It was a foregone conclusion that senior quarterback Bryson Daily was going to engineer the Army offense last season.
The decision on who will replace him is not so clear cut.
Coach Jeff Monken said rising senior Dewayne Coleman is No. 1 on the depth chart but said there will be an open competition with rising junior Cale Hellums and rising sophomore Ethan Washington.
“I think all three of those players will compete for the starting job,’’ Monken said during a media call on Tuesday ahead of spring camp. “All three of those guys are good players (and) talented enough.’’
When Army opens camp on Thursday, the Black Knights will also work out rising senior Zach Mundell and rising juniors Luke Knight and Nehemiah Vann. Army will be bringing in new freshmen candidates when summer preseason camp begins in July. Gone is Mitch Bolden, a sophomore who decided to enter the transfer portal.
Coleman started the Air Force game on Nov. 2 when Daily was out of the lineup and missed his only contest in 2024. Coleman completed five of eight throws for 48 yards and had 16 carries for 42, leading Army to a 20-3 victory – it would be Coleman’s last significant appearance of the season (he did play briefly against Tulane in the AAC title game). Prior to the Air Force game, Coleman – the stated No. 2 quarterback all season – saw relief duty in wins over Lehigh in August, Rice and Temple in September and Tulsa and Alabama Birmingham in October.
Coleman also saw limited backup action in 2023, playing in losses to Syracuse and LSU and a win over Delaware State.
Hellums saw relief action in blowout wins over Temple, Tulsa and UAB – he did not attempt any passes and had seven carries for 28 yards. Washington’s lone appearance was against UAB.
None of the Army quarterback candidates match the rugged, physical nature of Daily, who was six foot and 221 pounds. His ability and willingness to take on tacklers in close quarters was essential to Army’s option run game as he rewrote the record books with 32 rushing touchdowns and surpassing 100 yards in all but two of his 13 appearances. Daily was a Heisman Trophy candidate and the top offensive player in the American Athletic Conference.
Coleman is 5-10, 190 pounds, out of Selma, Texas. Hellums is 5-10, 203 pounds, out of Tomball, Texas. Washington is 6-1, 193 pounds out of Suwanee, Ga.
“I wouldn’t say … we would name a starter right now,’’ Monken said. “DeWayne’s at the top of the depth chart, obviously, because he’s got the most experience and has played some, but I think those other two guys are going to battle, and that’s healthy, it’s great for the position. It’s great for those guys to have others at that spot – that’ll push them to be their best, and if they’re competitive and they care, then that’ll help them improve.
“I’m confident that one of those guys, and hopefully all three of them, will be prepared and ready to play if they’re called on. We’ll just see how that shakes out during the spring and preseason camp – we don’t have to make any of those decisions right now.’’
The breakout season by Daily helped Army win its first nine games of 2024, win the AAC in the Black Knights’ first season in the league and set a team record with 12 wins, following a victory over Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.
“That’s hard to replace a guy that scored 32 touchdowns and led our team so well,’’ Monken said of Daily, “but I’m confident in the guys that we’ve got, that are coming up through the ranks.’’
Army handily led the nation in rushing (300.5 yards per game) on the strength of Daily (1,659 yards) and sophomore Kanye Udoh (1,117) – with Udoh transferring to Arizona State, that leaves a huge void in production and redefines the thrust of the offense for 2025.
“It’s just college football,’’ Monken said, “and other guys will step up. I’m confident that they will.’’
More: These four left Army off their football coaches’ top 25 poll ballots
Army will conduct 15 days of spring action, culminating with the Friday, April 11, Black-Gold scrimmage at Michie Stadium. The season opener is Saturday, August 30, against visiting Tarleton State, followed by a September 6 game at Kansas State. The AAC regular-season schedule will be released shortly.
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football quarterback job open during spring 2025 practice
