2021 Army Black Knights football team

The 2021 Army Black Knights football team will represent the United States Military Academy in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Black Knights will be led by eighth-year head coach Jeff Monken and will play their home games at Michie Stadium. They will compete as an independent.

2021 Army Black Knights football
Conference	Independent
2021 record	0–0
Head coach	Jeff Monken (8th season)
Offensive coordinator	Brent Davis (8th season)
Offensive scheme	Triple option
Defensive coordinator	Nate Woody (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Greg Gasparato (2nd season)
Base defense	3–4 Multiple
Home stadium	Michie Stadium (Capacity: 38,000)

2021 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Army			–						0	–	0
BYU			–						0	–	0
Liberty			–						0	–	0
New Mexico State			–						0	–	0
Notre Dame			–						0	–	0
UConn			–						0	–	0
UMass			–						0	–	0
As of February 4, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll.

Previous season

The Black Knights finished the 2020 season with a record of 9–3, winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the third time in four years following back-to-back victories over Navy and Air Force. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl where they were defeated by West Virginia, 21–24.

Preseason

Coaching changes

The first offseason coaching move was made on January 3, 2021 when new Illinois head coach Bret Bielema announced he had hired Army defensive line coach Tenarius "Tank" Wright to serve as his Director of Football Strength and Conditioning. Wright had previously served in that position for Bielema at Arkansas.[1] Two weeks later, Wright hired Army assistant strength and conditioning coach GC Yerry to the same role at Illinois.[2] On February 1, Sal Interdonato (owner/operator of Black Knight Nation and former beat writer for the Times Herald-Record) reported that Coach Monken and Coach Woody had hired Appalachian State outside linebackers (OLB) coach Cortney Braswell to serve as the replacement for Wright as defensive line coach.[3][4] Prior to working at Appalachian State as OLB coach in 2020, Braswell served as a defensive quality control coach at Louisville in 2019 and as a high school head coach in the years before that.

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	First year position	First year Army	Alma Mater
Jeff Monken	Head Coach	2014	2014	Millikin
Offensive staff
Brent Davis	Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line	2014	2014	Georgia
Matt Drinkall	Tight Ends	2020	2019	Western Illinois–Quad Cities
Keith Gaither	Wide Receivers	2020	2020^1	Elon
Saga Tuitele	Offensive Line	2020	2020^2	Portland State
Mike Viti	Fullbacks	2016	2016	Army
Tucker Waugh	Slotbacks	2015	2007^3	DePauw
Cody Worley	Quarterbacks	2020	2020	Furman
Defensive staff
Nate Woody	Defensive Coordinator	2020	2020	Wofford
Daryl Dixon	Cornerbacks	2019	2016	Florida
Greg Gasparato	Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties	2020	2020	Wofford
John Loose	Assistant Head Coach/Outside Linebackers	2020	2014^4	Ithaca
Shiel Wood	Inside Linebackers	2020	2020	Wofford
Cortney Braswell	Defensive Line	2021	2021	Dalton State
Special teams staff
Sean Saturnio	Special Teams Coordinator	2020	2014	Hawaii
Quality control staff
John French	Offensive Quality Control	2020	2020	Kentucky
Al Ades	Defensive Quality Control	2020	2020	Michigan
Strength and conditioning staff
Scott Swanson	Director of Strength & Conditioning	1998	1998^5	Wake Forest
Conor Hughes	Head Football Strength & Conditioning	2019	2017	Springfield (Mass.)
Colin Kenyon	Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning	2019	2019	Merrimack
Brandon Reyes	Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning	2020	2020	West Florida
Blair Vaughan	Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning	2020	2020	Western Kentucky
	Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning
Support staff
Clayton Kendrick-Holmes	Chief of Staff/Director of Football Operations	2018	2018	Navy
CPT Zachary Reichert	Assistant Director of Football Operations	2019	2019	Army
CPT Blake Powers	Admissions Support Officer	2018	2018	Indiana
Ray Maples	Director of Player Development	2020	2020	Army
Mike Sullivan	Director of Recruiting	2020	1995^6	Army
Tanner Dupuis	Assistant Director of Recruiting/Content	2019	2019	Georgia Southern
Joe Manion	Director of Recruiting Operations	2019	2019	Saint Joseph's
Danny Payne	Director of Scouting	2017	2017	Kennesaw State
Rob De Los Santos	Director of Content Marketing/Recruiting Assistant	2020	2020	East Stroudsburg
Greg Svarczkopf	Director of On-Campus Recruiting	2020	2020	Indiana
Jack O'Reilly	Director of Video Operations	2018	2018	Clemson
Michael Zeoli	Assistant Director of Video Operations	2017	2017	William Paterson

