California WR Brady Mott picks football over rugby at Army

Brady Mott proudly wore a black polo shirt with white stripes and the Black Knights logo during Vacaville (Calif.) High signing ceremony Wednesday.

Mott confirmed his decision to continue his football career at West Point and finished with “Go Army.” It was always Mott’s intention to attend the academy. Mott accepted his appointment in March and was going to play rugby.

Everything changed when Vacaville head football coach Mike Papadopoulos reached out to Army’s staff, letting them Mott was going to be a direct admit and have an interest in playing Division I football. Army area recruiter and defensive line coach Sean Cronin would later visit Mott at Vacaville High. Mott officially committed to Army Tuesday.

“I would say I was overlooked in the recruiting process,” said the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Mott. “The Army coaches said they would have offered me a while ago if they knew about me. I’ve always loved the game of football and it’s always something I wanted to continue playing at the next level.”

Mott is taking a different service academy path than his father and brother. His father, David, went to the Air Force Academy and served in the Air Force. His brother, Brewster, is a current cadet at Air Force.

“Growing up in a military family, I’ve always wanted to serve and there’s no better place to do so than at West Point, so it was an easy decision.

“I only had a couple offers so this opportunity means the world to me.”

Army is recruiting Mott as a wide receiver. Mott had 36 catches for 653 yards and five touchdowns his senior season. He also made 93 tackles and had two interceptions including a Pick Six.

Mott visited West Point for the first time in the spring of 2022 and was in awe.

“It’s definitely a cool place with a lot of history behind it,” Mott said. “And, the location right on the Hudson (River) is beautiful.”

Mott already has a branch of the Army in mind after his West Point graduation.

“I hope to pursue a career of aviation in the Army,” Mott said.

2023 Army football commits

Direct
K Carlos Alvarado, 5-9, 155, Tomball (Texas) HS: First offer – Army
CB Isaiah Birl, 6-1, 185, Walnut Hills HS, Cincinnati, Ohio: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Akron, Miami (Ohio), Toledo
TE Aidan Casuccio, 6-4, 225, The Hun School, Princeton, N.J.
TE Brian Dyer, 6-5, 210, Plano (Texas) East HS: Other offers – Arkansas State
WR Brody Eaton, 6-5, 225, Conestoga HS, Berwyn, Pa.
OL Alex Gray, 6-4, 270, Huntsville (Ala.) HS: Other offers – Kentucky. Preferred walk on – Alabama
CB Jaxon Hammond, 5-11, 160, Christian Brothers HS, Memphis, Tenn.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Memphis, Marshall, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Arkansas State, UConn.
QB Hezekiah Harris, 6-2, 180, Edison HS, Miami, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Temple
S Jake Lindsey, 5-11, 190, Camden County HS, Kingsland, Ga.: First offer – Army. Second offer – Air Force. Third offer – Navy
LB Ben Morrow, 6-2, 225, Satellite HS, Satellite Beach, Fla.
WR Brady Mott, 6-1, 195, Vacaville (Calif.) HS
LB Noah Nixon, 6-3, 235, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, Fla.: Other offers – Navy. 2022 stats – 112 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 blocked punt, 1 TD
QB Hayden Oviatt, 6-1, 200, Wamego (Kansas) HS: Other offers – Kansas, Colorado State, New Mexico State
FB Jordan Owens, East Coast Prep, Great Barrington, Mass.: Scored 10 touchdowns in two and half games his senior season at Maine-Endwell (N.Y.) before season-ending injury.
DE-LB Zane Poulter, 6-3, 215, Chico Hills (Calif.) HS: First offer – Army. Other offers – Air Force
LS Drew Prieto, 6-foot, 210, Marist School, Atlanta, Ga.
DE Jake Rizzo, 6-4, 240, Dunham HS, Baton Rogue, La.: Other offers – Air Force, Colorado
RB Carson Smith, 6-1, 220, Middletown (Md.) HS
OL Broden Sobolewski, 6-2, 260, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
OL Connor Tuk, 6-5, 290, Kennett HS, Kennett Square, Pa.: Other offers – UNLV.
Slot WR Parker Williams, 5-10, 165, Fulshear (Texas) HS

