Coming out of Maine Endwell Senior High School, the 5-foot-9, 225 pound local product from Endwell (NY) named Darnell Woolfolk did not receive any star designation from Rivals. Neither did he have any other noted offers beyond Army West Point despite rushing for over 1,600 yards in 2013 of his senior year.

Don’t get us wrong, his talents weren’t completely off the radar, as the current Black Knights’ sophomore fullback was getting looks from such schools as Maryland and Michigan, as well as schools out of the Ivy League.

But, on February 26, 2014 he verbally committed to Army’s safety coach John Loose, who had been handling his recruiting and now the rest appears to be history in the making.

In 2014 his stop was the academy’s prep school, followed by a year learning and watching from the sidelines as freshman. But now, Woolfolk has joined fellow sophomore Andy Davidson to give the Head Coach Jeff Monken and offensive coordinator Brent Davis, a solid two-barrel dynamic-duo attack from the B-back (fullback) position.

BECOMING ONE OF ARMY’S PLAYMAKERS

For upcoming opponents’ defensive coordinators, that already had enough to concern themselves with on the fullback play of starter Andy Davidson. But, with the emergence of Woolfolk, it’s like a double-edge sword as far as the DCs are concern.

Although Davidson has several more carries than Woolfolk in the first three games, it appears that the product of New York is closing the gap when it comes to overall game reps.

“I think Darnell is getting better with each game, playing faster and breaking more tackles,” expressed offensive coordinator Brent Davis when he spoke with GBK. “He is also playing really well without the ball.”

But even before the season started, what was Woolfolk’s mindset relative to fighting for the No. 1 spot as summer training camp unfolded?

“Honestly and I think going into camp I knew that I had to work hard no matter what,” Woolfolk shared with GoBlackKnights.com after Tuesday’s practice. I mean, we were expecting Kemp (senior Aaron Kemper - dismissed from the academy) to be here and I worked hard in the off-season a lot in the weight room and the competition was always there. Especially when they moved Andy over (from linebacker) and I think it’s just making both of us better as players.

Clearly, the S&C winter conditioning has pay dividends for the bruising fullback, who like Davidson does not typically go down on a defender’s first hit. This was an element of the offense that the coaching staff has readily admitted had been missing from last year’s arsenal.

For upcoming opponents’ defensive coordinators, that already had enough to concern themselves with on the fullback play of starter Andy Davidson. But, with the emergence of Woolfolk, it’s like a double-edge sword as far as the DCs are concern.

Although Davidson has several more carries than Woolfolk in the first three games, it appears that the product of New York is closing the gap when it comes to overall game reps.

“I think Darnell is getting better with each game, playing faster and breaking more tackles,” expressed offensive coordinator Brent Davis when he spoke with GBK. “He is also playing really well without the ball.”

But even before the season started, what was Woolfolk’s mindset relative to fighting for the No. 1 spot as summer training camp unfolded?

“Honestly and I think going into camp I knew that I had to work hard no matter what,” Woolfolk shared with GoBlackKnights.com after Tuesday’s practice. I mean, we were expecting Kemp (senior Aaron Kemper - dismissed from the academy) to be here and I worked hard in the off-season a lot in the weight room and the competition was always there. Especially when they moved Andy over (from linebacker) and I think it’s just making both of us better as players.

Clearly, the S&C winter conditioning has pay dividends for the bruising fullback, who like Davidson does not typically go down on a defender’s first hit. This was an element of the offense that the coaching staff has readily admitted had been missing from last year’s arsenal.



He admitted that the competition between him and Davidson is friendly and their is mutual respect for one another.

“Like I said, we are always pushing each other on the practice field, encouraging each other to work harder .... especially in the weight room as well,” explained Woolfolk.

“Honestly, if you watch us on the sidelines, we are always talking to each other, trying to improve each other. Also, when one of scores, we are both excited for each other. Honestly, I think we feed off of one another and so, I think that’s our advantage.”

“He and Andy have a very healthy competition going,” added Davis. “They both want to start and carry the football but they are the first ones to congratulate each other for good plays as well.”

And speaking of scoring ...

Two weeks ago against Rice, Woolfolk scored his first collegiate touchdown and torched UTEP by hitting pay-dirt three times, although he gives the most credit to the offensive line.

“The first one was nice, especially because my parents were there,” he said when asked how felt getting his first college touchdown, as he also compared it to the three he registered on Saturday versus UTEP.

“At UTEP ... honestly, I have to give all the credit to the offensive line on those scores. I was able to walk in on all three touchdowns {chuckles}, but it felt good,” he stated.

