Moments after Bryson Daily led Army to a victory at Florida Atlantic in the team’s first American Athletic Conference game in the south Florida heat, the senior quarterback said it was very important to make a statement that the Black Knights were the real deal and should be taken seriously by the rest of the league.
On Tuesday, less than three months since that 24-7 victory over the Owls, the league showed just how much respect Daily has earned leading Army to the AAC’s regular-season title with an 8-0 record and a spot in the league’s championship game on Friday night against Tulane at Michie Stadium.
Daily, who already has a conference-leading 1,354 rushing yards, 25 rushing touchdowns and has accounted for 150 points with three games remaining in the season, was named the AAC’s Offensive Player of the Year. A two-year starter at quarterback, who missed one game this season with an injury, Daily has rushed for at least 100 yards in nine consecutive games going into the championship game, a school record. He is also one rushing touchdown shy of setting the league mark for rushing touchdowns in a season.
Daily is joined on the 14-team AAC’s all-conference first team by three teammates, sophomore center Brady Small, senior left guard Bill Katsigiannis and senior safety Max DiDomenico.
Army coach Jeff Monken was named the conference’s coach of the year for guiding the team to the perfect regular-season league mark and, thus far, an overall 10-1 record. Monken, in his 11th year at the helm of the Black Knights, holds an 80-56 record at Army, second only to Earl “Red” Blaik for the most coaching wins in Army history.
Army was also well represented on the all-conference second and third teams. Fifth-year senior left tackle Connor Finucane, senior right tackle Lucas Scott, sophomore right guard Paolo Gennarelli, sophomore running back Kanye Udoh and senior defensive lineman Kyle Lewis were all named to the second team. Junior inside linebacker Andon Thomas and sophomore outside linebacker Elo Modozie were named to the third team. Junior inside linebacker Kalib Fortner was named to the all-conference honorable mention squad.
