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Preface: Signing day is much different for the service academies. Don’t expect the whole fax machine, national LOI thing to happen. It doesn’t. They actually don’t publicly announce the class until the summer and bring in between 80-90 freshman. With that said, both schools do have some hard commits that we will feature here. First up, Army.
Heading into the National Signing Day experience on February 1, 2017 we discussed three areas of need for the Army Black Knights. Army needs to find a QB to efficiently run the triple option, inside linebackers to replace their two graduating studs and a big, gap eating nose guard for their 3-4 defense.
Signed with Ball state.
Athlete
Ath - Kevin Dominique - 6’1 200 - 3* - Louisiana
I want to start off this class by discussing Kevin Dominique, a huge steal of a 3* kid from Louisiana. Dominique is a 6’1 200lbs “Athlete” who played RB in high school and claims a 4.43 in the 40. Kevin ran for 1800 yards and 33 TD’s while making All-State honors. He played in a pistol flexbone at what would be the FB position.
Quarterback
Dual - Tyhier Tyler 5’9 170 - 2* - Virginia
Tyler ran for over 600 yards and 11 TDs, and threw for over 1400 yards and an 18:4 TD:INT ratio. Tyler played in a wing-t misdirection based offense in high school which is in the family of offensive systems with the double wing triple option.
Dual - Christian Anderson 6’1 180 - 3* - New York
Anderson is a 3* QB who ran for 570 yards and 10 TDs, while throwing for over 3,600 yards and 37 TDs. Anderson has more size than Tyler but has experience in a shotgun spread offense versus an under center option scheme.
Pro - Dominique Shoffner - 6’1 210 - 2* - North Carolina
Shoffner has just recently committed to Army. Shoffner is another spread QB that threw for 2900 yards and 38 TDs while rushing for another 13 TDs. His arm is average but he has the mobility and quick cuts for the triple option.
Inside Linebacker
Kemonte Yow - 6’0 228 - 2* - Texas
Yow is a tough kid that played OLB, MLB and NT for his high school squad. He plays with better speed than he tests (4.7 in the 40). Yow is the speed player with high football IQ Army WP needs to come on campus and play right away.
Jeremiah Lowery - 6’3 235 - 2* - Alabama
Lowery is a grown man at 18 years old. He plays tough, hard nosed football that Army will love. He has experience as an ILB in a 3-4 defense as well. He committed over the summer and hasn’t wavered.
Jon Rhattigan - 6’2 220 - 2* - Illinois
Rhattigan is a 2-star ILB from Illinois. He has great hip explosion and runs through tackles. He also has experience playing ILB and in a 3-4. His tape shows off his athleticism, burst, explosion and hands on a couple of interceptions.
Ben Roth - 6’1 210 - 2* - Florida
Roth is from Sanford Seminole HS in Florida which plays at an elite level. Roth made second team All 8A in Florida with 118 tackles and 3 sacks. He plays well in coverage and has a high football IQ. I like the way he roams the field and plays with aggression the MLB will need at Army.
Defensive Tackle
Ryan O'Malley - 6’4 255 - 3* - Illinois
O’Malley is the highest rated of the Black Knights’ 2017 class. He can shoot the gap with a great first step, and uses his hands to fight with the OL. He closes quick and uses his hips well in tackling. This is a big time IL All-Academic pick up for Army.
Hunter Adams - 6’1 280 - 2* - Texas
Adams runs a 4.4 shuttle and boasts a 29” vert at 280 pounds which shows you how athletic he is for a big man. Has good closing speed and the desire to chase ball carriers downfield.
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