2017 VMI Football Fact Book 8-29 Layout 1
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TABLE OF CONTENTS QUICK FACTS Name of School Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Table of Contents/Quick Facts ............................ ....1 City/Zip Lexington, Va. 24450 2017 Season Preview ............................................. 2-3 Founded 1839 Enrollment 1,559 Head Coach Scott Wachenheim ......................... 4-5 Nickname Keydets Mascot Moe (Kangaroo) Assistant Coaches................................................... 6-9 School Colors Red, Yellow & White Stadium Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium 2017 Player Rosters/Opening Depth Chart.....10-12 Conference Southern Conference Superintendent General J.H. Binford Peay III ‘62 2017 Returning Player Bios ..................................13-29 Athletic Director Dr. Dave Diles (Ohio ‘83) Athletic Department Phone 540-464-7251 2017 Signees.............................................................30-31 Ticket Office Phone 540-464-7266 2016 Game Recaps.................................................32-42 COACHING STAFF 2016 Statistics..........................................................43-51 Head Coach Scott Wachenheim Alma Mater Air Force ‘84 Records Versus Opponents ..................................52-54 Record at VMI 5-17/Third Season Overall Record Same When Was The Last Time? ................................... ..55 To Reach Coach Contact SID Defensive Coordinator (Secondary/Asst. HC) Tom Clark Past All-Conference Honorees............................ ..56 Offensive Coordinator (QB) Dustin Ward Assistant Coach (ILB/Co-Special Teams) Justin Hamilton Record Book............................................................57-81 Assistant Coach (RB) Tim Maypray Media Information .................................................. ..82 Assistant Coach (WR/TE/Co-Special Teams) Brad Robbins Assistant Coach (OLB) Mike Saint Germain VMI History and Traditions...................................83-84 Assistant Coach (OL) Mike Cummings Assistant Coach (DL) Allen Smith Assistant Coach (Safeties) Ross Metheny Assistant Coach Shane Reynolds 2017 Schedule Strength & Conditioning Coach Dave Forman Athletic Trainer (Football) Hillary Masdon Sept.2 at Air Force 2 p.m. TEAM INFORMATION 2016 Overall Record 3-8 Sept. 9 Catawba 1:30 p.m. SoCon Record/Finish 1-7, T-8th Starters Returning/Lost 12/12 Sept. 16 at Robert Morris 3 p.m. Letterwinners Returning/Lost 36/23 ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Sept. 23 Chattanooga* 1:30 p.m. Associate A.D./Athletic Communications (FB Contact) Wade Branner SID Office Phone 540-464-7253 Home/Cell Phone 540-319-1271 Sept. 30 at Mercer* 4 p.m. Email [email protected] Associate Athletic Communications Director (Secondary FB) Brad Salois Oct. 7 Samford* 1:30 p.m. Assistant Athletic Communications Director Daniel Whitehead Press Box Phone 540-464-7834 Athletic Communications Fax 540-464-7583 Oct. 14 at Furman* 1 p.m. Mailing Address 116 Smith Hall; Lexington, Va. 24450 Website www.VMIKeydets.com Oct. 21 Western Carolina* 1:30 p.m. Twitter @VMIAthletics/@VMI_Football Oct. 28 at The Citadel* 2 p.m. The 2017 VMI Football Fact Book is a product of the VMI Athletic Communications Office. The publication has been produced to aid the media in covering VMI football during the 2017 season. Nov. 4 at ETSU* 3 p.m. For additional information, the media may contact the Athletic Communications Office, Cameron Hall, Lexington, VA 24450. The office may Nov. 11 Wofford* 1:30 p.m. also be reached via telephone at (540) 464-7253. Credits: The 2017 VMI Football Fact Book was written by Wade Branner, Associate A.D./Athletic Communications and designed by Brad Salois, Associate * = Southern Conference Game Athletic Communications Director, respectively. Cover design by Joel Balthaser. Photography: Jeremy Leadbetter, VMI Communications & Marketing, Chuck All Times Eastern Steenburgh, B.R. Floyd, Kevin Remington, VMI Archives and Wade Branner. 2017 VMI Football Fact Book 1 2017 VMI Football Fact Book 2017 Season Preview The 2016 VMI Football team continued to 2016. Tight end Ryan Swingle led the way for career-high 261 yards against Western make strides under second-year head coach VMI, as he earned First Team All-SoCon hon- Carolina for his top performance of the year. Scott Wachenheim. Despite a 3-8 mark, the ors in both the coaches' and media selections. Redshirt sophomore Jake Paladino also saw Keydets were remarkably competitive in a Also earning multiple honors were linebacker extensive game action as a reserve against The Southern Conference that produced four Ryan Francis, who was selected to the media's Citadel and threw for 100 yards in just four teams that reached the FCS playoffs. A time first team and the coaches' second team, as attempts, and continued development in spring span of 1:12 separated the Keydets from two well as return specialist Mason Dermott. drill, as did redshirt freshman Duncan Hodges more potential wins as Mercer and WCU Dermott earned Second Team honors on both who competed a high percentage of passes in overcame