LEXINGTON, Va. – The 2022 Football season is here, and fortunately for VMI fans, they'll get an even earlier look at the Keydets as VMI visits Wake Forest on Thursday with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on the ACC Network.
KEYDETS (6-5 in 2021) OPEN SEASON AT WAKE FOREST (11-3) – VMI kicks off its 2022 campaign in a big way, traveling to Winston-Salem for a Thursday-night kickoff against the Demon Deacons. While the teams have played seven times historically, they have never met in the modern era, last facing each other in 1944.
SCOUTING THE DEMON DEACONS – Like VMI, Wake Forest has found their stride as a program, coming off a historic 11-3 season in which they won the Atlantic Division, advanced to the ACC Championship game and topped Rutgers in their New Year's Eve Bowl game. Head Coach Dave Clawson, who is now in his 9th year with the program, became the first coach at Wake to win four bowl games. The Demon Deacons, who are ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, return nine starters on offense and nine on defense. While Wake Forest eventually hopes to get Sam Hartman back at quarterback, redshirt freshman Mitch Griffis - who has appeared in eight games - will be the signal caller on Thursday. In front of Girffis are four offensive linemen with at least 35 games played to their respective names. On the defensive side, four players in the front seven have 34 or more games played in their career.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS – The Southern Conference announced its preseason polls at the end of July, with VMI checking in at No. 7 in the Coaches' poll and No. 6 in the Media. Despite battling injuries and dropping three games down the stretch last season, the Keydets posted a record of 6-5 in 2021 and were an even 4-4 in SoCon play.
A VMI win over Wake Forest would…
---Be VMI's first ever win over a nationally ranked FBS opponent
---Give the Keydets their third consecutive season-opening win
---Give VMI its first opening-season road win since 2002 (Charleston Southern, 27-24)
THE SERIES – VMI and Wake Forest have met just seven times historically, and with the last matchup coming in Greensboro in 1944. The Demon Deacons lead the all-time series 3-2-2, going 1-0 in Winston-Salem and 2-0 in neutral-site contests.
NOTING THE KEYDETS – After a historic Spring 2021 season (Due to COVID), VMI Football will embark on its third season in the last 19 months.
HISTORIC RUN – The Keydets have strung together three consecutive 5-win seasons for the first time since the 1960s. Additionally, the 6-5 record in the Fall (6-2 Spring 2021), gave VMI its first back-to-back winning seasons since 1961-62. The Spring 2021 run earned VMI its first ever FCS National Ranking, and the first FCS Postseason appearance in program history.
10 KEYDETS EARN PRESEASON ALL-SOCON HONORS – Stone Snyder (LB), Jerry Rice (PK), Jack Culbreath (P) and Robert Soderholm (LS) were named to the All-SoCon First Team squad. Seth Morgan (QB), Jarvis Chandler (OL), Aidan Twombly (TE) and Leroy Thomas (WR) all earned second team offensive honors, while Eric Weaver (DL) and Aljareek Malry (DB) represented VMI on the second team defensive squad. The 10 honorees were second-most among SoCon schools.
SNYDER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN – Stone Snyder has been named a Preseason All-American by five different organizations (Stats FCS, Blue Bloods, Athlon, HERO, Phil Steele), following his junior season in which he earned All-American status from each of the aforementioned media outlets. Snyder has also been one of 35 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the Nation's top defensive player at the FCS level in each of the last two seasons. Snyder was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year by the Coaches and Media in Spring of 2021, with the Media tabbing the Richmond native as Defensive Player of the Year in the Fall after leading the league in tackles for the second straight season (10.9 per game, 120 total, 49 solo, 71 assisted). Additionally, Snyder led the team in tackles for loss (11 for 36 yards), sacks (4), quarterback hurries (5) and fumble recoveries with three.
SPECIAL STRENGTH – VMI's specialists have been nothing short of extraordinary in recent years, with Robert Soderholm (LS) and Jerry Rice (K) getting preseason All-American recognition by HERO Sports. In 2021, Soderholm was named Third Team All-American by HERO, FCS Stats, and Phil Steele, earning Second Team All-American honors from AFCA. This preseason, Soderholm was also named an FCS First Team All-American and a Phil Steele Second Team All-American. Rice earned First Team All-SoCon honors in 2021, and was a HERO Sports All-American in December of 2021.
BRIDY BACK – The VMI run game received a boost when Richmond native Korey Bridy elected to return to Lexington for his COVID-granted extra year of eligibility. Sporting a career average of 4.4 yards per carry, Bridy played in nine games last season with a team-high 654 yards and eight touchdowns.
CARRYING THE LOAD – Rashad Raymond and Hunter Rice emerged as dependable backs in 2021, combining for 10 touchdowns. Raymond averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his redshirt freshman season, while pounded in seven touchdowns last Fall.
AIR RAID – Hauling in 55 catches for 557 yards and 3 touchdowns, Leroy Thomas is the lead returning receiver for VMI in 2022. Aidan Twombly figures to be a factor at tight end, while Dre Cooper (R-So.) has had a strong preseason.
