Scrimmage report: QB shuffle, position changes

Dewayne Coleman’s voice resonated in the huddle. Army’s junior quarterback encouraged the offense to finish the drive and celebrate.

Coleman handed the ball off to fullback Jake Rendina. Rendina powered into the end zone with a second and third effort during Army’s first spring scrimmage.

Army shuffled its top three quarterbacks Saturday. Coleman, freshman Ethan Washington and sophomore Cale Hellums each played with the first, second and third teams under the request of coach Jeff Monken to offensive coordinator Cody Worley.

”I really think it’s an advantage for the quarterback that is with the first offensive huddle, the first offensive line and the first set of backs,” Monken said. “That’s an advantage for him. It’s always going to look a little bit more better and it’s the best competition that we can put on the other side against him.”

Monken added, “I think it’s healthy for the competition and keeps everybody’s ego in check. They are not saying, ‘I’m the starter, I’m the second guy and I’m the third guy,’ and they start positioning themselves.

The quarterback competition is wide open, Monken said and the coaches considers that to be the case “with most of our positions.”

Coleman completed a couple of long passes – one of about 50 yards to freshman wide receiver Brady Anderson for a touchdown and a diving downfield reception from slotback David Clerk.

Washington said he has more of a grasp of Army’s offense this spring.

Position changes: Army has switched positions with three tight ends from the 2024 roster. Sophomore Teddy Williams was moved to tackle at the start of spring practice and is getting reps at right tackle. Williams was Army’s third or fourth tight end last season. Could Williams take a similar path of Eagles Super Bowl champion lineman Brett Toth, who was originally recruited as a tight end, and have the same college success. Only time will tell.

The coaching staff moved Nollenn Tabaska from tight end to offensive tackle this week. Army needs to replace starting tackles Connor Finucane and Lucas Scott. Junior Henry Appleton is the early favorite to start at left tackle. Right tackle could be highly competitive. Sophomore Xavier Archawski, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, and sophomore Nick Moore are among others getting a look at tackle.

Grayson Baker has switched from tight end to defensive end. The 6-foot-7 freshman’s height certainly stands out on the defensive front.

Freshman Brennan Fisher is now playing inside linebacker. Monken said there was a “long line” at B-back, Fisher’s old position, and some injuries at inside linebacker that led to the move.

Scrimmage observations (full disclose missed the early part of the scrimmage and not completely sure if some veterans took early reps but there was some returning starters or projected starters that were held out):

Another potential important position switch may be junior Eric Ford from edge to nickel (Apache). Ford played behind starter Elo Modozie last season and was pretty effective. Army is experimenting with using Ford and Modozie on the field together.

The top defense included a mix of DE Jack Latore, NT Jacob Tuioti, DE Deshontez Gray, EDGE Elo Modozie, LB Eric Ford, LB Kalib Fortner, LB Jake Lindsay, CB Jaydan Mayes, CB Jabril Williams, S Larry Pickett, S Collin Matteson.

The first-team offensive line appeared to be LT Henry Appleton, LG Will Jeffcoat, C Brady Small, RG Paolo Gennarelli, RT Teddy Williams

There was some heavy hitting during the two-plus hour scrimmage. Linebacker Elijah Walton got a pretty good hit on Washington from a blitz.

Hayden Reed, Rendina, Carson Smith, Briggs Bartosh, Ty Brown-Stauffer and Timmy Kloska were among the fullbacks that carried the ball.

Nose tackle Dillon Stowers knocked down a pass.

Freshman Dawson Jones made a 37-yard field goal early in the scrimmage.

In Case I Missed It: Army quarterback Mitch Bolden transferred to Miami (Ohio) in January. Bolden, who starred at Lakota West (Ohio) HS, is being recruited to play tight end at Miami. He was one of six quarterbacks on Army’s roster last season. Bolden did not see action in two years at West Point.