FREE - 2017 Spring Football Central: One-on-One with QB Ahmad Bradshaw
The Army Black Knights held their eleventh practice on Friday, April 7th as GoBlackKnights.com brings you inside with our latest premium practice report with an exclusive interview with senior starting quarterback, Ahmad Bradshaw.
Bradshaw, who is on an abbreviated practice schedule, as the coaches are not taking any risk relative to him nursing himself back to full strength via a slight groin injury.
But as the team went full gear during Friday’s scrimmage. the signal caller was front and center, and discussed what it was like being out there for at least two offensive series ... but doing so, knowing that this is his offense.
“I had a bunch of reps today ... it was fun,” he told GoBlackKnights.com Publisher Charles Grevious, directly after practice concluded ... as he went on to discuss how it feels knowing that both head coach Jeff Monken and offensive coordinator Brent Davis have gone on record to declare that the Black Knights’ offense belongs to the Chicago native.
“It feels good,” Bradshaw readily admitted. “It’s always been an honor to represent this team. So, obviously being able to be the guy and knowing early, it’s a good feeling and I’m proud that they look at me that way.”
For the 5-foot-11, 200 pounder, he along many observers realize that with so many returning pieces for an offense that ranked 2nd in the nation in rushing in 2016 ... they have the potential to cause opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. However, Bradshaw was quick to point out that the offensive members can’t take anything for granted and must remain on their ‘A’ game.
“We can be as good as we push ourselves to be,” he stated. “We have a lot of guys coming back that know the offense well. A lot of offensive linemen have learned the offense since prep school. So, as long as we take advantage of the time we have to learn and get better, we can be as great as we push ourselves to be.”
“Definitely Malik McGue,” said Bradshaw, as went on to point out McGue’s transition from QB to slotback. “He’s done a great job at understanding two different positions which is really difficult. Being a quarterback, you obviously know what everyone is doing, but the smaller details like the steps and stuff like that and with him going to slot, he surprised me how quick he learned what they do ... so he has definitely stood out to me.”
“Q [Quinten] Parker at tight end. He started out playing tackle, and he’s been doing good at tight end and catching the ball well.”
Although Bradshaw and his teammates are tuned into spring practice, it is hard to put on the shelf the team’s huge win of arch-rival Navy last December.
“{Laughing} I remember it all, honestly,” declared Bradshaw, when asked for him to take us back to the closing seconds of the Army-Navy game and what he remembered most about that particular moment. “But, I guess when the corp [of cadets] came out and flooded the field, it was an amazing feeling. And then from seeing up top from pictures and the field covered in green ... that was very cool.”
Statistically, Bradshaw had a solid 2016 campaign and he really showed of the final to games (wins) of the season versus Navy and the bowl game against North Texas.
2016 TOTALS:
- Rushing 184 attempts for 824 yards (ave 4.5) with 8 TDs for an average of 68.67 yds per game
- Passing 40 completions in 91 attempts (44%) for 703 yards with 4 TDs and 9 Interceptions. Efficiency rating 103.57
Vs Navy
- Rushing 9 attempts for 51 yards (ave 5.7) and 1TD
- Passing 2 completions in 4 attempts for 35 yards with no TDs and 1 INT
Vs North Texas (HOD)
- Rushing 18 attempts for 129 yards (7.2 ave) with 1 TD
- Passing completed 2 of 3 for 53 yards with 0 TDs and 0 INTs.
RELATED GBK ARTICLES: 2017 Army Spring Camp Updates
2017 Army Spring Football Practices
-Tuesday, March 21
-Wednesday, March 22
-Thursday, March 23
-Saturday, March 25
-Tuesday, March 28
-Thursday, March 30
-Friday, March 31
-Saturday, April 1
-Tuesday, April 4
-Thursday, April 6
-Friday, April 7
-Monday, April 10
-Wednesday, April 12
-Friday, April 14
-Saturday, April 15
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