deficits with late game heroics. The squads. Other honorees included lineman two spring scrimmages. scoring margin improved from -11.9 in 2015 Andrew Lewis, who had been voted a presea- to -7.3 last year. VMI also started the season son all-conference selection, defensive back Wachenheim began the evaluation of the 3-2 for the first time since 2003 and in the Greg Sanders, wide receiver Aaron Sanders three returning QBs in spring drills, but will process won back-to-back road games for the and two freshmen, Javeon Lara and Daz also take a look at highly touted incoming first time in 35 years. The three wins also Palmer. freshman Reece Udinski in August camp were the most in a season since 2010. before deciding on a starter for the opener. The 2017 Keydets will be deep and experi- Udinski was named a top performer in a VMI continued to improve on defense ranking enced on the defensive side of the ball while Pennsylvania All-Star game over the summer allowing 7.3 points less per game and the moving younger personnel into first time and brings impressive credentials to the pro- fewest opponent points in a season since starting roles on offense. Overall, the Keydets gram. 2003. The defense also ranked third in oppo- must replace 23 letterman including seven nents third down conversions allowed. VMI starters on offense. Defensively, the Keydets The running backs position group is deep and was the least penalized team in the confer- return a solid seven performers in starting talented prompting the staff to emphasize the ence and improved its turnover margin +12 roles. Three specialists also return to the ground game in the recent spring drills. The from a year ago. Offensively, the Keydets again squad for the 2017 season. Keydets return their top two rushers in Daz had one the top passing teams in the SoCon Palmer and Tyain Smith who combined for and ranking third in the league despite having Offensively, VMI must replace all-time leading over 700 yards on the ground as true fresh- to deploy its fourth string quarterback passer Al Cobb at quarterback. Cobb threw men. Palmer played in all 11 games and led because of injuries late in the season. for a VMI record 7,727 yards in just three sea- the team in rushing with 491 yards on 125 sons before his graduation last May and carries and three touchdown and was named Nine VMI football players earned postseason etched his name on six other career passing to the 2016 SoCon All-Freshman offensive awards from the Southern Conference in marks including completions, attempts, touch- team. Palmer rushed for a career-high 136 down passes, and 200-yard passing games. yards on 19 carries and scored on a two-yard run to cap a second half surge against Finding a replacement for Cobb won’t be easy, Western Carolina. Smith finished second on but the Keydets do have two quarterbacks on the team in rushing yardage with 289 yards the roster with game experience from the and averaged 5.1 yards per carry and had a 2016 season. Redshirt sophomore Austin breakout game against ETSU when he gained Coulling played in six games with two starts 97 yards and sprinted for a 73-yard touch- before being sidelined for the season finale down run which was VMI’s longest rush of the because of injury the previous week and made year. Smith was second on the team in rushing starts against Western Carolina in week nine touchdowns with four on the season. Redshirt and The Citadel in week 10. Coulling complet- junior Brice Tucker was limited by injury last ed 18 of 25 passes and one touchdown for a year but has proven effective when healthy. Ryan Francis 2 2017 VMI Football Fact Book 2017 VMI Football Fact Book The receivers corps was depleted with the 9.6 per contest and led the team in tackles- game action as a reserve his true freshman graduations of All-Conference wideout Aaron for-loss with 13.5 including six sacks which year and should be in the mix and ends Jerrod Sanders and playmaker Ryan Forlines along also topped the Keydet defensive unit. Richmond and Shavon Henderson will vie for with All-Conference tight end Ryan Swingle. Cratsenberg led the Southern Conference in the starting role at left end. Young and experienced playmakers Javeon tackles with 126 (60 solo, 66 assists) and an Lara and Rohan Martin return to lead the 11.5 per game average and had 8.5 tackles-for- The secondary will be led by All-Conference group, however. Lara was named SoCon All- loss which ranked tied for 17th in the SoCon. senior safety Greg Sanders who is entering his Freshman team on offense after producing The Pennsylvania senior was named first team senior season looking to finish with a banner long touchdown scores through the air of 73 All-SoCon by the media after posting the lone campaign. Sanders was named second team and 54 yards. Martin caught 12 passes for 124 20-tackle game in the conference during the All-SoCon as voted by the media and finished yards during his freshman year and had the season with 20 stops against The Citadel – fourth on the team in tackles with 68 stops most catches (5) in the road win at Bucknell VMI’s first 20 tackle game since 1999.