Same spirit, new purpose drives Army football as preseason camp opens

Army football opened preseason camp on Tuesday with loads of optimism, a new purpose and the realization that the season is exactly one month away.

“Honestly, it doesn’t feel real yet,’’ said senior co-captain Kyle Lewis, asked about the August 30 opener against Lehigh. “I think as it gets closer it’ll be like, ‘Man, this is going to be the last first game for the senior class.’ I’m just excited for the opportunity.’’

A freshman class of 73 was initiated to their first college practice on a partly cloudy morning at Howze Field, the dual-field facility adjacent to Michie Stadium. The plebes got an hour’s worth of dedicated coaching before being joined by close to 100 returning sophomores, juniors and seniors for another hour before the veterans closed out opening day with a final hour.

“It’s good to be back out there,’’ said head coach Jeff Monken, who is headed into his 11th season with Army. “I think at this point every competitor, every football player, coach, anybody who is part of an organized football program is excited to be back to practice … We are, too.

“Our players are really anxious,’’ he added. “Our veteran players have worked really hard over the summer. Our rookie players couldn't have been more excited to be out there for their very first college football practice. So it was fun.’’

“It’s super exciting,’’ said senior co-captain Max DiDomenico. “You wait all summer, all offseason to get camp started. So it’s a great day to get out here, get all the guys together and really get started on the season.’’

Army is coming off consecutive 6-6 seasons, with no postseason appearances since the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl. As a new member of the American Athletic Conference, the Black Knights will have more opportunities to earn a bowl berth. The AAC preseason media poll has Army slated for fifth place.

“All that stuff is great … for all the fans,’’ said senior co-captain Cody Winokur of the new affiliation. “We have a brand of football here that we play and we take pride in; that hasn't changed and how we hold that standard hasn't changed. We're just going to implement what we've been doing: holding each other accountable into this new environment that we're in and give ourselves the best chance to win every game.’’

Without getting into too many specifics, Monken said he feels good about the depth on the offensive line and the running back and inside linebacker positions and he’s okay with the defensive line as long as they can stay healthy. The rest of the units? Not so much, and the four weeks of preseason are designed to build the depth.

“Probably all the ones I didn’t mention, I’ve got some concern about that,’’ Monken said. He said Army would have “a fighting chance” with all of his 22 starters and maybe half of the second 22. “The other 11 we have to find out and we have got to develop,’’ Monken said.

Only a handful of players were held out of practice, notably senior running back Tyrell Robinson is still rehabbing the aggravation of a previous ACL injury that sidelined him for a year. Monken is hopeful Robinson can return during the preseason.

Senior Bryson Daily, another co-captain, said he’s happy with the quarterback room and looks forward to develop his replacement after he graduates. Taking snaps will be junior Dewayne Coleman, sophomores Cale Hellums and Mitch Bolden and freshmen Ethan Washington (a USMA Prep grad), Luke Knight and Nehemiah Vann.

“It is shocking,’’ Daily said of the arrival of his final preseason camp. “It feels like I just got to Prep with Kyle last year.

“The guys who came before me were able to mentor me,’’ he added. “I wouldn't be in this position I am today without those guys. We had a good spring ball and we're hoping it to carry it over into fall camp.’’

kmcmillan@th-record.com

X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Same spirit, new purpose drives Army football as preseason camp opens