Army aims to extend roll
Good ground game plus easy schedule should lead to wins
Jeff Monken has molded Army into a consistent winner, revamping a program that went through a long stretch of futility.
The Black Knights have put together back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time in school history. The team also was ranked in the Associated Press top-25 rankings last season for the first time since 1996, and the No. 19 ranking was the highest since 1985.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2019 season. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 26: Army
Coach: Jeff Monken (35-28, entering sixth season; 73-44 overall)
2018 record:
11-2
(Independent)
Look back: Following the program’s first 10-win season since 1996, Army entered the 2018 campaign riding a wave of optimism. The Black Knights were coming off victories in backto-back bowl games for the first time since the mid-1980s. And the enthusiasm wasn’t dampened even after losing two of their first four games. Instead the team rolled off eight straight wins, including the third straight in its longstanding rivalry with Navy. Army capped the season in style with a win in its school-record third consecutive bowl game.
Offensive starters 7
Offensive starters lost: 4
Defensive starters 4
returning: returning:
Key losses: FB Darnell Woolfolk, FB Andy Davidson, RB Jordan Asberry, LB James Nachtigal, DB James Gibson, LB Chandler Ramirez, DB Max Regan, LB Kenneth Brinson, DT Wunmi Oyetuga, DB Mike Reynolds
Top returnees: QB Kelvin Hopkins Jr., RB Kell Walker, WR Kjetil Cline, WR Cam Harrison, OL Jaxson Deaton, OL Peyton Reeder, OL JB Hunter, LB Cole Christiansen, DB Elijah Riley, DB Javhari Bourdeau, DB Jaylon McClinton
Strengths: Once again, Army finished among the national leaders in rushing offense after averaging more than 312 yards on the ground last season. It was the third straight year in which a Cadets team finished ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in total rushing offense in the country.
Kelvin Hopkins Jr. made a seamless transition in the starting quarterback role, stepping in for the departed Ahmad Bradshaw. Hopkins led the team in rushing yards (1,017) and rushing touchdowns (17) and the junior became the first
Weaknesses: Army finished with a top-10 defense last season after allowing less than 18 points and 300 yards of total offense per game. The Black Knights allowed just over 100 yards per game on the ground, with the unit allowing less