1. Keith Gaither also served as the wide receivers coach at Army from 2015 to 2016
2. Saga Tuitele also served as the offensive line coach at Army from 2007 to 2008.
3. Tucker Waugh also served as the wide receivers coach at Army from 2000 to 2004.
4. John Loose also served as the linebackers coach at Army from 1992 to 1999.
5. Scott Swanson also served as an assistant strength & conditioning coach at Army from 1995 to 1996.
6. Mike Sullivan also served at Army as the defensive backs coach from 1999 to 2000 and the linebackers coach from 1995 to 1996.

Source:[5]

Roster

The Army football roster for the 2021 spring semester (as of January 3, 2021):[6]

2021 Army Black Knights roster
Quarterback   1 Jabari Laws, Senior (5'9, 185)   2 Tyhier Tyler, Junior (5'8, 185)   4 Christian Anderson, Senior (6'1, 195)   7 Jemel Jones, Junior (5'10, 210)   8 Christian Parrish, Sophomore (6'0, 210)   9 Maurice Bellan, Junior (5'10, 190) 13 Bryson Daily, Sophomore (6'1, 220) 15 Jaylon West, Sophomore (6'1, 180) 16 Alijah Curtis, Sophomore (5'10, 190) 18 Cade Ballard, Junior (5'9, 205) 19 Delshawn Traylor, Sophomore (5'10, 195) Slot Back   5 A.J. Howard, Senior (6'0, 205) 11 Brandon Walters, Senior (5'11, 185) 15 Braheam Murphy, Junior (5'10, 185) 21 Tyrell Robinson, Sophomore (5'9, 180) 22 Aaron Adams, Sophomore (5'8, 170) 25 Markens Pierre, Senior (5'11, 205) 27 Bo Turner, Sophomore (5'10, 175) 28 Justin Lescouflair, Junior (5'10, 190) 36 Keiran Grant, Sophomore (5'10, 190) 39 Ay'Juan Marshall, Sophomore (5'11, 190) 42 Shacori Williams, Sophomore (5'10, 220) Fullback 23 Anthony Adkins, Junior (6'1, 255) 30 Cole Truex, Junior (6'2, 240) 33 Jakobi Buchanan, Junior (6'0, 260) 38 Tyson Riley, Sophomore (6'2, 260) 40 Cade Barnard, Senior (6'3, 235) 44 Nick Mell, Sophomore (6'2, 235) Wide Receiver   9 Brandon Jones, Sophomore (6'1, 205) 14 Michael Roberts, Senior (6'3, 235) 29 Cole Caterbone, Junior (6'1, 200) 80 Ryan Jackovic, Junior (6'5, 220) 82 Veshe Daniyan, Junior (6'1, 200) 83 Reikan Donaldson, Junior (6'2, 190) 85 Andrew Bruster-Young, Sophomore (5'11, 205) 86 Isaiah Alston, Sophomore (6'4, 200) 87 Sean Eckert, Senior (6'3, 220) 89 Jalen Moy, Senior (6'4, 210)      Antonio White, Sophomore Long Snapper 49 Patrick Szczesniak, Junior (6'2, 240) 83 Ryan Aguilar, Junior (6'2, 240) 85 Cole McCutcheon, Sophomore (5'11, 195) Kicker 29 Quinn Maretzki, Sophomore 96 Cole Talley, Junior (6'0, 205) 99 Andrew Bagley, Junior (5'11, 190)		Tight End 43 Joshua Lingenfelter, Sophomore (6'3, 235) 45 Simon Dellinger, Sophomore (6'3, 265) 46 Shane Sunday, Sophomore (6'2, 230) 48 Garrett Woodall, Sophomore (6'3, 230) 49 Ben Koch, Junior (6'6, 265) 69 Paxton Nayman, Sophomore (6'5, 275) 84 Shayne Buckingham, Junior (6'4, 260) 85 Chris Cameron, Senior (6'4, 260) Offensive Lineman 50 Robert Fitzsimmons, Junior (6'5, 305) 51 Kamaron Holloway, Senior (6'3, 280) 53 Jackson Filipowicz, Sophomore (6'3, 260) 54 Blake Harris, Junior (6'2, 295) 54 Beau Lombardi, Sophomore (6'2, 280) 56 Mason Kolinchak, Senior (6'2, 280) 57 Connor Bishop, Junior (6'3, 290) 58 Sam Barczak, Junior (6'2, 290) 60 Connor Finucane, Sophomore (6'4, 285) 62 Aidan Perkins, Sophomore (6'2, 