Conall “Tex” Brannan received the phone call that all college football recruits desire.
This call would have more meaning to Brannan than others achieving their first FBS offer. Army coach Jeff Monken was reaching out to Brannan with the opportunity to extend West Point’s long gray line in his family.
The conversation included Monken asking about Brannan’s West Point ties and how he’s never seen a football game at the academy. Brannan told Monken that he’s watched many games at Michie Stadium, most recently the Black Knights’ 2023 win over Villanova.
It’s been Brannan’s dream to play Army football, attend West Point and serve in the Army since he was 9. The son of 1995 West Point graduate and plebe football player Terry Brannan, Tex took his first trip to West Point when he was five years old. He’s skied the slopes at West Point, attended mass at the Catholic Chapel and stayed overnight at least three times on post, including in Monken’s neighborhood near Lusk Reservoir.
Brannan will be staying many more nights at West Point after the Gonzaga College High tight end’s commitment announcement Friday.
“I really just think Army had all what I’ve been looking for in college, high-level football and high-level academics,” Brannan said. “West Point will teach me how to be a leader and a good man that serves others. I know Army’s gonna build me up to who I’m supposed to be.”
Brannan officially committed to Army wide receivers coach Aaron Smith Wednesday. A total of 22 FBS and FCS schools offered Brannan, who is 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. Air Force and Navy were Brannan’s second and third offers respectively.
Marshall, Central Michigan, Charlotte and six Ivy League schools were among his other offers. Penn State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Appalachian State also showed interest.
Brannan, who was born in San Antonio, started his high school career in Texas, lettering as a freshman at Killeen High School before transferring to Gonzaga. His Gonzaga teammates gave Brannan, who has a 4.2 grade-point average and is an Eagle Scout, the nickname “Tex.”
Brannan’s family is filled with military service from great grandparents serving in the Navy during World War II to another Army great grandparent in the Korean War and his grandfather in the Texas State Guard. His father is still serving active duty in the Army.
Army football is unbeaten (4-0) in football games that Brannan has attended – SMU in the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl, Air Force at Michie Stadium in 2018, Texas-San Antonio on the road in 2020 and the 2023 Villanova game. He also attended Army men’s lacrosse’s NCAA-tournament win at Maryland this spring.
The plans are for Brannan to take in an Army home game, maybe Boston College or Troy, this upcoming season to extend his streak. Then, Brannan will have a chance to decide the outcome on the field as an Army football player.
