2023 Record: 1-10
Head Coach: Mike Reed
2023: After showing some progress in 2021 and 2022 after the football program restarted after the Covid year (2020), Fort Knox resumed their annual struggles as they limped through a 1-10 2023. The Offense had trouble moving the ball and the defense had their problems as well. However, coach Mike Reed is really looking forward to this season even though they will have fewer returnees than expected as the military has forced several deployments of major contributors from last season.
Offense: Reed introduced the Read Option offense last season and although there were moments of success, the team still struggled to get the ball in the end zone. The Eagles scored only 79-total points last year after scoring almost double the previous year. The Offense will revolve around quarterbacks Jacob Taylor and Joshua Hernandez, who between the two totaled about 700-yards passing and only 5-TDs. The running game will return only Taylor after Rogues Wrenn and Marcus Delain are gone (600-yds between the two). Steven Canales was the leading pass catcher (20-238-yds and 4-TDs) with both Jaylen Irish and Carlos Clarke (12-total between the two) right behind him. The Offensive Line will take a big hit with only Lincoln OColn returning so Reed will look for replacements.
Defense: The defense bent as well despite little rest they did do a capable job allowing 364-points in 11-games (347-last season) and will also see many changes with Carlos Clarke, Robert Magalong, Jordan Tolbert, LaDarius Porter, Vaughn Fielding-Chiles, Ethan Abbott and Jaylen Irish returning, so Reed will look to shore up the Defensive Line, Linebackers and D-backs as well.
Kicking Game: Joshua Hernandez will return as the kicker after going 1-for-4 on PAT’s.
Summation: Building a winner at Fort Knox has always been a struggle since the Joe Jaggers era many years ago and it won’t be easy this season either. Reed will most likely have to rebuild the team after all the departures, but the second time around should see some improvement and hopefully with a few breaks the Eagles can show some marked improvement in 2024.
