Personnel
Coaching staff
VMI will be led by first-year head coach Scott Wachenheim, a native of California and a 1984 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.[1] Wachenheim was previously the offensive line coach at Virginia under head coach Mike London. He replaces Sparky Woods, who compiled a 17–62 record in seven seasons at VMI.[2] Shortly following a home loss to The Citadel, VMI chose not to renew Woods' contract, and several weeks later announced the hire of Wachenheim.
Wachenheim introduced an almost entirely new coaching staff his first year on post. Coordinating the offense is Dustin Ward, while the defensive coordinator is Tom Clark who served two stints at William & Mary as a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.[3] There were only two holdovers from Woods' staff: wide receivers and tight ends coach Brad Robbins, and linebackers coach Justin Hamilton, a 2006 graduate of Virginia Tech.[3] Also new to the staff is running backs coach Tim Maypray, who played football at VMI and graduated in 2010 before a brief stint in the Canadian Football League.
Returning starters
Offense
Player |
Class |
Position |
Al Cobb |
R–Sophomore |
Quarterback |
Pat Doucette |
Sophomore |
Offensive Line |
Bradley Hann |
R–Junior |
Offensive Line |
Andrew Lewis |
Junior |
Offensive Line |
Nate Murray |
R–Senior |
Offensive Line |
Derrick Ziglar |
R–Senior |
Running Back |
Matthew Nicholson |
Junior |
Wide Receiver |
Sam Patterson |
Senior |
Wide Receiver |
Aaron Sanders |
Junior |
Wide Receiver |
Reference:[3] |
|
Defense
Player |
Class |
Position |
Damian Jones |
R–Junior |
Cornerback |
Denton Ensminger |
Senior |
Defensive Line |
Joe Nelson |
R–Sophomore |
Defensive Line |
Ryan Francis |
R–Sophomore |
Linebacker |
Allan Cratsenberg |
Sophomore |
Linebacker |
Alex Keys |
R–Junior |
Safety |
Alijah Robinson |
Junior |
Safety |
Reference:[3] |
|
Special teams
Player |
Class |
Position |
Dillon Christopher |
Junior |
Placekicker |
Hayden Alford |
R–Junior |
Punter |
Dane Forlines |
Junior |
Punt returner |
Taylor Stout Dane Forlines |
Junior Junior |
Kick returner |
Reference:[3] |
|
|
Projected depth chart
Defense
|
FS |
Greg Sanders |
Alex Keys |
|
WLB |
ILB |
ILB |
SLB |
Tony Richardson |
Allen Cratsenburg |
Ryan Francis |
⋅ |
Alex James |
Darnell Ashton |
Arnold Roots |
⋅ |
|
SS |
Alijah Robinson |
Jon Strozyk |
|
CB |
Caleb Furlow |
Doug Moore |
|
|
DE |
NT |
DE |
J. C. Garvin |
Amon-Ra Clay |
Joe Nelson |
Seth Mallory |
Shavon Henderson |
Robert de Wolff |
|
|
CB |
Damian Jones |
Michael Williams |
|
Offense |
WR |
Dontae Mauck |
Matthew Nicholson |
|
|
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
Andrew Lewis |
Nate Murray |
Bradley Hann |
Chad Reed |
Iyan Roseborough |
Christian Williams |
Chase Smith |
Walker Hays |
Matt Milner |
Stephen Miller |
|
TE |
Sam Patterson |
Chad Jacob |
|
WR |
Aaron Sanders |
Isaiah Parker |
|
|
|
|
|
RB |
Derrick Ziglar |
Quan Myers |
|
|
FB |
Ryan Swingle |
Cody Shirley |
|
Special Teams |
PK Dillon Christopher |
P Hayden Alford |
P Bill Hogan |
KR Dontae Mauck Greg Sanders |
PR Dane Forlines |
LS Ryan Swingle Walker Hays |
H Ryan Swingle |
|
|
|
|
|
[4]
Schedule
VMI released its schedule on February 3, 2015. The schedule features six home games and five road contests. VMI will face Ball State on the road in the season opener on a Thursday night. The home opener will be September 12 against Pioneer League member Morehead State. The Keydets will play one team from the commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond, after not playing a team from Virginia in 2014. VMI will host conference rivals Samford, Chattanooga, Wofford, and Western Carolina, and will travel to Furman, Mercer, and The Citadel.
