ROCCO'S RESUME – The biggest storyline of the VMI Football offseason was the hiring of
Danny Rocco as its 33
rd head football coach (December 3). Rocco has a very decorated coaching resume, with stops at the NFL, FBS and FCS levels. Much of Rocco's success has come at the FCS level and in the state of Virginia, where he served as the head coach for Liberty from 2006-2011 before taking over at the University of Richmond in 2012. After a successful stint at Richmond in which he led the Spiders to three straight NCAA FCS Playoff appearances (Second Round, Semifinal, Quarterfinal), Rocco would take over at the University of Delaware, coaching the Blue Hens to the 2020 FCS Semifinal game. Most recently, Rocco served as a Defensive Senior Analyst for Penn State, helping the Nittany Lions to a 10-2 regular season record last year.
ROCCO'S RAPID SUCCESS – Much of Rocco's accolades can be attributed to his fast starts when taking over programs. At Liberty, Rocco inherited a 1-10 Flames team that would go 6-5 in his first year to earn Big South Coach of the Year honors, following that up with four straight seasons in which Liberty finished first or tied for first in the conference. At Richmond, Rocco duplicated his quick success, taking a 3-8 (0-8 CAA) Spiders team to an 8-3, 6-2 CAA finish in his first year, earning a share of the conference title. In his first year at Delaware, Rocco flipped a 4-7 Blue Hens squad to 7-4, earning two FCS Playoff appearances in the next three seasons, including the 2020 Semifinal run.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS – Davidson enters the 2023 season on a high note, having made three consecutive FCS Playoff appearances having strung together five straight winning seasons. Finishing the season in the top 20 in both total offense and total defense, Davidson returns Gilbert Deglau (OL), Beck Kipperman (OL) and Jonathan Hammon (DL) on its respective lines, as all three were voted preseason All-Pioneer League. The Deglau-Kipperman duo started every game last season, bolstering the nation's top rushing attack, while Hammond was the Pioneer Football League Freshman of the Year on defense. In total, Davidson has 31 freshmen on its roster entering week one. The Davidson offense is a unique one to prepare for, as the Wildcats run a version of the option that features two tight ends to try and control the clock.
FAMILIAR FACES – Davidson's head coach is no stranger to Lexington, as Scott Abell coached across the street at Washington & Lee from 2012-17 before being hired by Davidson. At W&L, Abell was a three-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the Year and he was named the Willy Lanier Virginia State Coach of the Year two times.
THE SERIES – The Keydets have the edge in the all-time series, posting a record of 40-17-3 over the years. When the two teams met in 2021 at Foster Stadium, it was the first meeting since 2014, and just the second meeting since 2006. The Keydets, who have won 11 straight in the series, took the 2021 matchup by a score of 45-24, with
Rashad Raymond and
Grant Swinehart finding the back of the end zone.
A VMI Win over Davidson would ...
--Give VMI its fourth consecutive win in a home opener
--Move VMI's record to 41-17-3 all-time over Davidson
--Give VMI four straight wins in their first FCS matchup of each of their last four seasons (the Keydets opened at Wake Forest in 2022 before topping Bucknell in week two)
GRANT IS GREAT – This season, Coach Rocco is starting a new VMI Football tradition. Each year, the number zero will be given to the captain of the special teams. Someone who embodies what it means to be a cadet-athlete: hard work, dedication, sacrifice and selflessness. In the inaugural year, the number zero went to
Grant Swinehart. A redshirt junior, Swinehart figures to see action in the backfield, and appeared in 10 games last season, catching a 34-yard touchdown against Wake Forest.
EVERYDAY ELLER – Ever since establishing himself as a sophomore, Eller has been a key component to the VMI defense. Last season, the Roanoke native was second only to
Stone Snyder for tackles among SoCon players, ranking 33
rd in all of FCS Football with an average of 9.0 per game (99 tackles on the season). Although Eller may drop more in coverage this season – he played safety at Lord Botetourt – he was in the backfield a lot last year, posting a career high in tackles for loss (7.0 TFL for 22 yards). After setting a career-high 17.0 tackles with 1.5 TFL at No. 10 Samford, Eller ended the season with 11.0 tackles and 1.5 TFL against The Citadel.
IRONING HIS WAY – Although injuries forced VMI to start four quarterbacks last year,
Collin Ironside had won the starting job by week four of last year,but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in his first start. Ironside, who helped lead the Keydets to victories in 2021 (appearing in seven games), nearly led VMI to a comeback win against Cornell last year, going 16-for-18 with a rushing and passing touchdown. On the year, Ironside was 38-for-60 with three passing and two rushing touchdowns, throwing two picks. One of his touchdowns came in the season opener at No. 22 Wake Forest, hitting
Grant Swinehart for a 34-yard gainer. This season, the redshirt junior from Knoxville will look to benefit from a full spring and fall camp with the No. 1's.
TAKE A CHANCE – Chance Knox was the go-to target for VMI quarterbacks last season, leading the Keydets with 58 catches, 535 yards and two touchdown scores. At Western Carolina, the Charleston, West Virginia native posted a career-high 9 receptions and 105 yards at Western Carolina. Knox had at least one catch in every game, snagging eight or more four times, capping off his junior season with 114 yards and a touchdown against The Citadel.
KEYDET COVERAGE – Led by
Alex Oliver (10 PBU, 13 passes defended, three interceptions), the secondary of VMI should be a strength, especially with the return of
Josh Knapp. Before getting injured in week four, Knapp posted a career day against Bucknell, recording two interceptions in the 10-point win. The Abingdon, Maryland, native secured the first interception of his career on Bucknell's first offensive drive, laying out for his second pick in the third quarter. Oliver, meanwhile, started every game and his 10 break ups ranked 24
th in FCS Football, leading to First Team All-SoCon honors. Additionally,
Tahj Summey and
Shamus Jones gained valuable experience in 2022, recording 52.0 and 45.0 tackles, respectively – each with two break ups and a pick.
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN – The aforementioned
Geoffrey Speight (DL) and
Isaiah Lemmond (WR) proved they belonged from week one last season, earning All-SoCon honors in 2022. Speight totaled 28.0 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry, while Lemmond was second among Keydet receivers in yards (493) and yards per catch (15.62). Entering the season, VMI has 45 true freshmen and 14 redshirt freshmen.
