2021 FCS Season Preview: VMI

CSJ Projected Finish: 2nd

VMI was the surprise of the spring season. The Keydets secured their first winning season in 20 years and their first Southern Conference title since 1977. Even when stud quarterback Reese Udinski went down to injury, the Keydets didn’t miss a beat as Seth Morgan pick right up with the offense and kept rolling. The Achilles heel for VMI has always been the defense, but led by a couple of stud linebackers, the Keydets played solid defense and made the playoffs for the first time ever.

Now the key is: can they back it up? Morgan is a Sophomore and returns to lead the offense with a couple of seniors, Korie Bridy and Jakob Herres. The defense suffered a blow when Josh Surrat, their top defensive back transferred. But the Keydets should still be capable on defense. Is this the dawning of a new era of VMI football?

Impact Players

QB Seth Morgan was the SoCon Freshman of the year after filling in for Udinski. With game experience and a camp under his belt, the sky is the limit for Morgan.

WR Jakob Herres has been the go to guy the last two seasons with a combined 2100 yards and 16 touchdowns. In the playoff game against James Madison, Herres had 13 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown.

LB Stone Snyder was the SoCon defensive player of the year and was third in the Buck Buchanan voting. He had 11 tackles per game in the Spring and will build on that success in the Fall.

Key Game: October 9 vs. Chattanooga

VMI

Home	Time/Results	Away	Venue	Match Day	TV/Streaming	Highlights
Davidson	24 - 45	VMI	Alumni Memorial Stadium	Lexington, VA	-	-
VMI	10 - 60	Kent State	Dix Stadium	Kent, OH	-	-
VMI	14:00:002:00 pm	Cornell	Schoellkopf Field	Ithaca, NY	-	-
Wofford	13:30:001:30 pm	VMI	Alumni Memorial Stadium	Lexington, VA	-	-
VMI	14:00:002:00 pm	The Citadel	Johnson Hagood Stadium	Charleston, SC	-	-
Chattanooga	13:30:001:30 pm	VMI	Alumni Memorial Stadium	Lexington, VA	-	-
VMI	16:00:004:00 pm	Mercer	Five Star Stadium	Macon, GA	-	-
Samford	13:30:001:30 pm	VMI	Alumni Memorial Stadium	Lexington, VA	-	-
VMI	13:00:001:00 pm	East Tennessee State	William B. Greene Stadium	Johnson City, TN	-	-
VMI	14:00:002:00 pm	Furman	Paladin Stadium	Greenville, SC	-	-
Western Carolina	13:30:001:30 pm	VMI	Alumni Memorial Stadium	Lexington, VA	-	-
The Citadel	23:59:59TBD	VMI	Alumni Memorial Stadium	-	-	-

Worst Case: The defense struggles and the Keydets finish in the middle of the pack.

Best Case: The offense takes another step forward and the Keydets win a playoff game.

Jamie Williams

Jamie is a proud 2002 graduate of James Madison University. He’s witnessed the growth of the program from no one in the stands in 1998, to the hiring of Mickey Matthews, to the 2004 National Championship, to the 2008 team, to the struggles in the early 2010s, and finally the rebuild under Mike Houston. He also allegedly really enjoys Washington, DC-based Stanley Cup winners.

Reach him at: