| Year: | 2019 |
| Team: | Army Black Knights |
| Mode: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 5–8 |
| Head Coach: | Jeff Monken |
| Hc Year: | 6th |
| Off Coach: | Brent Davis |
| Oc Year: | 6th |
| Off Scheme: | Triple option |
| Def Coach: | John Loose |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Captain: | Cole Christiansen |
| Captain2: | Kelvin Hopkins Jr. |
| Captain3: | Elijah Riley |
| Stadium: | Michie Stadium |
The 2019 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy as an independent in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Black Knights were led by sixth-year head coach Jeff Monken and played their home games at Michie Stadium. Due to playing an away game at Hawaii and the NCAA's "Hawaii Exemption", the Black Knights played a 13-game regular season in 2019.[1] [2] They finished the season with a record of 5–8, finishing in third place for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy following losses to Air Force and Navy, and missing out on a bowl game for the first time since the 2015 season.
Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman announced in December 2018 that he would be leaving to become the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at North Carolina under newly hired coach Mack Brown.[3] Weeks later, head football strength and conditioning coach Brian Hess was announced as joining Bateman at North Carolina.[4] Assistant football strength and conditioning coach Maurice Sims would also leave for North Carolina within the month. Safeties coach John Loose, after serving as the interim defensive coordinator for the 2018 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl victory over Houston, was announced as the full-time replacement at defensive coordinator on January 10, 2019.[5]
On January 14, 2019, Army West Point announced a new multi-year contract extension for head coach Jeff Monken through the 2024 season.[6] On the same day Army beat writer for the Times Herald-Record, Sal Interdonato, broke the news that Kansas Wesleyan head coach Matt Drinkall had joined the Army football staff as an offensive analyst.[7] [8] On January 18, Interdonato revealed that defensive line coach Chad Wilt had taken the same position with the Cincinnati Bearcats.[9]
On January 31, the West Point athletics department announced that Matt Hachmann would be joining the football staff as the outside linebackers coach.[10] He had spent the past two years as the linebackers coach at Stony Brook, and before that eight years as defensive coordinator at Towson. Because of his posting as linebackers coach, several defensive assistant coaches changed positions of responsibility. Coach Daryl Dixon, the former outside linebackers coach, is now responsible for cornerbacks, and Coach Christian-Young, the former cornerbacks coach, is now responsible for safeties. Additionally, assistant strength and conditioning coach Conor Hughes was promoted to head football strength and conditioning coach. On February 5, Coach Monken's last assistant coach position was filled with the announcement of the hire of Kevin Lewis as defensive line coach.[11] Lewis had spent the previous five seasons as the defensive line coach at William & Mary
On February 19 it was announced that Rusty Whitt and GC Yerry had been hired to serve as the two assistant football strength and conditioning coaches, filling out the remaining open positions on Monken's staff.[12] Whitt joined the staff after serving as the head football strength and conditioning coach at Texas Tech from 2016−2018, while Yerry joined after serving as the director of athletic performance at Stony Brook, also from 2016−2018.
On March 19, the West Point athletics department announced that Jim Collins would join the staff as the new Director of Player Personnel.[13] Collins brings 25 years of head coaching experience at the Division II and Division III levels, including tenures as the head coach at the University of Dubuque from 1994−1996, Capital University (OH) from 1997−2007, and most recently at Saginaw Valley State from 2008−2018.
The Black Knights began their spring football session on March 7 and concluded it on April 12 with the annual Black and Gold Spring Game, where the Black team completed a fourth quarter comeback to win 35−28 in overtime.[14] Following the conclusion of spring ball, rising firsties Kelvin Hopkins Jr. and Elijah Riley were named team captains in addition to returning 2018 captain Cole Christiansen.[15]
The Black Knights' fall camp began on August 1 and consisted of 14 practices, finishing on August 17 with an intrasquad scrimmage in Michie Stadium.[16] Following the completion of camp, the Black Knights shifted their preparation to their Week 1 matchup with Rice. During August, the Black Knights received votes for the preseason AP and Coaches Polls, just missing out on starting within the Top 25 for the first time since 1959. They received a total of 94 points in the AP Poll and 91 points in the Coaches Poll, placing 2nd and 5th respectively in each poll's 'Also Receiving Votes' category.[17]
Listed in the order that they were released.
