Move to '25: Army & UAB
Welcome to the "Move to 2025" series as we officially flip our depth chart to '2025 Mode' and provide a high-level look at each squad heading into summer workouts.
Welcome to the “Move to 2025” series. These features are designed to give you a high-level glimpse at each program heading into the 2025 summer workouts and wet your appetite for more. The new 2025 depth charts are up-to-date with every player enrolled and include those who are still waiting to enroll from the spring portal window officially. Be sure to click the links to view the complete depth charts over at the website. They are continually updated.
This is just some of the in-depth information you’ll find in our first State of the Chart™ Digital Magazine, set to release in July. It will include literally everything you’ll need (and a lot more) for all 136 FBS schools. Each team has six pages dedicated to it, including positional depth charts and write-ups, strength of schedule and win totals projections, and much more. For more information on the magazine, click on the banner below. We’ll be sending sneak previews throughout the summer leading up…thank you for your support and following.
We finish up the American Athletic Conference (AAC) today with Army and UAB…
Army Black Knights
2024 Record: 12-2 (8-0)
2025 AAC All-In Ranking: 4th / 14
Army State of the Chart™
After back-to-back mediocre, six-win seasons at West Point, Jeff Monken started to hear some questions about the evolution of his program in the changing landscape. Big credit is due to Monken, along with offensive coordinator Cody Worley, for the offensive tweaks that retained the same triple-option principles but introduced more variables to keep defenses off balance. It helped that they had QB Bryson Daily around to run it. He led the offense to new heights, while the defense took significant steps forward, and it all came together as they rolled through the first nine games of the season with little trouble. They didn't play anybody until the matchup with Notre Dame in week 13. They finally met their match, losing 49-14. They were able to get back on the horse and beat Tulane to capture the AAC Title, before a letdown in the annual Army-Navy game, falling to the Midshipmen. This 12-win season should be celebrated, but any time that game is lost, it leaves a damper on things. The real hero in this is the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line. They were simply dominant in the trenches, against everybody, except the best of the best in college football (the Irish). They will have to find a way to win without Daily, but they are confident in what they have returning at quarterback, led by returning backup Dewayne Coleman Jr. The defense must find a way to replace a couple of key contributors, but Nate Woody has been able to identify those types of players within the program.
Army Offense:
Style: Triple Option Hybrid
Pace: Slow
Tendency: Run Heavy
Play Caller: Cody Worley
Cody Worley's hybrid triple option offense worked against just about everybody. Until they ran into the elite defense (Notre Dame) and the one that faces a similar attack in practice (Navy). They had the quarterback to run things to near perfection in Bryson Daily. They will need to transition this to a new signal caller, and there will be an open competition. Decision-making and vision in the running game will be critical to sustaining this momentum. Of course, possibly equally as important is the play of the defending Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line, of which just two of five return. The scheme is great, but the operators are needed to run it properly.
Army Defense:
Style: 3-4 Blitz
Play Caller: Nate Woody
Not to be outdone by the offense, this defense was equally as impressive. They weren't as flashy, but they were nasty. They held opponents to 15.5 points per game, ranked 5th in all of FBS. Like the offense, they were great about everybody other than Notre Dame and Navy. As is always the case, they will graduate some impact players, but they develop better than anybody. An extra blow was sustained as LB Elo Modozie left the program to join Georgia. That doesn't happen often. Nate Woody will need to build this back up and continue dominating in the AAC. Leveling up against the top programs is the next step.
Army Specialists:
They will lose their primary place kicker, Trey Gronotte. Dawson Jones is expected to step in to the role and will need to come of age quickly. Punter James Wagenseller was just okay and he returns to that same role. Lloyd Benson III is back to take on the kickoff and punt return duties primarily. Jaydan Mayes will also return a few punts himself. They haven't fully taken to the role, but the upside is there.
This is just a taste of what's to come for the Black Knights in 2025. Check out the full 2025 depth chart here:
and check back often as we are updating with all news and notes from summer camps and leading into the season.
--------------------
UAB Blazers
2024 Record: 3-9 (2-6)
2025 AAC All-In Ranking: 11th / 14
UAB State of the Chart™
Trent Dilfer has something to prove in 2025. Now, with two seasons under his belt and just seven total wins to show for it, the administration needs to see something. The move to the AAC has not gone particularly smoothly, and the hope that a 'name' would help hasn't. Yet. The talent level on the roster is just not up to snuff. It's not an easy job, and it's certainly not helped when you have an unlucky -12 turnover ratio in '24. To make matters worse, they chose Dilfer over Bryant Vincent, who was the interim following Bill Clark's decision to step down. Vincent took the ULM job and proceeded to beat the Blazers 32-6 in week two this season. Dilfer didn't secure their first FBS-level win until week ten against Tulsa and won just one other game to pair with the Alcorn State win in week one, posting a three-win season. Another issue is that they were one of the most undisciplined groups in the country, committing 73.8 yards of penalties per game. Dilfer's 'quarterback whisperer' reputation needs to shine through and get this offense jump-started. Jalen Kitna, the former Florida Gator, was okay in '24, and it's possible he takes a big step up in '25 with his feet under him. The defense has seemingly been ignored, and they call on Steve Russ, in from Air Force, to help fix things. He'll need players to do that. We don't see a path to significant improvement, except for a bit of luck. Dilfer may need more than just luck to get another chance at this, unless they push for a bowl appearance in 2025. Again, we don't see that happening with the state of this roster. Dilfer has been doubted before; we'll see how he responds.
UAB Offense:
Style: Pro Style
Pace: Fast
Tendency: Balanced
Play Caller: Alex Mortensen
This offense developed into a pass-happy outfit, and had they been a bit more balanced and finished drives, they could have been a lot better. Jalen Kitna eventually took over at quarterback and compiled some good numbers, but the PLD shows some warts. They will also need to accompany the passing attack better than it did in '24. They lose Lee Beebe Jr. to Indiana, but Jevon Jackson is in from UTEP, and he can only go as far as the offensive line takes them. Alex Mortensen continues to call the shots with head coach Trent Dilfer's influence. This needs to take a nice leap forward in '25, but we aren't sure we'll see that materialize.
UAB Defense:
Style: 4-2-5
Play Caller: Steve Russ
There were two significant problems with this unit in '24. They didn't get in the backfield and allowed way too much on the ground. All problems that start in the front seven. The secondary was solid, but teams didn't even need to test them. Steve Russ must find a way to get that trend reversed and create a more balanced unti for '25 or else we'll see a lot of the same. They lose their best linebacker and a lot in the secondary. The portal reinforcements are few and far between, though S Jalen Cheek from Boston College is a good get. We just don't see a path to a big improvement here.
UAB Specialists:
They return both place kicker Jonah Delange (good) and punter Patrick Foley (serviceable). They don't have any backups, so hopefully they continue and stay healthy. Solomon Beebe and Tariq Watson return as the likely primary kick returners. The big loss will be Kam Shanks, who was one of the very best punt returners in the game in '25. That could be another way to get the ball into the athletic Beebe's hands.
This is just a taste of what's to come for the Blazers in 2025. Check out the full 2025 depth chart here:
and check back often as we are updating with all news and notes from summer camps and leading into the season.
Thank you for following along. Please consider subscribing and sharing our work. It fuels this work and keeps us going!