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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