an emerging ?play-maker? and appears poised for a ?breakout? season within Army?s stop unit. He boasts a tireless ?motor? and brings a great deal of intensity into every snap.

?I really like Tommy Ryan,? Ross praises. ?He plays hard and is a real tough guy.?

Juniors Dan Evans (6-2, 275) and Doug Meyer (6-4, 250) shape up as the likely contenders to start opposite Landry at the other tackle spot. All that could change with the healthy return of senior end Odene Brathwaite (6-4, 269). An impressive physical specimen, Brathwaite has displayed flashes of brilliance throughout his West Point tenure. He battled knee and shoulder woes last fall and could provide Ross with another ?big-play? specialist up front should he return to his past form. In that scenario, Ryan would move back inside to tackle, a position to which he is best-suited.

?I was very pleased with the way we worked defensively this spring,? Ross explains. ?Our effort was very good and we were a good ?low-pad? team. We?re not big up front, so we?ll probably have to move around to protect ourselves a bit.

?My biggest concern is our lack of size. But if Odene (Brathwaite) comes back healthy and he?s playing to the level to which he?s capable, I think we?ll have a pretty competitive defensive line.?

Sophomore Cameron Craig (6-3, 236), a blossoming force on the edge, and classmate Alex Clamon (6-3, 237) line up as the top backups to Sullivan at the left end slot, while senior Ryan Johnson (6-1, 226) and sophomore Peter Harrington (6-5, 238) fill in behind Ryan at the other end position. Junior Seth Lotts (6-2, 244) and sophomores Wes Stewart (6-3, 273) and Travis Prikryl (6-3, 248) broke spring drills listed as the top reserves at tackle.

?I like some of our younger players up front,? says Ross. ?Cameron Craig, Alex Clamon and Travis Prikryl all had good springs. They can be solid contributors if they continue to develop within our system.?

Linebacker
Army will feature a two-linebacker look in head coach Bobby Ross? defensive system with senior letterwinners Greg Washington and Matt Maimone breaking spring camp as the starters at the ?sam? and ?mike? spots, respectively.
A ?big-play? specialist with a nose for the football, Washington ranked second among team tackle leaders last fall, piling up 129 stops. One of the Black Knights? most spirited leaders on and off the field, Washington boasts excellent speed and quickness and is a physical defender at the point of attack. He flies to the football and carries great heart and desire into the Black Knights? defensive huddle.

Maimone emerged as a potential starter during spring drills, raising the level of his play throughout the session. One of Ross? most pleasant surprises on the defensive side of the ball this spring, Maimone adjusted nicely to Army?s new stop scheme after shouldering reserve duty for the most part last fall. He was voted the defense?s most improved player at the conclusion of spring drills.

?Greg Washington had an outstanding spring,? states Ross. ?He consistently performed at a high level and is one of the leaders of our defense. Matt Maimone was the biggest surprise at the position. He really stepped up at ?mike? linebacker and played very well. He gives us a little size in there. He?s gotten a bit bigger and obviously stronger. His effort, intensity and skill level were outstanding the entire spring.?

Ross is also excited about the play of some of the younger linebackers in his program, particularly sophomore Cason Shrode and junior David Clamon at the ?mike? position and sophomores Barrett Scruggs and Felice Terrigno at the ?sam? spot.

Blessed with an excellent combination of size, speed and toughness, Shrode appears to be an impact player in the making, while Scruggs possesses excellent intangibles and is in the middle of every pile-up. A physical defender who enjoys contact, Clamon was voted the team?s most improved special teams player this spring.

?I like the younger players we have at linebacker,? Ross adds. ?We are very high on Cason Shrode and Barrett Scruggs. They both have a chance to be special players in the future. And David Clamon is one of the hardest workers, if not the hardest worker, on our squad. He is going to be a situational player for us. He?s a great ?effort? player and he?s very tough. He exudes a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm. He could end up being the captain of our special teams and will also play in some situations on defense. David is going to have a role for us, and it?s going to be a key role.?

A combination between a strong safety and an outside linebacker, head coach Bobby Ross has introduced the ?whip? position into Army?s defensive scheme. Several players that filled outside linebacker spots in the Black Knights? former 4-4 set converted easily to the new hybrid position with athletic senior Mikel Resnick and talented sophomore Randy Chasten emerging as the leading contenders for playing time.

A three-time letterwinner, Resnick split time between inside and outside linebacker in Army?s former defensive system and ranked fifth among team tackle leaders last fall. He boasts great speed and quickness and reacts instinctively to the football. Chasten harbors impressive natural ability and continues to improve with every practice session.

?Mikel Resnick runs very well,? says Ross. ?He?s one of the fastest players on our team and is very strong. He continues to learn the position and has done a good job. Behind him is a real talented young player in Randy Chasten. He?s just got to become more familiar with our system in order to be a major contributor.?

