Army Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Middle Tennessee in Week 1

Army’s defense will ultimately win the game for the Black Knights

Army’s leader on defense, senior linebacker Amadeo West, is the critical key for this team. He will be undoubtedly assigned to MTSU quarterback Asher O’Hara all game.

“He’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around coming out of a locker room, and we’ve had some really strong leaders,” Army coach Jeff Monken said on Tuesday. “He is so well respected in the Corps — by his classmates, professors, and the officers here on campus. A dynamic kid who has been through a lot.”

West has experience three season-ending injuries throughout his career at Army. In fact, he’s only played in 10 games in college, collecting 31 tackles. “That is probably one of the reasons everyone respects him so much,” Monken said. “He has gone through three season-ending injuries and continued to come back with a great attitude and great effort. He’s just committed not only to this team but to becoming an officer and a leader of character.”

I do believe that this game will come down to the wire — perhaps a fourth-quarter-final drive.

What kind of a story would it create if West happened to be the guy who made the play on fourth down to take MTSU off of the field and clinch the victory? While it might not end like that, I do think that Army’s defense will be the key factor and will buckle down late for the final time to win the game for the academy.