Count Sam Waters as another Army football commit that’s excited for the Black Knights’ new shotgun offense.
Waters watched video of Drew Thatcher’s scheme during his official visit in late January and was impressed with Army’s new offensive coordinator’s “love, excitement and passion for the game.”
The Boerne (Texas) offensive lineman knew after checking out the video that he couldn’t pass up West Point’s education, football and post-graduation opportunities. Waters met with coach Jeff Monken and closed the visit with his commitment on Jan 29. He held his signing ceremony Wednesday.
“I knew Army was the school for me because of the great education and the people at the school,” Waters said. “Everyone shares a common goal and has a great attitude. I also knew I wanted to play for a man like coach Monken. I love the way he runs his program and his players have nothing but good things to say about him.
“I’m also thrilled to play for (offensive line coaches) (Mike) Viti and (Matt) Drinkall, coach Thatcher and the rest of the staff.”
Army entered late in Waters’ recruiting. Offensive assistant Blake Powers paid Waters a home visit in mid-January. Waters received a call from Viti with an offer shortly after and an official visit was set. His plans prior to Army’s offer were FBS programs Texas State and Texas-San Antonio or FCS school Incarnate Word and Howard. Waters received preferred walk-on opportunities at both Texas State and Texas-San Antonio.
“I loved it (his Army visit) not only for the campus and football facilities but the attitude of the players and coaches was amazing. They were all super cool, down-to-earn people. I had a great feeling after talking to the players the first night of the visit about service and how they treat it as something to look forward to and a great opportunity instead of looking down on it.”
Waters said he knew about “the prestigious education, the honor the academy holds and the football program,” before his offer. His grandfather served in the 1st Cavalry Division in the Vietnam War.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Waters hopes to play tackle, his high school position, at Army, but said he will “gladly play any position they need me in.” Waters didn’t allow a sack his senior season.
Off the field, Waters is self-motivated. He started his own landscaping company freshman year. Waters, whose interests include basketball, hunting, fishing and welding, services 42 lawns every two weeks.
2023 commits (113)
QB Drew Allen, 6-4, 205, Trinity HS, Louisville, Ky.: Other offers – Notre Dame (preferred walk on). Army visit – Jan. 13-15 weekend.
DB Phineas Allen, 5-10, 180, Rockledge (Fla.) HS: Other offers – Navy, Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan, UMass
K Carlos Alvarado, 5-9, 155, Tomball (Texas) HS: First offer – Army
DB Brady Anderson, 6-2, 200, Edina (Minn.) HS: Other offers – Arkansas State, Georgia State. Army visit – Dec. 2
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. Army game visit – Sept. 17 (Villanova)
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.
RB Myles Arterberry, 5-9, 185, Klein (Texas) HS: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Texas State. Army visit – April 16. Army game visit – Sept. 17 (Villanova)
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. Army visit – Sept. 19 (Villanova)
LB Rich Benenge, 6-2, 218, Harrisburg (S.D.) HS: Other offers – Arizona, San Jose State, Akron, UNLV
T Jacob Benjamin, 6-5, 265, Cherokee Bluff HS, Flowery Branch, Ga.: First offer – Army. Other offers – Air Force
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-DE Brayden Bockler, 6-4, 249, San Juan H-ills HS, Ladera Ranch, Calif.: Other offers – San Jose State
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
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. Army visit – April 12
TE Aidan Casuccio, 6-4, 225, The Hun School, Princeton, N.J.
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
DL Caden Davis, 6-5, 230, Mason (Ohio) HS: Other offers – 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
TE Brian Dyer, 6-5, 210, Plano (Texas) East HS: Other offers – Arkansas State
WR Brody Eaton, 6-5, 225, Conestoga HS, Berwyn, Pa.
WR Dominic Esposito, 5-9, 175, Higley HS, Gilbert, Ariz.: Other offers – Air Force
OL Cole Evans, 6-2, 300, Archbishop Wood HS, Warminster, Pa.: Other offers – Temple. Army visit – April 22.
P Matthew Faulk, 6-11, 170, Archbishop Murphy HS, Mill Creek, Wash.
RB Brennan Fisher, 5-11, 190, Pennridge HS, Perkasie, Pa.: Army visit – April 9. Army game visit – Sept. 17 (Villanova)
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. Army visit – April 22.
RB Roy “Deuce” Gardner, 5-10, 155, Mountain House (Calif.) HS: First offer – Army. Second offer – Air Force.
DL Matt Gemma, 6-3, 285, Delbarton School, Morristown, N.J.: Other offers – Navy, Temple, Rice, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Kent State
RB Ben Gibbs, 5-10, 165, Maiden (N.C.) HS: First offer – Army
QB Kenyon Goodin, 6-3, 190, Collins HS, Shelbyville, Ky.
DL Caleb Graham, 6-2, 255, Maryville (Tenn.) HS: First offer – Army. Other offers –Navy.
OL Alex Gray, 6-4, 270, Huntsville (Ala.) HS: Other offers – Kentucky. Preferred walk on – Alabama
DB Justin Green, 6-1, 175, Lakota East HS, Liberty Township, Ohio: First offer – Army. Other offers – Air Force, Bowling Green. Army visit – April 15.