Army Prep

WR Brady Anderson, 6-2, 200, Edina (Minn.) HS: Other offers – Arkansas State, Georgia State.
RB Myles Arterberry, 5-9, 185, Klein (Texas) HS: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Texas State.
DB BJ Atkins, 5-11, 180, Christ Church Episcopal School, Greenville, S.C.
RB Briggs Bartosh, 5-11, 190, Park Hill South HS, Kansas City, Mo.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Missouri, Miami (Fla.), Kansas, Arkansas State. Brother, Braden, is Army offensive lineman.
LB Rich Benenge, 6-2, 218, Harrisburg (S.D.) HS: Other offers – Arizona, San Jose State, Akron, UNLV
TE-DE Brayden Bockler, 6-4, 249, San Juan H-ills HS, Ladera Ranch, Calif.: Other offers – San Jose State
RB Ty Brown-Stauffer, 5-10, 205, Danville (Pa.) HS: All-state running back helped Danville to district title.
DE Nick Buchys, 6-3, 240, Neshaminy HS, Langhorne, Pa.: First offer – Army.
WR-DB Jackson Burnett, 5-11, 180, Bishop Kenny HS, Jacksonville, Fla.: First offer – Navy.
RB Travion Dickens, 5-10, 180, Prescott (Ark.) HS: First offer – Army. Defensive MVP at Army All-Academic camp in June.
DE Sean Donovan, 6-2, 230, Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn.: First offer – Army
WR Dominic Esposito, 5-9, 175, Higley HS, Gilbert, Ariz.: Other offers – Air Force
RB Brennan Fisher, 5-11, 190, Pennridge HS, Perkasie, Pa.
DL Eric Gardner, 6-2, 240, Archbishop Wood HS, Warminster, Pa.: Other offers – Penn State, Texas A&M, Northwestern, Cincinnati, Boston College, West Virginia, Maryland, Syracuse, Temple, Liberty, Bowling Green, Charlotte, UMass.
RB Roy “Deuce” Gardner, 5-10, 155, Mountain House (Calif.) HS: First offer – Army. Second offer – Air Force.
DL Matt Gemma, 6-3, 280, Delbarton School, Morristown, N.J.: Other offers – Navy, Temple, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Rice
CB LJ Hall, 5-10, 170, Ware County HS, Waycross, Ga.
OL Andrew Hardwick, 6-3, 260, Boyle County HS, Danville, Ky.: Other offers – Navy.
DB Kason Hooks, 6-1, 170, Lee County HS, Leesburg, Ga.: Former Air Force commit
K Bryson Hosea, 6-foot, 160, Blessed Trinity HS. Roswell, Ga.
K Jake Hulstein, 6-2, 207, Cedar Falls (Iowa) HS
OT Joseph Johnson, 6-5, 231, Glacier Peak HS, Snohomish, Wash.: First FBS offer – Army
QB Justin Johnson, 6-foot, 185, Archer HS, Lawrenceville, Ga.
DE Aiden Jones, 6-3, 225, Covington Catholic HS, Park Hills, Ky.
DL Patrick Kendall, 6-5, 270, Cathedral HS, Indianapolis, Ind.: Other offers – Navy.
OT Tyler Klambara, 6-4, 300, Springfield (Pa.) HS: Also offered by Army track. Other offers – Navy. Preferred walk-on – Temple
LB Tim Kloska, 6-foot, 220, West Catholic HS, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Other offers – Air Force. Former Air Force commit.
DE-LB Peyton Ledford, 6-3, 240, Franklin County HS, Frankfort (Ky.): First offer – Army.
DL Mack O’Halloran, 6-4, 235, Downers Grove (Ill.) South HS: Other offers – UAB, Central Michigan. Preferred walk on – Wisconsin
LB Sam Oppenheimer, 6-1, 215, Johns Creek (Ga.) HS: Other offers – Air Force, Eastern Michigan
TE James Rothstein, 6-6, 235, Amador Valley HS, Pleasanton, Calif.: First offer: Army. Other offers – Air Force, San Diego State, San Jose State
DE Campbell Sager, 6-5, 240, Westview HS, Portland, Ore.: First offer – Air Force
OL Wesley Shaw, 6-4, 280, Jesuit HS, Tampa, Fla.: Other offers – Air Force, West Virginia, South Florida, Florida International, East Carolina, Middle Tennessee State
TE Max Stober, 6-6, 240, St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, Calif.: Preferred walk on – Arizona
TE Nollenn Tabaska, 6-7, 230, Brookfield (Wisc.) East HS: Other offers – Central Michigan
OL Sam Waters, 6-4, 260, Boerne (Texas) HS: Preferred walk on – Texas-San Antonio, Texas State
QB Eli Wisdom, 6-foot, 175, Shiloh Christian HS, Springdale, Ark.: Other offers -Tulane, Central Florida
RB Bill Young, 5-10, 180, St. Andrew’s School, Boca Raton, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Central Michigan, UMass. Sam Zagame, 6-2, 220, Foundation Academy, Winter Garden, Fla.