260) 63 Carson Shaffer, Junior (6'3, 300) 64 Cameron Callaway, Sophomore (6'0, 275) 65 Noah Knapp, Senior (6'0, 285) 66 DJ Fuller Jr., Junior (6'3, 290) 67 Dean Powell, Senior (6'1, 290) 70 Zach Ward, Senior (6'6, 285) 71 Daniel Parrish, Junior (6'0, 290) 72 Aidan Gaines, Sophomore (6'0, 280) 73 Dayton Baugh, Sophomore (6'4, 270) 74 Jose Taveras, Junior (6'4, 300) 75 David Hayward, Sophomore (6'3, 255) 77 Jordyn Law, Sophomore (6'4, 285) 78 Cody Winokur, Junior (6'2, 285) 79 Cade Hawley, Junior (6'4, 270) Defensive Lineman 57 Caleb Tomlin, Sophomore (5'11, 260) 60 David Gray, Junior (6'4, 300) 62 Nikai Butler, Sophomore (6'2, 265) 64 Spencer Roy, Sophomore (6'3, 240) 70 Grayson Gilder, Sophomore (6'1, 265) 72 Grady Chapman, Junior (6'4, 270) 81 Kaghen Roach, Sophomore (6'4, 255) 82 Declan O'Leary, Sophomore (6'3, 250) 84 Nathan Lusk, Sophomore (6'3, 235) 86 Jordan Funk, Sophomore (6'3, 260) 89 Gerald Irons III, Sophomore (5'11, 280) 91 Ryan Duran III, Senior (6'5, 270) 92 Isaiah Filisi, Sophomore (6'3, 280) 93 Tyler Komorowski, Junior (6'3, 290) 95 Nolan Cockrill, Senior (6'3, 280) 96 Darius Richardson, Junior (6'2, 285) 97 Kwabena Bonsu, Senior (6'4, 280) 98 Dylan Perez, Sophomore (6'1, 275) 99 Chris Frey, Junior (6'5, 280)		Linebacker 11 Jackson Powell, Sophomore (6'0, 230) 32 Jaylen Jacobs, Sophomore (6'2, 220) 34 Andre Carter II, Junior (6'5, 265) 34 Benjamin Jackson, Sophomore (6'0, 225) 36 Peyton Hampton, Junior (6'1, 226) 38 Fabrice Voyne, Junior (6'2, 240) 40 Bryce Mullenix, Sophomore (6'2, 235) 42 Wilson Catoe, Senior (6'2, 240) 44 Nathaniel Smith, Junior (6'3, 260) 45 Spencer Jones, Sophomore (6'1, 240) 46 Connor Butt, Sophomore (5'11, 205) 47 Jonzell Prudhomme, Sophomore (6'2, 215) 49 Kemonte Yow, Senior (6'1, 240) 50 JT Penick, Junior (6'3, 240) 51 Trent Brown, Sophomore (6'2, 245) 53 Arik Smith, Senior (6'0, 240) 54 Dom Barbuto, Sophomore (6'0, 230) 55 Trey Stephens, Sophomore 56 Austin Hill, Sophomore (6'1, 235) 58 Keeron Henderson, Sophomore (6'2, 225) 58 Camden O'Gara, Sophomore (6'0, 230) 59 Henry Janeway, Junior (6'4, 245) Defensive Back   1 Daelan Smith, Sophomore (5'10, 185)   2 Malkelm Morrison, Senior (5'10, 190)   3 Julian McDuffie, Senior (5'11, 182)   4 Jabari Moore, Junior (5'11, 195)   5 Cameron Nash, Sophomore (5'8, 155)   6 Caleb John, Senior (5'10, 195)   7 Kolubah Pewee, Sophomore (5'9, 170)   7 Jimmy Ciarlo, Sophomore (6'2, 220)   9 Aaron Bibbins, Sophomore (6'1, 195) 14 Bo Nicolas-Paul, Sophomore (5'11, 190) 16 D'Andre Tobias, Junior (5'11, 210) 17 Tyler Brennan, Sophomore (5'11, 200) 17 Isaiah Morris, Junior (5'11, 185) 18 Cole Mabry, Junior (6'2, 205) 20 Marquel Broughton, Junior (5'10, 213) 22 Cedrick Cunningham Jr., Senior (6'0, 215) 23 Leo Lowin, Sophomore (6'0, 210) 25 Deante Bernard, Sophomore (5'11, 190) 25 Elijah Boyd, Junior (6'2, 205) 26 Max Williams, Sophomore (5'10, 190) 26 Quindrelin Hammonds, Junior (6'0, 188) 27 Cameron Jones, Junior (5'9, 185) 33 Seth Daniels, Sophomore (5'11, 170) 30 Daryan McDonald, Junior (6'0, 230) 37 Hamilton Baker, Sophomore (6'1, 215) Punter 43 Brooks Hosea, Senior (6'0, 185) 46 Zach Harding, Senior (6'5, 220) 97 Billy Boehlke, Sophomore (5'9, 200)

