Sir, there are…

We’re a little fired up.

Can you tell?

This week, we’re talking about players to watch on the offensive side of the ball.  Most of these are players  you’ve heard of; they’re guys who we think are due for a break-out season.

 

QB Jabari Laws

Remember Jabari Laws?  Looked like he was the heir apparent to QB Kelvin Hopkins up until he got hurt playing against VMI late in 2019.  Okay, but do you remember that time he went 9 of 11 passing against Air Force for more than 200 yards and damn-near won the game with a team that would only win five all season?

Well, friends, the coaching staff remembers. You can bet that OC Brent Davis remembers. In fact, rumor has it that Laws still has the best arm of any quarterback on the team.

If he can stay healthy, friends, QB Jabari Laws just might prove to be a difference-maker for the Black Knights in 2021.

Jabari Laws getting some throwing in #ArmyFootball

?Army Athletics pic.twitter.com/sZadD2krFL

— Sal Interdonato (@salinterdonato) April 9, 2021

 

SB Braheam Murphy

Though only a rising cow, Murphy has already seen a ton of action. Three games as a plebe in 2019; ten as a yearling in 2020. But up until now, Murphy has just 7 carries for 38 yards (5.4 yards/carry) with 1 touchdown.  He’s been productive with the ball in his hands, but he spent most of last season either blocking or running decoy routes.

Look for that to change heading into 2021. Murphy has been making big gains in the weight room and ought to push for a larger role in the offense in the coming season.

Dude rarely disappoints when he gets an opportunity.  We’re excited to see how that plays out in the coming year.

Missin the field. I can feel a blessing coming ?? #Patience pic.twitter.com/CMN8FLqWNN

— Braheam Murphy (@BraheamMurphy) January 12, 2021

 

G Connor Finucane

Former three-star recruit Connor Finucane chose Army over Kansas.  He then played in a whopping *10* games as a plebe on the offensive line. That is incredible.

Dude is 6’4″, listed at 285 on Army’s website. It’s a good bet that he’ll be bigger than that once the season starts.

Look for Finucane to move some people inside this season. We’re expecting Army’s inside running game to be legit in 2021.

Bigs Worker of the Week
Connor Finucane
Position- Offensive Line
Class- Plebe
Hometown- Baton Rouge, LA#WoW #GoArmy #BEATnavy @ArmyWP_Football pic.twitter.com/22MEowrvWJ

— Army Football Strength (@ArmyFB_Strength) January 30, 2021

 

FB Anthony Adkins

Cow FB Anthony Adkins has been on my list of Players to Watch for a good long while now.  He has more speed than fellow FB Jakobi Buchanan but just as much size. Adkins is maybe not the same kind of wrecking ball in short yardage situations, but he’s got a knack for finding running room by bouncing plays into space off-tackle, and if you want to run a pitch to the fullback, Adkins would definitely be your man for that, too.  With that, we’re hoping he sees the field a little more consistently in 2021.

Fact is, Anthony Adkins has as much pure athletic potential as any player on the Army Football Team.  He’s played well in spots, too, but we’re still looking for his honest-to-God breakout season.

We think 2021 might be it.

Thank you 2020. See y’all in 2021.✌? pic.twitter.com/9CCtG47T9B

— Anthony Adkins (@yeah_antt) January 1, 2021

 

WR Isaiah Alston

WR Isaiah Alston entered his plebe season with as much hype as any newcomer I can remember in the Jeff Monken Era. He flashed some amazing hands but then got hurt before he could really realize his full potential.

The good news is that Alston should come back healthy and ready to make an impact. Depending who’s under center, we think he could catch a lot of balls this season.

Jeff Monken said on his weekly radio show that this reception by freshman WR Isaiah Alston against Louisiana-Monroe was, “one of the best catches that I’ve seen in football ever.” #ArmyFootballpic.twitter.com/e99RvV23Fq

— Sal Interdonato (@salinterdonato) September 18, 2020

But is he really healthy?

Well.  We’re not in the training room, but he certainly looks like he’s getting healthy.

Freshman WR Isaiah Alston hits 285#. ⁦@ArmyWP_Football⁩ ???‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/jUM959UTYJ

— Jeff Monken (@CoachJeffMonken) March 5, 2021

Hell yeah.  We’ll take it.

* * *

That’s all for this week.  Next week, we’ll look at the defense.

While we’re talking, this week’s cover image comes via GoArmyWestPoint.Com.  Friends, the Army ticket office would like to remind you that tickets are now on sale for the Lockheed Martin Commanders’ Classic, Army vs. Air Force on November 6, 2021 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

I’ll be there!

Tickets are now available for the 2021 Lockheed Martin Commanders' Classic at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas!

? https://t.co/vPyNhUQwlz#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/oeyfikg8Ss

— ArmyWestPoint Sports (@GoArmyWestPoint) January 5, 2021

Go Army!  Beat Georgia State!!!