Of course, the luxury of having two quality fullbacks is that they will remain healthy through the course of the 2016 campaign. With or without the ball, both Woolfolk and Davidson are getting hit on every play. Although it is only coming up to game four, Woolfolk talked about how he feels physically and explain that the bye week after the Buffalo game could be a blessing in disguise.

“Honestly, I’m feeling pretty good,” he declared. “About the bye week, it’s always good to regroup, get your body right but it’s weird not playing on Saturday. It will be a change, but I know we’re going to still focus and work hard even in the bye week.”

Going into Saturday contest, Woolfolk has rushed for 143 yards on 36 carries (4.0 avg.). Combine that with Davidson’s 334 yards ... the fullback position between those two have piled up 477 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns.

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I describe myself as an eternal optimist; glass half full and not half empty which means that in recent Army football seasons, searching for and hanging onto the sometimes smallest signs of progress might have been a little difficult. Stressing over the comments on various threads that run the program down and suggesting Army will never be more than a Division II or III program. Saying to just give it up and cave to the notion that Army could never compete because we can never recruit quality athletes. Heck, we cannot even hang onto any coach much less attract a really good one to Army. (Can we say "Monken" ?)

I classify optimism last year as believing and predicting the 2015 season was going to be the turn around year under Coach Monken and that 6-7 wins were possible. Heck, even after that was dashed with a 2-10 record why couldn't people see that progress given that seven games were lost by 7 points or less. That "is" progress isn't it? No it was said, more evidence that our players and coaches just don't get it, just don't have the heart, just don't have enough talent or some other excuse. Well, now it's 2016.........

What say Army fans now?? With the same head coach, an improved but close to the same coaching staff, basically the exact same players, this Army West Point team is 3-0 and one of if not "the" genuine surprise in this year's college football season. How did this happen? Well I venture some thoughts.....
1. This coach knows what he's doing, and always has.
2. He had a plan from day one, he told us the plan, he has stayed with his plan, he has made his players believe in the plan.
3. He recruited to his plan, he put them into his S&C plan, he made moves with personnel to fit his plan, he has coached the players to execute that plan.
4. Last year Lady Luck seemed to never allow the ball to bounce in our direction. My belief is that this year Coach Monken has his players so dialed-in that they make their own luck with almost perfect execution. What has happened is not luck. It is the plan's time to shine bright.
** Credit needs to be given where credit is deserved.... thank you Coach Monken for not giving in and making "your" plan work.

So what is my conclusion? Optimism is a whole lot better tasting than any other form or 'ism.
My optimism says this year is special, and will continue to be more and more special as the weeks pass. Army's team has persevered terrible loss, emotions no teammates should ever have to endure and has come out on top in ways no one could have predicted. Will bumps in the road happen? Maybe, maybe not.....

Success has arrived for the Black Knights of the Hudson, and the uplifting response from all these threads is heart warming and long overdue for the fans. Moreover, I feel the excitement, the "promise", and I feel fantastic for this awesome team. My optimism says Buffalo is going down. With a weeks rest, I really feel good about payback at Duke. Then there are two very winnable games before payback is dealt out to Wake Forest. That tells me CBS picks up the Air Force game on the big channel in prime time to showcase the undefeated Army team. Will we defeat Notre Dame? Good question, but I will like that thought and that discussion the week leading up to the game.

Oh, how about Navy? They go down this year as they should have two of the last three years. The CIC is ours, a deserved bowl game and double digit wins will be Army's this year. A national coach of the year award to Monken and recruiting rights to Army over all our academy brothers. Can you say continued growth as a program? Believe me, I can get used to being the favored team instead of the underdog.

Optimism...... isn't it great to really feel it coming into full view and reality??
I cannot care or be bothered how other fans feel should they not be as optimistic. No one can shake my optimism and the pleasure it gives me to see Army 3-0 and favored to go 4-0.
Beat Buffalo, Beat Air Force, BEAT NAVY, Beat them all !!!

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What say ye the fans?

Go Army - BEAT EVERYONE!

Guys,

I need one of you football minds to help me understand something here. I'm curious about the QB stance we've seen this year. Specifically, Ahmad is getting so low in his stance under center... And I think Chris Carter is doing that as well. That wasn't the case last year. I believe it might have something to do with getting closer to the ball to prevent bad snaps with the center. Or it might be the center's preference (combination of both?) Whatever it is, I'm all for it because we haven't had balls on the ground this year. Having played option qb in a previous life, I would have found it difficult to get out of that stance quickly enough to get down the line to even mesh with the fullback. Yes, I get that both our QBs have 1000 times more athletic ability and talent than I ever had. And neither of them seem to be hindered by this at all. But I am curious about it. Any thoughts?

