In previous years, we made a distinction between slotbacks and fullbacks (aka B-Backs), but the changes in the offensive scheme the past two years have made that harder to do. The roster still lists some of the offensive backs as slotbacks and others as running backs, but some of the players currently described as RBs were previously identified as SBs (slotbacks); so for purposes of this article we’re going to lump them into one group, with the exception of the quarterback, which we will address in our next article in the series.
RB Departures
In addition to the usual departures due to graduation, Army lost at least one running back to the transfer portal year, and, of course, we all know that the portal is virtually a one-way exit door.
Sophomore sensation Kanye Udoh announced his entry into the transfer portal immediately following the Navy game. Udoh lined up in the traditional B-back position in the flexbone formation, and as the primary running back out of the shotgun. Udoh was the second leading rusher in both 2023 and 2024 and finished this past season with 1117 yards in 179 rushing attempts (6.24 ypc) with 10 rushing touchdowns. Udoh was named the ECAC Division I FBS Rookie of the Year in 2023 and also made Second-Team Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent Team. He was named to the ECAC Offensive Team and the AAC All Conference First Team in 2024.
Fifth Year Senior Tyrell Robinson burst on the scene in 2020 as Army’s top return specialist, top receiver, and third leading rusher in his plebe season. He was the second leading receiver and second leading rusher in 2021, but was limited to 5 games in 2022 due to injuries. Nonetheless he finished that season as the 4th leading receiver and 5th leading rusher. He tried making a comeback in 2023 but was limited to 8 games and 2 starts. He finished the 2023 season 4th in Rushing Yardage and 5th in Receptions. He reinjured his knee and missed the first 6 games this past season, finishing the season ranked 8th in rushing yards with 83 yards on 20 carries and was 4th in Receptions with 4 catches for 50 yards. He was named the 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent first-team punt returner; the 2022 Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent first-team punt returner; a 2022 Phil Steele Preseason first-team special teamer and second-team player for offense; and a first-team Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent in 2021. He was also named to the Hornung Award Watch List prior to the 2022 season.
Senior Miles Stewart appeared in 13 games with 9 starts in 2024 and PFF shows him as a lead run blocker on 303 of his 344 snaps this past season. He carried the ball 4 times for 27 yards (6.75 ave) and had 3 receptions for 26 yards and 1 touchdown.
Returning Offensive Backs
The current 2025 roster lists 17 RBs and 8 SBs, including 4 rising sophomores, 3 rising juniors and 1 rising senior listed at the SB position, along with 4 rising seniors, 5 rising juniors, and 8 rising sophomores listed as RBs. Eight of the 25 returning backs have game experience.
• Rising Senior SB Noah Short (6-0, 182 lbs) tops our list of returning running backs in 2025, having appeared in all 14 games with 13 starts and 542 snaps in 2024. Short began his Army career as a safety appearing in 9 games on special teams in his plebe season. He was converted to a SB/WR in 2023 and led the team in receptions with 12 and also ran the ball 3 times for 8 yards. He became the main perimeter threat in the Corley offense last season, rushing for 569 yards in 75 carries for a team-leading average of 7.59 yards per carry and 2 rushing TDs. He finished second in receptions with 17 catches for 318 yards and 3 receiving TDs. Short is generally considered to be the fastest player on offense.
• Senior RB Hayden Reed (6-0, 215 lbs) is another 2024 starter returning this coming season. He started his Army career as a B-back in his plebe season of 2022, appeared in 10 games with 2 starts and 139 snaps as a plebe. He played in 9 games with 2 starts and 195 snaps in 2023. He carried the ball 50 times for 205 yards and had 4 receptions for 29 yards. This past season, he shared the starting role with Miles Stewart as the blocking back in the offense. He played in all 14 games with 5 starts, and he had 40 rushing attempts for 207 yards on the season. Half of his carries came in the Louisiana Tech game when he replaced Udoh and carried the ball 20 times for 114 yards, showing us his potential to become the featured running back in 2025. Although arguably not as talented as Udoh, Reed brings the same balance of agility and power that Udoh had.
• Rising Junior RB Jake Rendina (5-11, 255 lbs) is most likely to be the backup power running back in the 2025 offense. He played in 3 games with no starts and 10 snaps as a plebe in 2023. Last season he appeared in all 14 games with no starts and 219 snaps as the primary backup to Udoh at B-back. He carried the ball 29 times for 104 yards and 1 touchdown.
• Rising Junior Samari Howard (5-7, 182) was used as a backup perimeter threat at slotback in 2024. He appeared in 12 games with 1 start and 202 snaps. He carried the ball 23 times for 128 yards and had 2 receptions for 11 yards. We see him playing a backup role to Short in 2025.
• Rising Junior Carson Smith (6-0, 239) is another potential power running back, but with consideraly less experience than Reed and Rendina at this point in time. Smith appeared in 6 games with 37 snaps in 2024 and had 12 carries for 51 yards.
• Senior AJ Williams (6-0, 244 lbs) appeared in 4 games and had 2 carries for 9 yards in 2024.
• Rising Junior Lloyd Benson III (5-8, 180) appeared in 3 games with 19 snaps this past season.
Outlook for the Spring
Traditionally, running back positions have provided opportunities for younger players to break into the starting lineup. Tyrell Robinson and Kanye Udoh both broke into the starting lineup in their plebe seasons, and Hayden Reed also got a lot of playing time as a plebe. We won’t know if any plebes are going to make an impact until the fall, but there are enough returning players to form a solid nucleus for the running game this spring.
Hayden Reed filled in well for Kanye in the Independence Bowl, and was named to the AAC All Bowl team. Noah Short has done a great job as T-Rob’s successor in the perimeter rushing attack this past season and is likely to be one of the leading receivers again in 2025.
No doubt, Worley will tweak the offense to optimize the skill sets of his returning players, and a lot will depend on who replaces Daily at QB, but that’s a topic we’ll take up next.
**To chat with other Army fans about this article and more, please visit The 12th Knight message board**
• WATCH the latest videos from GoBlackKnights.com and subscribe to our YouTube channel