S Carlos Griffin, 5-11, 180, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.: Other offers – Syracuse
CB LJ Hall, 5-10, 170, Ware County HS, Waycross, Ga.
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. Army visit – April 14
OL Andrew Hardwick, 6-3, 260, Boyle County HS, Danville, Ky.: Other offers – Navy. Army visit – April 2
QB Hezekiah Harris, 6-2, 180, Edison HS, Miami, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Temple
RB Markell Holman, 6-foot, 200, Smyrna (Del.) HS.: First offer – Air Force. Other offers – Navy. Army visit – June 11.
DB Kason Hooks, 6-1, 170, Lee County HS, Leesburg, Ga.: Former Air Force commit
WR Josh Horton, 6-3, 200, Osborne HS, Marietta, Ga.: Other offers – Navy
K Bryson Hosea, 6-foot, 160, Blessed Trinity HS. Roswell, Ga.
DB Robert Houston, 5-10, 175, St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati, Ohio
K Jake Hulstein, 6-2, 207, Cedar Falls (Iowa) HS
OL-DL Charlie Johnson, 6-4, 293, All Saints Episcopal HS, Fort Worth, Texas: Other offers – Texas State, Western Kentucky
OT Joseph Johnson, 6-5, 231, Glacier Peak HS, Snohomish, Wash.: First FBS offer – Army
DB Matt Joines, 6-2, 170, East Forsyth, Kernersville, N.C.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force
DE Aiden Jones, 6-3, 225, Covington Catholic HS, Park Hills, Ky.: Army visit – March 26
FB Greigh Joseph, 6-1, 200, Starr’s Mill HS, Fayetteville, Ga.: First offer – Army
DL Patrick Kendall, 6-5, 270, Cathedral HS, Indianapolis, Ind.: Other offers – Navy. Army game visit – Sept. 17 (Villanova)
OT Tyler Klambara, 6-4, 300, Springfield (Pa.) HS: Also offered by Army track. Other offers – Navy. Preferred walk-on – Temple
RB-LB Tim Kloska, 6-foot, 220, West Catholic HS, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Other offers – Air Force. Former Air Force commit.
WR Job Kralik, 6-foot, 165, Eatonville (Wash.) HS
DE-TE Landon Laskey, 6-4, 205, General McLane HS, Edinboro, Pa.
DE-LB Peyton Ledford, 6-3, 240, Franklin County HS, Frankfort (Ky.): First offer – Army. Army visit – April 16, Oct. 1 (Georgia State game)
S Jake Lindsey, 5-11, 190, Camden County HS, Kingsland, Ga.: First offer – Army. Second offer – Air Force. Third offer – Navy
LB Madden Locke, 6-1, 210, Bloomsburg (Pa.) Area HS: First FBS offer – Army
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
LB Ben Morrow, 6-2, 225, Satellite HS, Satellite Beach, Fla.: Army visit – April 9
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
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
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.
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.: Army visit – July 29
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.: Army visit – April 22
DE Jake Rizzo, 6-4, 240, Dunham HS, Baton Rogue, La.: Other offers – Air Force, Colorado
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
LS Ryan Snipes, 6-5, 215, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.
QB Will Smiley, 6-foot, 167, Bay HS, Panama City, Fla.
RB Carson Smith, 6-1, 220, Middletown (Md.) HS
DE Javon Smith, 6-3, 240, Liberty North HS, Liberty, Mo.: Other offers – Navy.
OL Broden Sobolewski, 6-2, 260, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Army visit – April 22.
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.
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
CB Ish Taylor, 5-10, 175, Frisco (Texas) HS
OL Connor Tuk, 6-5, 290, Kennett HS, Kennett Square, Pa.: Other offers – UNLV. Army visit – Jan. 22.
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.
OL Sam Waters, 6-4, 260, Boerne (Texas) HS: Preferred walk on – Texas-San Antonio, Texas State
WR Tylon Webb, 6-3, 185, Frederick Douglass HS, Lexington, Ky.
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.
QB Eli Wisdom, 6-foot, 175, Shiloh Christian HS, Springdale, Ark.: Other offers -Tulane, Central Florida
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
RB Bill Young, 5-10, 180, St. Andrew’s School, Boca Raton, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Central Michigan, UMass. Army visit – April 22
LB Sam Zagame, 6-2, 220, Foundation Academy, Winter Garden, Fla.
Decommits
LB-S Ali Abdul-Hakeem, 6-foot, 205, Riverdale (Ga.) HS: First offer – Army
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)
LB Ray Coney, 6-3, 210, Fairfield (Ohio) HS] Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Bowling Green (SIGNED with East Tennessee State)
QB Justin Johnson, 6-foot, 185, Archer HS, Lawrenceville, Ga.
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
Commits by state (31 states) – Pennsylvania (14), Georgia (13), Florida (12), Texas (9), California (7), Ohio (7), Kentucky (6), Michigan (5), Tennessee (4), North Carolina (3), Louisiana (3), Washington (3), Alabama (2), Arizona (2), Arkansas (2), Maryland (2); Missouri (2), New Jersey (2), South Carolina (2), Wisconsin (2), Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, South Dakota
Offered by Navy: 28
Offered by Air Force: 26
Offered by Navy and Air Force: 11
