FREE GBK Exclusive: DL, John ‘Hands’ Voit
If we took a poll prior to the any game this season and asked if the Army Black Knights had to call upon the ‘hands team’ to defend a possible onside kick from any of their opponents this season, how many Army fans would immediately think Black Knights Co-Captain and defensive lineman, John Voit to be part of this designated group?
I would readily admit that the 6-foot-3, 260 pounder may be one of the last players I would think would be part of the special teams hands team.
By the way, if you know anything about the Voit family ... well, his brother Luke Voit who plays first base for the MLB St. Louis Cardinals was just as surprised as many of us were on Saturday.
REPLAY PLEASE
As the game is down to the closing minutes, safety James Gibson makes an incredible tackle on Eastern Michigan’s running back attempt at a 2-point conversion that would have given them a 29-28 lead, but as it turn out, their runner was a football length short of the goal line and Army remained ahead, 28-27.
On the ensuing kick-off from Eastern Michigan, they lined-up to prepare for an onside kick, and quite naturally, Army ‘hands-team’ were waiting to engage. The kick took place, as well as a unique one-hop bounce off the turf and headed right towards .... ‘wait - hold on’ is that John Voit?
Well yes it was and the native of Wildwood (MO), snatched the ball out of the air like a St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman and the Black Knights would retain possession of the ball and run out the clock and lock down win No. 5 on the season.
By the way, did we mention that John's brother Luke plays 1st base for the MLB St. Louis Cardinals?
“I get some text from him, kind of what you said before, where he said you get those hands from me,” said a laughing John Voit in reference to his text conversation with his brother, Luke. “But he was cracking jokes on me, because he didn’t know I was on the hands team, so it was funny.”
But on the serious side, Voit has been a consistent performer since his arrival on campus and is admired by both the coaches and teammates, which was openingly noted upon being named as one the 2017 Co-Captains, along with QB Ahmad Bradshaw.
Now that the team is just little past the mid-point of the 2017 season ... wearing that designation has added value versus when Voit was first chosen as one of the captains.
“It was definitely an honor going out there every game wearing that ‘C’ on your chest and being chosen by your teammates as one of the leaders on the team,” he stated. “But yes, this program means so much to the school and me, and obviously our senior class want to leave the best legacy that we can and right now at 5-2, we are setting where we want to be, but we have to keep on improving.”
And keep it improving is just what the team must do, as their next opponent is far from a walk-over.
Despite their record, Temple is a good ball club. So, what must Voit and his defensive teammates do to slow the the Owls offense down?
“They are very talented and their record doesn’t speak for itself,” explained Voit. “So, we just have to do our jobs and each person handling their responsibility.”
“I know they have some good backs and versatile players, so it’s a matter of us fitting our gaps and out and going out there playing and get another home win.”
Last year versus Temple, it was the defense that really came into their own with an early season win over the Owls on the road. But, this year’s defense has a completely different identity than last year’s. Actually, this group has played inconsistently consistent, especially with all the injuries and other ‘items’ that have kept players off the field. However, when the the chips have been down, they have stepped up and that point was proven on Saturday.
We asked Voit if he could put his finger on the temperament of this unit compared to last year?
“Last year we had some veteran players ... Andrew King and Jeremy Timpf, as very good players who had been playing for awhile,” he declared. “But this year we are throwing some guys into the fire and seeing how they’re doing.”
“I think we know our identity, it’s just a matter of going out there and doing it and like you said, doing it consistently. I think we are doing better each game and we have to just come out fired up.”
Not a subscriber to GBK? There’s no better time than now, as the Black Knights have kicked-off of their 2017 Army football season with an impressive 5-2 start as Army now will host on the Temple Owls on Saturday.
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