Army head coach Jeff Monken is feeling pretty good heading into his 13th season, but let’s be real: his starting quarterback, Cale Hellums, despite racking up 1,223 rushing yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns last year, is facing some serious heat. Two rising sophomores are gunning for his spot, and that’s a situation you can’t ignore.
Monken’s Vibe and Preseason Hype
Monken told media he “likes our team,” even with a “relatively inexperienced defense” thanks to graduation. That’s college football for you, right? Can’t sign these guys to new contracts. Still, the Black Knights are getting some love from the national mags. Athlon Magazine pegged nine Army players for preseason lists, and Phil Steele Magazine went even further with ten! Steele has them finishing fifth in the American, Athlon and Lindy’s Magazine put them at fourth, and The Sporting News sees them at seventh. Monken’s squad is coming off a 7-6 campaign last season, a 4-4 conference mark, and a Fenway Bowl win over Connecticut. Preseason practice kicks off August 5, with the season opener against Bryant on September 5.
The QB Crucible
Now, about Hellums. The guy started in all but three of his 13 appearances last year. He ran for 1,223 yards and 18 scores, threw for 694 yards and four TDs. Monken said Hellums had “a good year; he didn’t have a great year.” He had “great moments” and “terrific performances,” sure, but also plays he’d want back. It sounds a lot like Bryson Daily’s 2023 season, gaining that crucial experience. But here’s the kicker: rising sophomores Bryson Luter and Ethan Washington, who’s returning “healthy” after an ACL reconstruction, are both ready to give Hellums “a run for his money.” Monken summed it up perfectly: “Competition brings out the best in people.” Hellums has been working hard in the offseason, showing the “humility to realize he’s got things to improve on.”
Learning from the Close Calls
One huge area Army needs to clean up? Close games. Last season, they went a rough 4-5 in games decided by a single score. Monken isn’t shying away from it, saying there were “a lot of lessons learned.” He’s reflecting on how they “find a way to stop the other team one more time, or finish one more drive with a score.” That right there is the difference between a good season and a great one. You know it. I know it. Every fan knows it.
With preseason camp barely a week and a half away, starting August 5, the energy is high. All eyes will be on that quarterback battle, and if Monken’s guys can lock down those one-score games. When they open up against Bryant on September 5, it won’t just be a new season, it’ll be a chance to show they learned from those tough losses and that this year, they’re finishing strong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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