LEXINGTON, Va. – For the first time in over a decade, VMI Football will travel to Annapolis to take on the Navy Midshipmen in its 2025 season opener. Kickoff is slated for Noon and will be aired on CBS Sports.   

How to Follow
CBS Sports / Radio - 96.7 FM 3WZ  / Live Stats 
___________________________________________________________________
VMI Keydets (0-0, 0-0 SoCon)
Roster / Schedule / 2024: 1-11, 1-7 / Stats  / Notes
___________________________________________________________________
Navy Midshipmen (0-0, 0-0 American)
Roster / Schedule / 2024: 10-3, 6-2 / Stats / Notes
___________________________________________________________________

A LOOK AT LAST YEAR
- VMI is looking to put the 2024 season behind them, posting a record of 1-11 last year
- The Keydets were cursed by the injury bug, having key players – including quarterback Collin Shannon and two of its fifth-year players – be on the receiving end of season-ending injuries in the first two weeks of the season
- Special Teams did not dodge injuries either, as Nathan Payne (LS) had a season-ending injury in the 2024 opener
- While VMI won just one game, four of its contests were one-possession games with a handful of others remaining close until the 4^th quarter 
- VMI's lone win came on November 2 against Furman, in which Chandler Wilson threw for a touchdown and JoJo Crump ran for a score to help VMI secure a 21-17 victory
- Rich Yahner's defense would sack the Paladins four times in the red zone, coming up with an interception late to seal the game

NAVY NOTES
- The Midshipmen had another notable season in 2024, recording 10 wins for the sixth time in program history, capping off the season with wins over Army and Oklahoma
- Navy is coached by Bryan Newberry who is in his third year at the helm (15-10) and seventh overall in Annapolis
- Navy returns much of its skill players on offense, including quarterback Blake Horvath who ranked 6^th among FBS Quarterbacks with a QBR of 83.4
- Inside the 20 was where Navy excelled in 2024, finishing first in red zone offense touchdown percentage and fourth in red zone defense
- Landon Robinson anchors the Navy defensive front, posting 89.0 tackles last year including 8.0 sacks

KEY RETURNERS
OFFENSE
- Perhaps no comeback is more crucial than quarterback Collin Shannon, who suffered a season-ending injury in week two of 2024
- Shannon, who is a captain this season, debuted at Wake Forest in 2022 and started against N.C. State in 2023
- Morgan McPhaul and Nathan Lhotsky should be two targets for Shannon, alongside fellow tight end and 6-foot-8 target Ryan von Brandt
- Although VMI loses Hunter Rice, a pair of sophomore running backs look to step into the fold in 2025, as Aslin Shipe and Leo Boehling project 1-2 on the depth chart; Shipe will also be a threat in the kick return game
- Four quarterbacks saw action last year, while three of the four (Shannon, Wilson, Crump) return

DEFENSE
- Kouri Crump projects to be the defensive leader, as he totaled 90.0 tackles, five break ups and three forced fumbles last season
- Linebackers Stephen Dean III (45.0), Steven Riveros (43.0) and Henry Berling (19.0) are ready to control the second level
- The Defensive Line – a strong suit for VMI during coach JB Lageman's tenure (4^th season) – lost three starters but returns Owen Ham (10.0), Jacob Moore (17.0) and John Covert (14.0) who all saw significant action in 2024

SPECIAL TEAMS
- Ben Shrewsbury punted 84 times for an average of 41.21 per kick, with a long of 65 yards to go with 22 fair catches and 18 kicks of 50-plus yards
- Place kicking will be a battle to watch, as Caden Beck (8-for-11) graduated from VMI; Shrewsbury and Jack Joyce figure to fill the void
- Nathan Payne and Austin Fletcher will battle for long snapping duties; Payne is coming off an injury while Fletcher was an All-SoCon Freshman in 2024