Unconfirmed/undecided commits

QB Drew Allen, 6-4, 205, Trinity HS, Louisville, Ky.: Other offers – Notre Dame (preferred walk on).
QB Kendell Anderson, 6-3, 181, Montgomery Blair HS, Silver Spring, Md.: Other offers– Navy. Threw for 2,277 yards and 21 touchdowns as junior.
WR-CB Malcolm Anderson, 5-10, 185, Andress HS, El Paso, Texas: Other offers – Navy, Texas State, New Mexico State
RB TJ Andrews, 6-2, 200, Taft HS, San Antonio, Texas: Other offers – Navy, Texas-San Antonio, Rice
OL Xavier Archawski, 6-6, 285, Lower Merion HS, Ardmore, Pa.
T Jacob Benjamin, 6-5, 265, Cherokee Bluff HS, Flowery Branch, Ga.: First offer – Army. Other offers – Air Force
QB Mitchell Bolden, 6-1, 200, Lakota West HS, West Chester, Ohio: Other offers – Marshall, Western Michigan
WR Rodney Broadnax, 6-4, 195, Cleveland HS, Chattanooga, Tenn.
WR Timmy Brown 6-3, 190, Effingham County HS, Springfield, Ga.: First offer – Air Force. Second offer – Army
OL Ben Chaney, 6-6, 310, Hubbard (Ohio) HS
DB-RB Jaydun Colbert, 5-11, 175, Westgate HS, New Iberia, La.: Other offers – Mississippi State, Nebraska, Florida International. Army visit – Jan. 20-21
QB Damarcus Creecy, 6-2, 175, Mainland HS, Daytona Beach, Fla.
OL Cam Crocker, 6-5, 285, Oil City (Pa.) HS: Four-year starter. All-state offensive lineman. Started 42 straight games in high school career.
CB Anthony Crowell, 5-9, 170, Lebanon (Tenn.) HS: Other offers – Navy
WR Matt Cusatis, 5-11, 165, Hazleton (Pa.) HS
P Matthew Faulk, 6-11, 170, Archbishop Murphy HS, Mill Creek, Wash.
RB Ben Gibbs, 5-10, 165, Maiden (N.C.) HS: First offer – Army
DB Justin Green, 6-1, 175, Lakota East HS, Liberty Township, Ohio: First offer – Army. Other offers – Air Force, Bowling Green.
S Carlos Griffin, 5-11, 180, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.: Other offers – Syracuse
RB Markell Holman, 6-foot, 200, Smyrna (Del.) HS.: First offer – Air Force. Other offers – Navy. Army visit – June 11.
WR Josh Horton, 6-3, 200, Osborne HS, Marietta, Ga.: Other offers – Navy
DB Robert Houston, 5-10, 175, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati, Ohio
OL-DL Charlie Johnson, 6-4, 293, All Saints Episcopal HS, Fort Worth, Texas: Other offers – Texas State, Western Kentucky
DB Matt Joines, 6-2, 170, East Forsyth, Kernersville, N.C.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force
DE-TE Landon Laskey, 6-4, 205, General McLane HS, Edinboro, Pa.OL-DL Carlos Lopez, 6-5, 270, Heritage HS, Saginaw, Mich.: First offer – Army
RB-LB Spencer Lyons, 6-2, 215, Detroit (Mich.) Central Catholic HS: First offer – Navy. Second offer – Army. Army visit – April 21
DB CJ Martin, 6-2, 170, Ironton (Ohio) HS: Other offers – Navy
QB Jacorey Martin, 6-foot, 180, Southside Christian HS, Simpsonville, S.C.: First offer – Navy. Second offer – Air Force. Third offer – Army. Army official visit – Sept. 11. Martin was 30-5 as a starter and led Southside Christian to two state title. He passed for 52 touchdowns and rushed for 50 TDs in his career.
RB Trey McGinnis, 5-11, 175, St. Joseph’s (Mich.) HS: First offer – Army. McGinnis also committed to run track at Army.
LB Caleb Moran, 6-2, 215, Milton (Ga.) HS: Other offers – Air Force, Toledo
DB Devan Moss, 5-10, 160, Oak Mountain HS, Birmingham, Ala.: First offer – Air Force. Other offers – Navy.
DE-TE Cael Newton, 6-6, 215, Charlotte HS, Punta Gorda, Fla.: First offer – Army
QB-WR Melvin “Cory” Nichols, 6-1, 190, Summer Creek HS, Houston, Texas: Other offers – New Mexico State
WR-S Larry Pickett, 6-3, 168, Enloe HS, Raleigh, N.C.: Other offers – Navy. Former Navy commit.
TE Parker Poloskey, 6-4, 225, Olympic Heights HS, Boca Raton, Fla.
LS Ryan Snipes, 6-5, 215, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.
DE Javon Smith, 6-3, 240, Liberty North HS, Liberty, Mo.: Other offers – Navy.
RB Will Stallings, 6-1, 225, Clayton Valley Charter HS, Concord, Calif.: Former Tennessee commit. Also played at Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas area. Other offers – Tennessee, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Nevada, UNLV, Utah State, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, Charlotte, New Mexico State.
CB Ish Taylor, 5-10, 175, Frisco (Texas) HS
LB Khaled Waliagha, 5-11, 205, Franklinton (La.) HS: 2021 stats – 123 tackles
QB Ethan Washington, 6-3, 190, North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, Ga.: Other offers – Air Force, Georgia State, Miami (Ohio), Charlotte, UMass. Threw for 1,573 yards and 12 TDs, rushed for four TDs as junior. Has missed senior year with knee injury.
RB Christopher Williams, 5-10, 170, Francis Parker HS, San Diego, Calif.: First offer – Army. Other offers – Hawaii. Earned overall MVP and wide receiver MVP honors at Army 2022 All-Academic camp. Rushed for 1,883 yards and 24 TDs, caught 3 TD passes, threw for 532 yards and 5TDs, intercepted five passes and forced three fumbles as a senior.
TE-DE Teddy Williams, 6-6, 230, Grand Ledge (Mich.) HS: Former Grand Valley State commit.
DE Russ Woodward, 6-6, 245, Evergreen (Colo.) HS: Preferred walk-on offer – Colorado
OL Adam Wormuth, 6-5, 290, Lakeland HS, Jermyn, Pa.: First offer – Army
OL Brandon Wraalstad, 6-4, 225, Oconomowoc (Wisc.) HS