I apologize if this has been covered in detail before.

Someone said ESPN3, but I am not seeing that station through my Verizon connection.

The offensive numbers/stats speak for themselves, but as you have heard throughout from our interviews with Andy Davidson & Darnell Woolfolk (Click Here), it is the guys up front that are doing a great job and making the running game go.

"I think we can play better but doing some good things and playing hard," said offensive coordinator Brent Davis in his conversation with GoBlackKnights.com.

One of the concerns coming out of summer training camp and coming into the season, was to play as injury free up front as possible and to day, the O-line has been just that productive and injury free.

Talent at center: Starter, Bryce Holland (#65) & Joshua Boylan (#66)

Going into the 4th game of the season, the offensive line front will remain the same.

LT - Colby Enegren
LG - Justin Gilbert
OC - Bryce Holland (previous GBK story on Holland)
RG - Mike Houghton
RT - Brett Toth

The good news is that there is solid behind these four, just as Joshua Boylan, Rick Kurz and others.

Not to get ahead of ourselves but I have seen 2 different espn.com projections (Mark Schlereth) that say we may end up in the Independance Bowl (Shreveport LA) or Autonation Cure Bowl at Campingworld stadium Orlando where Orlando City FC soccer team plays. Both are lower rung bowls where the payday will be around $1mn per team. My best information is that after expenses and ticket guarantees we would net around $400k. If a Middle Tenn State or Ball State or MAC school participates they can only count on them bringing fans in the range of 3k and Army can deliver 10k - depending on proximity to bases. Ironic that in this year we dont have a specific bowl tie - in but if we win as many games as we think we will, there will be exposure and a pay day.

On the Rivals main page, they have picked up the GBK article by Gordon Larson.

Army making case for Top 25 ranking

Tremendous national exposure for sure!

In our MMQ review of the UTEP game we said that If the staff hands out Ranger jerseys to all the players who earned them, it would look like a reunion of the 75th Rangers at practice this week, and so it was.

For those who may not be familiar with the tradition, Army coach Jeff Monken has returned to the tradition started by Jim Young of awarding a Ranger jersey to be worn during practice for extraordinary effort.

The coaches are far better judges of player accomplishments than are we who have to rely on the TV broadcast and dry statistics; so we would like to publicly recognize those who are wearing the jerseys this week.

Offense (15):
Offensive linemen: Bryce Holland, Mike Houghton, Justin Gilbert, and Brett Toth.
TE: Quinten Parker
Wide Receivers: Edgar Poe, Jeff Ejekam, and Christian Poe
Slotbacks: Tyler Campbell, Elijah St. Hilaire, and Kell Walker
Fullbacks: Andy Davidson and Darnell Woolfolk
Quarterbacks: Ahmad Bradshaw and Chris Carter

Defense (9):
Defensive linemen: Andrew McLean, Eddy Ruzga, Ray Wright, and Wunmi Oyetuga
Linebackers: Andrew King, Jeremy Timpf, and Scott Washle
Defensive backs: Marcus Hyatt and Elijah Riley

Special Teams (5):
Kicker Mitchell Howard
Long snapper Scott Flanick
Linebacker Calen Holt
Safeties Jaylon McClinton and Max Regan

Despite the large number of players recognized this week, we believe that there were probably some others who could have been picked as well. Well Done.

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Nice PR and also great for recruiting!

Monday (9/19) at the Greater Allen AME Church in Jamaica N.Y.

• 4pm-6pm (Viewing)

• 6pm-7pm (Funeral Service)

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GBK Sr. Writer Gordon Larson strikes again with our weekly Monday Morning Quarterback feature.

However and as always, we liked to hear what you have to say as well - so we welcome analysis of the Army-UTEP game and how does your assessment of the contest match up with Mr. Gordon's?

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After our victory over UTEP, USA Today Sagarin has us ranked at #51 (74.94 rating)! We’re now ranked higher than the Mids @ 61 (71.49 rating); Duke @ 68 (69.50); Air Force @ 69 (69.25); and Wake Forest @ 73 (68.15). Home team (I think) gets an extra 3 points to the rating number. That makes us about a 22 point favorite next week at Buffalo. Interestingly enough, we’d be a 10 point underdog @ South Bend if we were playing the Irish this week. Still early in the season – but great to see!


Go Army

Beat Buffalo

I read that Darnell Woolfolk was named player of the game vs UTEP. With all due respect to Cadet Woolfolk I would say that the entire offensive line, including subs, were the players of the game. Those Cadets simply dominated the UTEP front. They had them gassed and befuddled by the third quarter. I'm guessing that many of them will be wearing Ranger jerseys this week in practice!