Date |
Time |
Opponent |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 3 |
7:00 PM |
at Ball State* |
Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN |
ESPN3 |
L 36–48 |
10,473 |
September 12 |
1:30 PM |
Morehead State* |
Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA |
ESPN3 |
W 43–40 |
5,016 |
September 19 |
6:00 PM |
at No. 22 Richmond* |
Robins Stadium • Richmond, VA (Rivalry) |
CSN MA+ |
L 10–42 |
8,700 |
September 26 |
3:00 PM |
at Furman |
Paladin Stadium • Greenville, SC |
ESPN3 |
L 21–24 |
7,915 |
October 3 |
1:30 PM |
Bucknell* |
Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA |
ESPN3 |
L 22–28 OT |
3,713 |
October 10 |
1:30 PM |
Samford |
Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA |
ESPN3 |
L 13–49 |
4,875 |
October 17 |
1:30 PM |
No. 6 Chattanooga |
Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA |
ESPN3 |
L 27–33 |
6,104 |
October 24 |
3:00 PM |
at Mercer |
Moye Complex • Macon, GA |
ESPN3 |
W 28–21 |
9,754 |
October 31 |
1:30 PM |
Wofford |
Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA |
ESPN3 |
L 20–41 |
4,437 |
November 7 |
2:00 PM |
at No. 25 The Citadel |
Johnson Hagood Stadium • Charleston, SC (Military Classic of the South) |
ESPN3 |
L 14–35 |
14,925 |
November 21 |
1:30 PM |
Western Carolina |
Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA |
ESPN3 |
L 20–24 |
4,523 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from STATS FCS Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
Game summaries
Ball State
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
VMI |
0 |
10 |
7 | 19 | 36 |
Ball State |
3 |
17 |
14 | 14 | 48 |
at Scheumann Stadium (Muncie, IN)
- Date: September 3, 2015
- Game time: 7:00 PM
- Game weather: Temperature: 85 • Wind: WNW 5 mph • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 10,473
- Referee: Tony Cannella
- TV: ESPN3
Richmond
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
VMI |
3 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 10 |
#22 Richmond |
7 |
14 |
14 | 7 | 42 |
at Robins Stadium (Richmond, VA)
- Date: September 19, 2015
- Game time: 6:00 PM
- Game attendance: 8,700
- Referee: Hank Johns
- TV: CSN MA+
Furman
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
VMI |
7 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 21 |
Furman |
0 |
7 |
14 | 3 | 24 |
at Paladin Stadium (Greenville, SC)
- Date: September 26, 2015
- Game time: 3:00 PM
- Game weather: Temperature: 66 • Wind: SW 13 mph • Weather: Light Rain
- Game attendance: 7,915
- Referee: Marshall Lewis
- TV: ESPN3
Bucknell
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Bucknell |
7 |
0 |
0 | 15 | 6 | 28 |
VMI |
7 |
6 |
0 | 9 | 0 | 22 |
at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA)
- Game time: 1:30 PM
- Game weather: Temperature: 52 • Wind: 8 mph • Weather: Cold, Rainy, Ick
- Game attendance: 3,713
- Referee: Bob Johnson
- TV: ESPN3
Samford
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Samford |
7 |
14 |
7 | 21 | 49 |
VMI |
0 |
10 |
3 | 0 | 13 |
at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA)
- Game time: 1:30 PM
- Game weather: Temperature: 51 • Wind: 6–8 mph • Weather: Vintage fall day
- Game attendance: 4,875
- Referee: Edwin Lee
- TV: ESPN3
Chattanooga
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
#6 Chattanooga |
3 |
17 |
3 | 10 | 33 |
VMI |
7 |
14 |
0 | 6 | 27 |
at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA)
- Game time: 1:30 PM
- Game weather: Temperature: 58 • Wind: 8–12 MPH • Weather: Cool and gorgeous
- Game attendance: 6,104
- Referee: Marshall Lewis
- TV: ESPN3
Mercer
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
VMI |
14 |
14 |
0 | 0 | 28 |
Mercer |
0 |
14 |
7 | 0 | 21 |
at Moye Complex (Macon, GA)
- Game time: 3:00 PM
- Game weather: Temperature: 81 • Wind: 4 mph • Weather: Partly Sunny
- Game attendance: 9,754
- Referee: Larry Saunders
- TV: ESPN3
References
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