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result
September 4		at Georgia State	Center Parc Stadium Atlanta, GA
September 11		Western Kentucky	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	CBSSN
September 18		UConn	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	CBSSN
September 25		Miami (OH)	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	CBSSN
October 2		at Ball State	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN
October 16		at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI
October 23		Wake Forest	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	CBSSN
November 6		vs. Air Force	Globe Life Field Arlington, TX (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)
November 13		Bucknell	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	CBSSN
November 20		UMass	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	CBSSN
November 27		at Liberty	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA
December 11	3:00 p.m.	vs. Navy	MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (122nd Army-Navy Game/Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)	CBS
Rankings from AP Poll and College Football Playoff Rankings after November 2 released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Schedule Source:[7]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP
Coaches
CFP	Not released															Not released

Game summaries

at Georgia State

Army Black Knights at Georgia State Panthers

	1	2	Total
Black Knights			0
Panthers			0

at Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta, GA

• Date: September 4, 2021
• Game time: TBA EDT

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing ARMY – GSU – Rushing ARMY – GSU – Receiving ARMY – GSU – Defense ARMY – GSU –

Statistics	ARMY	GSU
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Army Black Knights

	1	2	Total
Hilltoppers			0
Black Knights			0

at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

• Date: September 11, 2021
• Game time: TBA EDT
• TV: CBSSN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing WKU – ARMY – Rushing WKU – ARMY – Receiving WKU – ARMY – Defense WKU – ARMY –

Statistics	WKU	ARMY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

UConn

UConn Huskies at Army Black Knights

	1	2	Total
Huskies			0
Black Knights			0

at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

• Date: September 18, 2021
• Game time: TBA EDT
• TV: CBSSN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing UCONN – ARMY – Rushing UCONN – ARMY – Receiving UCONN – ARMY – Defense UCONN – ARMY –

Statistics	UCONN	ARMY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Miami (OH)