| Lott IMPACT Trophy[18] | Cole Christiansen | LB | SR | |
| Maxwell Award[19] | Kelvin Hopkins Jr. | QB | SR | |
| Chuck Bednarik Award[20] | Elijah Riley | CB | SR | |
| Davey O'Brien Award[21] | Kelvin Hopkins Jr. | QB | SR | |
| Rimington Trophy[22] | Peyton Reeder | C | JR | |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy[23] | Elijah Riley | CB | SR | |
| Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year[24] | Jeff Monken | HC | align=center | -- |
| Walter Camp Award[25] | Kelvin Hopkins Jr. | QB | SR | |
| CFPA National Performer of the Year[26] | Kelvin Hopkins Jr. | QB | SR | |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[27] | Kelvin Hopkins Jr. | QB | SR | |
| Manning Award[28] | Kelvin Hopkins Jr. | QB | SR | |
| Mortell Award[29] | Zach Potter | H | SR | |
| Head coach | 2014 | 2014 | Millikin | ||
| Offensive staff | |||||
| Brent Davis | Offensive coordinator/offensive line | 2014 | 2014 | Georgia | |
| Marcus Edwards | Wide receivers | 2018 | 2018 | South Florida | |
| Sean Saturnio | Tight ends | 2018 | 2014 | Hawaii | |
| Pat Tresey | Offensive line | 2018 | 2016 | Mount St. Joseph | |
| Mike Viti | Fullbacks | 2016 | 2016 | Army | |
| Mitch Ware | Quarterbacks | 2014 | 2014 | Southwest Missouri State | |
| Tucker Waugh | Slotbacks | 2015 | 20071 | DePauw | |
| Defensive staff | |||||
| John Loose | Defensive coordinator | 2019 | 20142 | Ithaca | |
| Josh Christian–Young | Safeties | 2019 | 2015 | Central Missouri | |
| Kevin Corless | Inside Linebackers | 2014 | 2014 | Northwest Missouri State | |
| Daryl Dixon | Cornerbacks | 2019 | 2016 | Florida | |
| Matt Hachmann | Outside linebackers | 2019 | 2019 | St. Thomas (Minn.) | |
| Kevin Lewis | Defensive line | 2019 | 2019 | Virginia Tech | |
| Special teams staff | |||||
| Mike Krysl | Special teams Coordinator | 2018 | 2018 | Central Missouri | |
| Quality control staff | |||||
| Offensive quality control | 2019 | 2019 | Western Illinois–Quad Cities | ||
| Rick Lyster | Defensive quality control | 2019 | 2019 | Lafayette | |
| Strength and conditioning staff | |||||
| Scott Swanson | Director of Strength & Conditioning | 1998 | 19983 | Wake Forest | |
| Conor Hughes | Head Football Strength & Conditioning | 2019 | 2017 | Springfield College (Mass.) | |
| Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning | 2019 | 2019 | Abilene Christian | ||
| GC Yerry | Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning | 2019 | 2019 | Stony Brook | |
| Support staff | |||||
| Chief of Staff/Director of Football Operations | 2018 | 2018 | Navy | ||
| CPT Zachary Reichert | Assistant director of Football Operations | 2019 | 2019 | Army | |
| CPT Blake Powers | Admissions Support Officer | 2018 | 2018 | Indiana | |
| Director of player personnel | 2019 | 2019 | Wittenberg | ||
| Devon Doyle | Assistant director of Recruiting Operations | 2019 | 2019 | ||
| Tanner Dupuis | Assistant director of Recruiting/Content | 2019 | 2019 | Georgia Southern | |
| Danny Payne | Director of scouting | 2017 | 2017 | Kennesaw State | |
| Brett Moore | Director of On-Campus Recruiting | 2017 | 2017 | Georgia Southern | |
| Lawrence Scott | Director of Player Development | 2018 | 2018 | Army | |
| Jack O'Reilly | Director of Video Operations | 2018 | 2018 | Clemson | |
| Michael Zeoli | Assistant director of Video Operations | 2017 | 2017 | William Paterson | |
Source:[30]
The Army football roster for the Week 1 game versus Rice (as of August 26, 2019):[31]
| 2019 Army Black Knights roster | |||||
Quarterback
Slot Back
Fullback
Wide receiver
Long snapper
| Tight end
Offensive Lineman
Defensive Lineman
Punter
| Linebacker
Defensive back
Kicker
| |||
The Army football depth chart for the 120th Army-Navy Game (as of December 9, 2019):[32]
Depth Chart 2019
True Freshman
Double Position : *
See also: 2019 Rice Owls football team.
| Statistics | RICE | ARMY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 10 | 17 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 3–11 | 9–15 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 0–1 | 1–2 | |
| Plays–yards | 44–243 | 64–284 | |
| Rushes–yards | 30–181 | 56–231 | |
| Passing yards | 62 | 53 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 7–14–0 | 3–8–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 3–20 | 4–26 | |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 | |
| Time of possession | 25:09 | 34:51 |
See also: 2019 Michigan Wolverines football team.
| Statistics | ARMY | MICH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 15 | 23 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 5–16 | 9–16 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 3–3 | 1–3 | |
| Plays–yards | 66–243 | 76–340 | |
| Rushes–yards | 61–200 | 45–108 | |
| Passing yards | 43 | 232 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 2–5–1 | 20–31–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 8–78 | 9–58 | |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 | |
| Time of possession | 31:35 | 28:25 |
See also: 2019 UTSA Roadrunners football team.