Decommits

LB-S Ali Abdul-Hakeem, 6-foot, 205, Riverdale (Ga.) HS: First offer – Army. (COMMITTED to Georgia State)
RB Chad Alexander, 5-10, 170, Archer HS, Lawrenceville, Ga.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Rice, Western Kentucky. Attended Army-Navy game. (SIGNED with Georgia Tech)
DB Phineas Allen, 5-10, 180, Rockledge (Fla.) HS: Other offers – Navy, Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan, UMass
LB Ray Coney, 6-3, 210, Fairfield (Ohio) HS] Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Bowling Green (SIGNED with East Tennessee State)
DL Caden Davis, 6-5, 230, Mason (Ohio) HS: Other offers – Navy. Preferred walk-on – Ohio State (COMMITTED to Ohio State)
OL Cole Evans, 6-2, 300, Archbishop Wood HS, Warminster, Pa.: Other offers – Temple.
QB Kenyon Goodin, 6-3, 190, Collins HS, Shelbyville, Ky.: Committed to play basketball at Division I Bellarmine.
DL Caleb Graham, 6-2, 255, Maryville (Tenn.) HS: First offer – Army. Other offers – Navy. (COMMITTED to Austin Peay
FB Greigh Joseph, 6-1, 200, Starr’s Mill HS, Fayetteville, Ga.: First offer – Army
WR Job Kralik, 6-foot, 165, Eatonville (Wash.) HS
LB Madden Locke, 6-1, 210, Bloomsburg (Pa.) Area HS: First FBS offer – Army
OL Christopher Luna, 6-3, 275, Tampa (Fla.) Catholic HS: First offer – Army. Army visit – April 22. (SIGNED with Furman)
DB Logan Mackey, 6-foot, 198, C.E. King HS, Houston, Texas (SIGNED with Weber State)
LB Javeon Miller, 6-1, 215, Creekside HS, Fairburn, Ga.: Other offers – Marshall, Toledo, Arkansas State, Charlotte, Middle Tennessee State (COMMITTED to Tuskegee University)
LB-S Kharles Ngansi, 6-3, 200, Oakland Mills HS, Columbia, Md.: Other offers – Akron. Army game visit – Sept. 17 (Villanova)
S Anton Pierce, 6-3, 202, Mills University HS, Little Rock, Ark.: Army visit – April 16. (COMMITTED to Arkansas)
RB Kyon Simonson, 6-1, 200, Hillside (N.J.) HS: Other offers – UMass. Reclassified to 2024 class.
QB Will Smiley, 6-foot, 167, Bay HS, Panama City, Fla.: (COMMITTED to Navy)
WR Tylon Webb, 6-3, 185, Frederick Douglass HS, Lexington, Ky.