Junior ?walk-on? Cannon Woods rounds out the three-deep.

secondary
With the exception of the offensive line, Army?s defensive secondary rates as the squad?s most game-tested unit. Two of the most experienced members of that group?senior cornerbacks Jonathan Lewis and Delente Brewer?return for their final go-around. Both have held significant roles within Army?s defensive package since their freshman seasons and both will be counted on heavily to buoy the Black Knights? back line this fall.

While Lewis played cornerback in high school, Brewer arrived at the Academy as a quarterback before quickly converting to defense. The duo has combined for 43 game starts, with Brewer carrying a 17-game starting string into his final campaign.

A dependable ?play-maker,? Brewer listed eighth among team leaders in tackles last fall (58) and registered five pass breakups and two interceptions. Lewis struggled through an inconsistent junior season after he appeared on the verge of stardom the previous year. Both seem poised for standout senior showings.

Waiting in the wings should either falter is speedy junior Ray Stith, who supplanted Lewis in the lead cast early last season. Stith is a tough competitor who craves contact. He boasts excellent field sense and tremendous situational awareness. He should receive a lion?s share of snaps in either a starting or reserve capacity.

?Brewer, Lewis and Stith all had good springs,? Ross mentions. ?I think they can be very strong if they play with discipline.?

Twin brothers Chris and Sean Grevious will continue to gain valuable seasoning behind the lead trio. Both sophomores are blessed with great natural ability and are primed for future starting roles.

?Both of the Grevious brothers are developing well,? Ross says. ?In time, they will be solid players. They could see spot duty on defense and fill special teams roles this season.?

Army will feature a four-deep look within Ross? new defensive scheme, with a strong safety melded into the Black Knights? mix.

Hard-nosed senior Curt Daniels enters preseason camp as the top choice at the position after starting all 13 games at an outside linebacker spot last fall. A fiery competitor with a propensity to deliver the big hit, Daniels ranked seventh among team tackle leaders last fall with 67 stops and has transitioned nicely to his new surroundings at strong safety. He is a steady performer that will be counted on to provide veteran leadership. Junior Chuck Wilke and sophomore Luke Pell fill slots behind Daniels on the depth chart.

Junior Dhyan Tarver returns to his starting role at free safety following an impressive spring showing. Tarver boasts an exciting blend of speed and toughness and emerged as an impact player last fall when he listed fourth on the squad with 97 tackles. He will be supported by junior Rob Davis and fast-rising sophomore Bryan Vavruska. Davis split time this spring with Army?s baseball team, but remains a proven hitter who pursues the ball with a passion. Vavruska brings excellent size to Army?s back line and could emerge as a useful component in the Black Knights? revamped stop scheme.

?I like the talent we have at the safety positions,? Ross says. ?Curt Daniels is a solid player at free safety and Dhyan Tarver is excellent at free. I think we have some flexibility with Rob Davis, who can handle a couple of different positions. Bryan Vavruska put forth a strong spring and could factor in before long.?

Special Teams
Head coach Bobby Ross had hoped to break spring camp with definitive starters listed at every position on his depth chart, but the picture remains a bit muddied in several special teams areas.

Three spots appear firmly set entering preseason camp with junior Ray Stith poised to handle punt return duties, sophomore Austin Miller in line to shoulder kickoff chores and senior Brent McCorkle slated to return to his familiar long-snapping regimen.

Stith, the Black Knights? top punter returner last fall, features game-breaking speed and remains extremely comfortable beneath the ball. He averaged 9.5 yards per punt return a year ago, ripping off a 63-yard return for a touchdown in just his second career opportunity.

The strong-legged Miller blasted 27 of his 30 kickoff attempts inside the opponent?s 10-yard line last season and registered 17 touchbacks. His workload could increase significantly with the possibility of adding punting and placekicking duties to his resume this fall.

Tom Dyrenforth is expected to provide the most serious challenge at the punter spot. Like Miller, Dyrenforth boasts a powerful leg and continues to improve his ?get-off? and ?hang? times.

Miller?s booming right leg has landed him squarely in the scrap for the team?s placekicking job as well. He could assume those duties with increased consistency. His top challengers for that role appear to be junior Joe Riley, who missed the majority of last season due to injury, and fiery sophomore Justin Koenig.

?Placekicking-wise, Austin Miller is probably the leading guy,? Ross offers. ?Justin Koenig has done a good job, but Miller has been our top performer. The punting job remains up for grabs. Miller has really improved in that area and Tom Dyrenforth enjoyed a good spring. That job will probably be decided during preseason camp.?

Ross must find a replacement for kickoff return specialist William White after Army?s career leader in both kickoff returns and kickoff return yardage left the program citing ?personal reasons? following spring practice. Junior Scott Wesley spelled White on kickoff returns briefly a year ago and could earn the full-time job this fall. Stith could provide the chief competition for the job, along with senior Scott Eden.

Sophomore Chase Laws and senior Matt Silva are the leading candidates to serve as Army?s holder on field goal and conversion attempts, a role filled flawlessly by Wesley Willard the past three years.