ARMY WEST POINT OFFENSE
WR—82 Kjetil Cline 6-0 210 Sr.
TE—83 Zach Saum 6-5 250 Sr.
LT—60 Alex Herndon 6-2 265 Sr.
LG—73 Jaxson Deaton 6-4 305 Sr.
C—55 JB Hunter 6-4 290 Jr.
RG—76 Peyton Reeder 6-6 300 Jr.
RT—75 Jack Sides 6-2 290 Sr.
WR—88 Cam Harrison 6-2 210 Jr.
QB—8 Kelvin Hopkins Jr. 5-10 205 Sr.
FB—3 Sandon McCoy 5-11 235 Jr.
AB—5 Kell Walker 5-9 195 Sr.
TB—32 Artiice Hobbs 5-9 195 Jr.
Four years ago, the academy was re-branded Army West Point. But that did not change the offense’s allegiance to old-school, triple-option schemes. While the three football-playing academies have similar run-based concepts, Navy and Air Force have expanded their playbooks with more passing options. Army has remained true to Erk Russell’s version, which he employed in leading Georgia Southern to offensive glory in the 1980s. Russell’s disciple, Paul Johnson, became Jeff Monken’s mentor during stints at Hawaii, Navy and, yes, back at Georgia Southern. Monken, in his sixth season at West Point, has continued a scheme that begins with the fullback dive. It’s a quick-hitting burst up the gut, with fullbacks Sandon McCoy and Connor Slomka splitting the 240 carries. Slotbacks Kell Walker and Artice Hobbs align on each side of the quarterback. Walker usually curls from the left slot to the side of the fullback, then either keeps going to the right as leader blocker or pitch runner, or he turns back as a blocker on the left side. Hobbs does the same, only in the opposite patter as Walker. Kelvin Hopkins, who leads with 619 rushing yards, and Jabari Laws, who was injured against VMI two weeks ago, are quarterbacks who can get to the edge quickly. The Black Knights don’t throw very often — 14.7 percent of the plays — but Hopkins placed passes into tight windows against UH last season and Laws is 8-for-10 this year.
ARMY WEST POINT DEFENSE
SLB—11 Donavan Lynch 6-0 228 Sr.
E—57 Jacob Covington 6-2 275 Sr.
NG—93 Rod Stoddard 5-11 280 Sr.
NT—97 Kwabena Bonsu 6-4 280 So.
RE—43 Jeremiah Lowery 6-2 255 Jr.
WLB—53 Arik Smith 6-0 235 So.
MLB—54 Cole Christiansen 6-2 235 Sr.
BC—23 Elijah Riley 6-0 210 Sr.
BS—22 Cedrick Cunningham 6-0 205 So.
FS—7 Jaylon McClinton 5-10 205 Sr.
FC—8 Javhari Bourdeau 5-8 185 Jr.
Whomever the Warriors start at quarterback, Army will counter with what it has termed its own “warrior” mentality. That means exerting pressure on blitzes and stunts to hurry what already is a quick-passing offense. “Even if we’re not getting back there getting sacks, just putting pressure on the quarterback, making him throw off, or throw unbalanced, will be a big help for the secondary,” nose tackle Kwabena Bonsu said. The Black Knights’ base is a 3-4, but they essentially use two nose tackles, flip-flopping Bonsu and Rod Stoddard between the point and the gaps. Against San Jose State, which also has a quick-release QB, the Knights stormed with as many as six heat-seeking defenders. Middle linebacker Cole Christiansen leads with 99 tackles, but he also is disruptive on delayed blitzes and dropping into coverage. Last season, UH missed a chance to tie when Christiansen’s fingertips got in the way on a final pass. Boundary cornerback Elijah Riley is a devotee of superhero movies, fitting for a player who is part Flash, part Iron Man. Riley, off corner blitzes, has eight tackles for loss, including a team-high four sacks. He also has six pass breakups.
ARMY WEST POINT SPECIALISTS
PK—96 Cole Talley 6-0 216 Fr.
KO—1 Landon Salyers 6-1 195 Jr.
P/H—17 Zach Potter 5-10 200 Sr.
LS—48 Kyle O’Connor 6-1 245 Jr.
KR—27 Brandon Walters 5-11 175 So.
PR—23 Elijah Riley 6-0 210 Sr.
The Black Knights have converted just three field-goal attempts, and one since the second week of the season. True freshman Cole Talley, who has handled most of the point-scoring kicks, is just 1-for-3. Zach Potter (seven punts landing inside the 20) and Zach Harding (47.2 yards per punt) split the work.