Miami (OH) Redhawks at Army Black Knights

	1	2	Total
Redhawks			0
Black Knights			0

at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

• Date: September 25, 2021
• Game time: TBA EDT
• TV: CBSSN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing MIAMI – ARMY – Rushing MIAMI – ARMY – Receiving MIAMI – ARMY – Defense MIAMI – ARMY –

Statistics	MIAMI	ARMY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

at Ball State

Army Black Knights at Ball State Cardinals

	1	2	Total
Black Knights			0
Cardinals			0

at Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN

• Date: October 2, 2021
• Game time: TBA EDT

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing ARMY – BALL – Rushing ARMY – BALL – Receiving ARMY – BALL – Defense ARMY – BALL –

Statistics	ARMY	BALL
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

at Wisconsin

Army Black Knights at Wisconsin Badgers

	1	2	Total
Black Knights			0
Badgers			0

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI

• Date: October 16, 2021
• Game time: TBA CDT

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing ARMY – WIS – Rushing ARMY – WIS – Receiving ARMY – WIS – Defense ARMY – WIS –

Statistics	ARMY	WIS
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Wake Forest

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Army Black Knights

	1	2	Total
Demon Deacons			0
Black Knights			0

at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

• Date: October 23, 2021
• Game time: TBA EDT
• TV: CBSSN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing WF – ARMY – Rushing WF – ARMY – Receiving WF – ARMY – Defense WF – ARMY –

Statistics	WF	ARMY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

vs. Air Force

Army Black Knights vs. Air Force Falcons

	1	2	Total
Black Knights			0
Falcons			0

at Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

• Date: November 6, 2021
• Game time: TBA CDT

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing ARMY – AF – Rushing ARMY – AF – Receiving ARMY – AF – Defense ARMY – AF –

Statistics	ARMY	AF
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Bucknell

Bucknell Bison at Army Black Knights

	1	2	Total
Bison			0
Black Knights			0

at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

• Date: November 13, 2021
• Game time: TBA EST
• TV: CBSSN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing BUCK – ARMY – Rushing BUCK – ARMY – Receiving BUCK – ARMY – Defense BUCK – ARMY –

Statistics	BUCK	ARMY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

UMass

UMass Minutemen at Army Black Knights

	1	2	Total
Minutemen			0
Black Knights			0

at Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

• Date: November 20, 2021
• Game time: TBA EST
• TV: CBSSN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing UMASS – ARMY – Rushing UMASS – ARMY – Receiving UMASS – ARMY – Defense UMASS – ARMY –

Statistics	UMASS	ARMY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

at Liberty

Army Black Knights at Liberty Flames

	1	2	Total
Black Knights			0
Flames			0

at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA

• Date: November 27, 2021
• Game time: TBA EST

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Passing ARMY – LIBERTY – Rushing ARMY – LIBERTY – Receiving ARMY – LIBERTY – Defense ARMY – LIBERTY –

Statistics	ARMY	LIBERTY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

vs. Navy

Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen (122nd Army-Navy Game)

	1	2	Total
Black Knights			0
Midshipmen			0

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

• Date: December 11, 2021
• Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst) & Jamie Erdahl (sideline)

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Passing ARMY – NAVY – Rushing ARMY – NAVY – Receiving ARMY – NAVY – Defense ARMY – NAVY –

Statistics	ARMY	NAVY
First downs
3rd down efficiency
4th down efficiency
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Penalties–yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

References

1. "Tank Wright named Director of Football Strength and Conditioning". Illinois Athletic Department. January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
2. "Illinois adds Army assistant to Tank Wright's strength and conditioning staff". SaturdayTradition.com. Saturday Tradition. January 17, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
3. Interdonato, Sal (February 1, 2021). "Army adding App State LB coach Braswell to lead defensive line". BlackKnightNation.com. Black Knight Nation. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
4. "Braswell Added to Football Coaching Staff as Defensive Line Assistant Coach". USMA Athletic Department. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
5. "2021 Army Black Knights Coaching Staff". USMA Athletic Department. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
6. "2021 Football Roster". USMA Athletics Department. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
7. "2021 Army Black Knights Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.