BY: Pietro Marino
Tribe football is almost back, and what better way to kick off a new season than a night game at Zable with a historic rival?
2023 Rewind
VMI Record: 5 – 6 (4 – 4 SoCon)
Postseason: None
After a 1-10 record in 2022 which saw the team winless in conference play, the Keydets had a solid rebuilding season under first-year head coach Danny Rocco. Close games were the story of the season, with 7 of their 11 contests decided by one score or less. Two standouts included a heartbreaker against No. 17 Chattanooga (23-24) and a signature upset over No. 14 Western Carolina (27-24) to cap off the season.
Like most military college football offenses, VMI was not much of a threat through the air, logging a total of 2,010 yards between QBs Collin Ironside (1,416) and Collin Shannon (571). Ironside and Shannon combined for just 6 passing touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions.
On the ground, now-senior Hunter Rice led the team with 867 yards on 170 carries, with a whopping 14 rushing TDs (4th most in the nation). That statline earned Rice First Team All-SoCon honors heading into the 2024 campaign as well as a team captain nod. Rashad Raymond added 387 yards on the ground with 102 carries as well, but the team still ranked last in overall rushing in the SoCon in 2023.
Defensively, the Keydets gave up 24.91 points per game, although this number was skewed by a 45 – 7 rout by their one FBS opponent in NC State. The Keydets’ offensive strength in running the ball was also their defensive weakness, giving up more rushing yards per game (188.2) than passing (187). VMI also struggled to get to the QB, with just 16 sacks logged over their 11 games.
A key reason the Keydets remained competitive in so many of their contests in 2023 is that the team is well-disciplined; Rocco’s squad was the 6th fewest penalized team in the nation, averaging just 4.45 penalties per game.
2024 Preview
Key returners: RB Hunter Rice, QB Collin Shannon, WR Ivan Thorpe, DL Terrell Jackson, LB Eric Rankin
Key departures: QB Collin Ironside (graduated), DB Joshua Knapp (Jacksonville State), WR Isaiah Lemmond (W&M), LB Evan Eller (Wyoming), LB Christian Dunn (Transfer Portal), TE Aidan Twombly (Transfer Portal)
New additions: RB Leo Boehling, WR Noah Grievous, LB DJ Jones, DL Uriah Harris
Pundits are predicting a sophomore slump from Danny Rocco’s squad, with VMI ranked 7th in the preseason SoCon poll. The biggest concern for the Keydets is less their offense and more the departure of seasoned veterans on the defensive side of the ball. Eller, Knapp and Dunn were 1st, 3rd and 4th on the team in total tackles respectively. Guys outside of senior Eric Rankin will have to step up to fill that void of production, and I can see some growing pains in that transition.
On the flip side, what little production the Keydets found in the passing game will also need to be replaced with the departures of tight end Aidan Twombly and receiver Chance Knox. Twombly led the team in receptions (38), yards (558), and receiving touchdowns (3) while Knox was second in receptions (35) and yards (369). Team vets like Ivan Thorpe and Egypt Nelson will look to fill that gap, with a combined 551 yards and 2 TDs between one another last season.
With sophomore QB Collin Shannon taking the full reins of the offense this upcoming year, the Keydets will have to lean on Rice and the ground game while Shannon builds a rapport with other receiving weapons. All things considered, this looks to be a season of transitions for the Keydets on both sides of the ball.
Series History
W&M leads all-time series: 53–33–2
Last meeting: September 10, 2011 – W&M 27, VMI 7
Although this is the second longest running series outside of the Capital Cup for W&M, it’s been over a decade since these schools have met on the gridiron. As of late, the series has been dominated by the good guys in green and gold, with the Tribe having won the last 25 contests dating all the way back to 1985.
Make no mistake, this Keydet offense runs through Rice, so expect a loaded box from the Tribe defensively to suffocate the senior RB early and often. For VMI to remain competitive in this one, they’ll have to soak up as much time of possession as possible, which they’d ideally like to do via a strong ground game.
Outside of Rice, I can see Rocco utilizing the quick-passing game with their tight ends leading the charge to keep the Tribe defense honest, but that’s easier said than done with an inexperienced quarterback in Shannon.
In its current state, this VMI team is not equipped to play from behind early, and if the Tribe can put together some quick scores in the 1st quarter, the Keydets will be forced to abandon the run sooner than they’d like.
Yet, last year’s VMI squad proved that they were not a team to let hang around (just ask Western Carolina). The Keydets might not be the most talented group on paper, but they are extremely well-disciplined,and one of the keys to this game will be how well Coach London’s team can shake off the off-season rust. In the end, I expect the Tribe to shake it off relatively quickly, and for them to overpower an undermatched VMI offense with ease.
Sidenote: I’ll be at the game trying out W&M Football’s new ticketed section in the Tribe Football Club, so be on the lookout for a full review on the blog. Let’s hope for two W’s this August 29th!
Photos courtesy of Tribe Athletics
The William & Mary Sports Blog 
Go Tribe!🏈