Trenton Curliss watched as Jeff Monken delivered a passionate speech inside Army’s locker room after Saturday’s win over Temple.
Taking in the moment during his official visit reinforced the Charlotte (Fla.) defensive end’s choice earlier in the day.
“Hearing coach Monken talk just gets me fired up,” said Curliss, who met with Army’s coach before kickoff and verbally committed to the Black Knights. “I can’t wait to play in Michie Stadium and be a part of it especially with the new renovations the stadium is getting. It will be 10 times more electric.”
Curliss was catching enough positive vibes early in his visit that he was ready to make his college decision early Saturday morning. His parents were seeing West Point for the first time.
“From the second I got picked up from the airport, I just felt like I was home,” said Curliss, who is 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds. “My parents finally seeing everything and me seeing how much they loved it, it sealed my decision.”
Curliss, who also plays basketball and competes in track and field, picked Army over offers from Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Dartmouth, Wofford, Tennessee State and Jackson State among others.
His incredible junior season (134 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries) led to Army and Florida recruiting coach Daryl Dixon contacting Curliss in January.
Curliss attended Army’s Black and Gold spring game with Charlotte (Fla.) teammate, best friend and Army 2026 offensive line commit Jaxon Newton.
“Just seeing everything in person and experiencing it was just a different feeling,” Curliss said. “A couple of weeks after that, I finally received that Army offer.”
Curliss, a Florida district discus champion as a junior, described the atmosphere at the Temple game as “insane.”
“Everyone there was filled with energy,” Curliss said. “Anybody that I saw walking by would say, ‘This is the best decision you could make. It will set you up for life,’ and they couldn’t be more right.”
“I’m just happy to call myself a Black Knight and represent not only the team but our country.”