| Statistics | ARMY | UTSA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 22 | 13 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 5–9 | 5–13 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 0–0 | 2–2 | |
| Plays–yards | 57–358 | 60–260 | |
| Rushes–yards | 55–340 | 27–51 | |
| Passing yards | 18 | 209 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 2–2–0 | 24–33–1 | |
| Penalties–yards | 5–30 | 7–54 | |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 | |
| Time of possession | 30:33 | 29:27 |
See also: 2019 Morgan State Bears football team.
| Statistics | MSU | ARMY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 12 | 30 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 6–16 | 4–11 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 2–4 | 3–3 | |
| Plays–yards | 60–308 | 76–483 | |
| Rushes–yards | 31–78 | 69–403 | |
| Passing yards | 230 | 80 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–29–3 | 1–7–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 11–72 | 7–50 | |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 | |
| Time of possession | 25:20 | 34:40 |
See also: 2019 Tulane Green Wave football team.
| Statistics | TLN | ARMY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 28 | 21 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 7–12 | 6–15 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| Plays–yards | 74–525 | 68–363 | |
| Rushes–yards | 53–324 | 44–193 | |
| Passing yards | 201 | 170 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–21–0 | 9–24–1 | |
| Penalties–yards | 9–79 | 4–34 | |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 | |
| Time of possession | 31:07 | 28:53 |
See also: 2019 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team.
| Statistics | ARMY | WKU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 10 | 26 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 3–11 | 10–17 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 2–2 | 2–3 | |
| Plays–yards | 48–208 | 81–365 | |
| Rushes–yards | 36–137 | 51–225 | |
| Passing yards | 71 | 140 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 5–12–0 | 21–30–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 2–30 | 2–28 | |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 | |
| Time of possession | 21:53 | 38:07 |
See also: 2019 Georgia State Panthers football team.
| Statistics | ARMY | GSU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 20 | 23 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 6–15 | 6–10 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 6–8 | 1–2 | |
| Plays–yards | 72–343 | 60–379 | |
| Rushes–yards | 61–278 | 32–147 | |
| Passing yards | 65 | 232 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 6–11–1 | 20–28–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 3–25 | 1–5 | |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 | |
| Time of possession | 38:08 | 21:52 |
See also: 2019 San Jose State Spartans football team.
| Statistics | SJSU | ARMY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 19 | 28 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 5–10 | 11–17 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 0–1 | 2–4 | |
| Plays–yards | 49–402 | 83–429 | |
| Rushes–yards | 18–88 | 70–326 | |
| Passing yards | 314 | 103 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–31–0 | 7–13–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 3–16 | 9–74 | |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 | |
| Time of possession | 20:58 | 39:02 |
See also: 2019 Air Force Falcons football team and Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
| Statistics | ARMY | AF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 14 | 17 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 5–13 | 5–13 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 1–3 | 1–1 | |
| Plays–yards | 52–343 | 63–344 | |
| Rushes–yards | 38–129 | 55–328 | |
| Passing yards | 214 | 16 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–14–0 | 2–8–1 | |
| Penalties–yards | 7–47 | 5–28 | |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 | |
| Time of possession | 27:43 | 32:17 |
See also: 2019 UMass Minutemen football team.
| Statistics | UMASS | ARMY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 7 | 34 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 2–12 | 7–11 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 1–3 | 2–2 | |
| Plays–yards | 48–125 | 84–546 | |
| Rushes–yards | 26–26 | 78–498 | |
| Passing yards | 99 | 48 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–22–2 | 3–6–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 5–44 | 2–20 | |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 | |
| Time of possession | 18:47 | 41:13 |
See also: 2019 VMI Keydets football team.
| Statistics | VMI | ARMY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 14 | 29 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 5–15 | 7–9 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 1–3 | 1–1 | |
| Plays–yards | 58–271 | 72–643 | |
| Rushes–yards | 21–40 | 65–594 | |
| Passing yards | 231 | 49 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–37–0 | 4–7–1 | |
| Penalties–yards | 3–24 | 3–35 | |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 | |
| Time of possession | 23:25 | 36:35 |
See also: 2019 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team.
| Statistics | ARMY | HAW | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 23 | 25 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 4–12 | 4–8 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 1–4 | 0–0 | |
| Plays–yards | 74–538 | 60–492 | |
| Rushes–yards | 63–411 | 19–133 | |
| Passing yards | 127 | 359 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 5–11–2 | 26–41–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 3–29 | 4–36 | |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 | |
| Time of possession | 35:20 | 24:40 |
See also: 2019 Navy Midshipmen football team, Commander-in-Chief's Trophy and Army–Navy Game.
| Statistics | ARMY | NAVY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 9 | 17 | |
| 3rd down efficiency | 4–14 | 7–12 | |
| 4th down efficiency | 2–3 | 0–0 | |
| Plays–yards | 53–148 | 56–396 | |
| Rushes–yards | 47–123 | 55–395 | |
| Passing yards | 25 | 1 | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 3–6–1 | 1–1–0 | |
| Penalties–yards | 3–18 | 1–15 | |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 | |
| Time of possession | 27:41 | 32:19 |