Sam Dec’s Army visit left a lasting impression on the Florida offensive lineman’s recruiting trail.
Dec would visit Navy, Air Force, Colorado State and UMass following his first trip to West Point on June 11. During every visit, Dec would reflect back to his Army experience.
“I just felt at home (during the Army visit) and it was something that I carried with me to other visit,” said the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Nease (Fla.) tackle. “I had a great time and loved everything about it. They were very hospitable and loved me. It felt like home. It just felt like I wanted to go there. Not that the other academies are bad but Army just felt right for me.”
Dec called Army assistant coach Daryl Dixon with his verbal commitment Tuesday afternoon. Army was the first of Dec’s 16 FBS offers. Marshall, Appalachian State, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, UConn, Colorado State, Troy, Western Kentucky and UMass also offered Dec.
Dec hit it off with Army’s coaching staff and fellow offensive lineman Noah Knapp during his visit.
“I was just blown away about how interconnected and intertwined they (the football players) were with each other and those around campus,” Dec said.
Dec said he’ll have “good insight” and understanding of Army’s option offense through Nease assistant coach Parker Braun. Braun was a freshman all-American blocking in a similar scheme at Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson, Army coach Jeff Monken’s mentor.
Serving in the military is a part of Dec’s DNA. His grandfather was in the Air Corps during World War II.
“I think it’s (the service commitment) great,” Dec said. “I have a guaranteed job coming out of college and I’ll be serving my country.”
Curtis Whiting became Army’s first New Jersey commit of the 2022 class when he announced on Instagram Tuesday night that he’s given his verbal commitment to the Black Knights.
2022 Army football commits (12)
K Anderson Britton, 5-10, 155, Heritage HS, Ringgold, Ga.
OL Sam Dec, 6-4, 250, Nease HS, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Marshall, Appalachian State, Florida International, Georgia Southern, UConn, Western Kentucky, Georgia State, Colorado State, Troy, UMass.
DE Chase Fambro, 6-3, 240, Spalding HS, Griffin, Ga.: Other offers – Coastal Carolina, Hawaii
DT Bridger Knee, 6-2, 250, Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn.: Other offers – Ball State, Utah State
S Jamir Reyes, 6-1, 180, Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia, Pa.
QB Glenn Rice, 5-11, 180, Lancaster (Texas) HS: Other offers – Air Force.
FB Hunter Roddy, 6-foot, 220, Chaparral HS, Murrieta, Calif.: Other offers – Navy
OL Ryan Scott, 6-3, 250, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.: First offer – Army
TE Toby Thompson, 6-4, 240, Cherokee HS, Canton, Ga.: Other offers – Air Force
WR Neo Vossschulte, 6-4, 190, Episcopal Academy, Newtown Square, Pa.
CB Curtis Whiting, 5-11, 181, Hackensack (N.J.) HS
TE Cooper Wilkinson, 6-3, 235, New Smyrna Beach (Fla.) HS: Committed during visit on June 6.
Commits by state: Georgia (4), Florida (2), Pennsylvania (2), California (1), New Jersey (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1)