HAWAII OFFENSE
LWO—23 Jared Smart 6-0 190 Jr.
LSB—3 Jason-Matthew Sharsh 6-0 190 Sr.
LT—75 Ilm Manning 6-4 285 So.
LG—76 Michael Eletise 6-3 325 Jr.
C—63 TaagaTuulima 6-2 310 Jr.
RG—52 Solo Vaipulu 6-2 300 So.
RT—74 Gene Pryor 6-3 305 Jr.
RSB—6 Cedric Byrd 5-9 175 Sr.
RWO—9 JoJo Ward 5-9 175 Sr.
QB—12 Chevan Cordeiro 6-1 190 Fr.
QB—13 Cole McDonald 6-4 220 Jr.
RB—21 Fred Holly III 6-0 200 Jr.
Nineteen months ago, the Warriors did not have enough available offensive linemen to fill a two-deep chart. But through recruiting — and playing players early in their careers —they are more than three-deep in blockers. Without ailing senior left guard J.R. Hensley, the Warriors will start an O-line that might be intact for the 2020 opener. Michael Eletise, who transferred from Arizona in August, has replaced Hensley. Since being cleared to play in October, Eletise has built his stamina, going from 20 cameo snaps to a full 66 snaps against San Diego State last week. Eletise had a few alignment misjudgments early, but settled down to provide punishing run-blocking in the second half. Ilm Manning and Gene Pryor have been solid on the edges (and on pulls), and Solo Vaipule is as good a guard as there has been in the 15 years of UH’s version of the run-and-shoot. But the unheralded leader has been center Taaga Tuulima, who initially joined UH as a walk-on defensive lineman. Tuuilma, who is 14-10 as a starter, provides stability, particularly since the Warriors have used six guards this season. The competition will increase next season with the return of Kohl Levao, who started 14 games in 2018 and is redshirting this season, and development of freshmen Bubba Wa‘a, Arasi Mose and Caden Hilborn. The QB platoon of Chevan Cordeiro and Cole McDonald will extend for another weekend.
HAWAII DEFENSE
DE—49 Pumba Williams 6-2 260 Sr.
NT—55 Blessman Ta‘ala 6-1 300 So.
DT—95 Kendall Hune 6-3 285 Sr.
DE—48 Derek Thomas 6-3 225 Jr.
LB—27 Solomon Matautia 6-1 230 Sr.
LB—2 Jeremiah Pritchard 6-0 225 Jr.
LB—53 Darius Muasau 6-1 225 Fr.
CB—18 Cortez Davis 5-11 180 Jr.
FS—22 Ikem Okeke 6-0 200 Sr.
SS—5 Khoury Bethley 5-10 200 So.
CB—4 Rojesterman Farris II 6-1 185 Sr.
The Warriors will be without their best chaos creator (ailing rush end Kaimana Padello) and option-QB tracker (Kalen Hicks), but they remain hopeful, in part due to a preview of the triple option (Air Force) earlier in the season. The Warriors had difficulties in that game, with AFA adding never-seen-before wrinkles. But at the run-and-shoot’s core, “we’re seeing similar plays,” defensive coordinator Corey Batoon said. “We get a second-chance (against the triple option), a do-over. We’re excited.” In last year’s game against Army, linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Penei Pavihi played significant roles. Tavai is now in the NFL and Pavihi is mending from a preseason knee injury. But two linebackers who did not play in that game — true freshman Darius Muasau and Jeremiah Pritchard, a 2018 redshirt — have developed into multi-tasking edge setters who can narrow the Black Knights’ attack. The Warriors welcomed back Derek Thomas, who returned last week after missing six games with an ailment. Thomas provides speed forward and backward, as a pass rusher and as an end who can cover the flats.
HAWAII SPECIALISTS
PK/KO—17 Ryan Meskell 6-0 185 Sr.
P/H—9 Stan Gaudion 6-3 210 Jr.
LS—44 Wyatt Tucker 5-10 205 Jr.
KR—85 Lincoln Victor 5-10 165 Fr.
PR—6 Cedric Byrd II 5-9 175 Sr.
For several years, it appeared favorable pairing a slotback who returns punts. Chad Owens was the breakaway threat. Davone Bess and Greg Salas made sure to secure catches. Byrd, who replaced the departed Melquise Stovall, has shown a blend of situational awareness, sure hands and a willingness to field a punt off the bounce.
