2015 VMI Keydets football team

The 2015 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 125th football season and the Keydets were led by first year head coach Scott Wachenheim. They played their home games at 10,000–seat Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium, as they have since 1962. This was VMI's second season as a member of the Southern Conference, following 11 seasons in the Big South Conference, which followed 78 years in the Southern Conference. They finished the season 2–9, 1–6 in SoCon play to finish in last place.

2015 VMI Keydets football
ConferenceSouthern Conference
2015 record2–9 (1–6 SoCon)
Head coachScott Wachenheim (1st season)
Offensive coordinatorDustin Ward (1st season)
Offensive schemePro Style
Defensive coordinatorTom Clark (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumAlumni Memorial Field
(Capacity: 10,000)
2015 Southern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 9 Chattanooga +^  6 –1     9 –4  
No. 13 The Citadel +^  6 –1     9 –4  
Western Carolina  5 –2     7 –4  
Samford  3 –4     6 –5  
Wofford  3 –4     5 –6  
Mercer  2 –5     5 –6  
Furman  2 –5     4 –7  
VMI  1 –6     2 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS FCS Poll

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.

NamePositionSeasons at
VMI		Alma mater
Scott WachenheimHead coach1stAir Force (1984)
Dustin WardOffensive Coordinator1stIllinois (2003)
Tom ClarkDefensive Coordinator/Secondary1stMaryland (1986)
Tim MayprayRunning Backs1stVMI (2010)
Justin WoodInside Linebackers1stChristopher Newport (2006)
Justin HamiltonOutside Linebackers2ndVirginia Tech
Brad RobbinsWide Receivers3rdUVA–Wise (2010)
Gordon SammisOffensive Line1stVirginia (2007)
Mike Saint GermainDefensive Line1stLafayette (2007)
Josh ZidenbergAsst. Secondary/Special Teams1stVirginia (2008)
Jimmy WhittenStrength & Conditioning12thVirginia Tech (1991)
Reference:[3]

Returning starters

Roster
2015 VMI Keydets football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 4 John Burton  Jr
QB 4 Jake Paladino Fr
WR 6 Dane Forlines Jr
QB 8 Al Cobb  So
WR 9 Taylor Stout Jr
WR 11 Darrian Johnson  Jr
TE 13 Ryan Swingle  So
WR 15 Joey Brown  So
QB 16 Jade Maher  So
RB 17 Brice Tucker  So
QB 18 Austin Coulling Fr
WR 21 Aaron Sanders Jr
WR 22 Dontae Mauck Fr
FB 23 Cody Shirley  Jr
RB 24 Quan Myers Fr
RB 26 Mason Dermott Fr
RB 37 Chris Gavin Fr
FB 39 Derrick Ziglar  Sr
RB 40 Hunter Marshall  So
WR 43 Kyle Harrell  So
TE 47 Zander Royston Fr
WR 48 John Wilkins  Jr
RB 49 Kyle Vardo  So
C 50 Chase Smith  So
OG 57 Bradley Hann  Jr
OT 61 Stephen Miller  So
C 62 Patrick Doucette  So
OG 63 Nate Murray  Sr
OG 65 Matt Milner  So
OT 66 Iyan Roseborough  Jr
OT 71 Christian Williams  So
OT 72 Andrew Lewis Jr
OL 73 Cole Brummit Fr
OL 76 Will Morris Fr
OL 77 Tyler Thacker Fr
OG 78 Chad Reed  Jr
OL 79 Garrett Barker Fr
WR 80 Samuel Patterson Sr
TE 81 Chad Jacob  Jr
WR 82 Matthew Nicholson Jr
WR 83 Isaiah Parker Fr
TE 85 Kevin Carson So
TE 86 John Mobley  So
WR 89 Will Wampler Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 1 Caleb Furlow  Sr
LB 2 Bradley Lipscomb  Jr
LB 3 Tony Richardson So
LB 5 Darnell Ashton Jr
CB 7 Damian Jones  Jr
S 14 Greg Sanders So
CB 19 Doug Moore Sr
S 20 Alex James Sr
S 25 Alex Keys  Jr
DB 28 John Porter Fr
DB 29 Karee Carter Fr
DB 30 Gabe Sutherland  So
DB 31 Eddie Stawowczyk  So
DB 32 John Strozyk  So
CB 33 Tyruig Trotman Fr
LB/P 34 Bill Hogan  So
DB 35 Scott Frazier  So
CB 36 Michael Williams  So
S 38 Alijah Robinson Jr
DB 41 Uzoma Kpaduwa Fr
LB 42 Troy Barden  So
LB 44 Ryan Francis  Jr
LB 45 Tyler Fedison Fr
LB 46 Allan Cratsenberg So
DE 52 Zack Baker So
LB 53 Arnold Roots Fr
DL 55 Daniel Rader  So
LB 56 Brian Ellis  Jr
LB 58 Brian Lipscomb  So
LB 59 Chris Copeland  Sr
DL 60 Thad Stevenson-Panchisin Fr
LB 67 Derek Wilson Fr
LB 68 Brad Mallory Fr
LB 69 Jameson Donahue Fr
DL 73 Connor Mildrum  Jr
DB 84 Mandela Kabi Fr
LB 87 Cody Peregoy Fr
DE 88 J. C. Garvin  Jr
DE 90 Robert de Wolff  Jr
DL 91 Xavier Greenfield So
DT 92 Walker Hays Jr
DT 93 Denton Ensminger Sr
DT 94 Amon-Ra Clay  So
DL 95 Shavon Henderson  So
LB 96 Seth Mallory  Jr
DE 97 Jarrod Richmond Fr
DL 98 Casey Phillips Fr
DE 99 Joe Nelson  Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P/QB 12 Hayden Alford  Jr
PK 27 Dillon Christopher Jr
PK 64 Tommy Smith Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Dustin Ward (Offensive Coordinator – 1st year
  • Tom Clark (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary) – 1st year
  • Tim Maypray (Running Backs) – 1st year
  • Justin Wood (Inside Linebackers) – 1st year
  • Justin Hamilton (Outside Linebackers) – 2nd year
  • Brad Robbins (Wide Receivers) – 3rd year
  • Gordon Sammis (Offensive Line) – 1st year
  • Josh Zidenberg (Secondary) – 1st year
  • Mike Saint Germain (Defensive Line) – 1st year
  • Jimmy Whitten (Strength & Conditioning) – 12th year
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 27, 2015

Projected depth chart

[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.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 37:00 PMat Ball State*
ESPN3L 36–4810,473
September 121:30 PMMorehead State*
ESPN3W 43–405,016
September 196:00 PMat No. 22 Richmond*
CSN MA+L 10–428,700
September 263:00 PMat Furman
ESPN3L 21–247,915
October 31:30 PMBucknell*
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN3L 22–28 OT3,713
October 101:30 PMSamford
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN3L 13–494,875
October 171:30 PMNo. 6 Chattanooga
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN3L 27–336,104
October 243:00 PMat Mercer
ESPN3W 28–219,754
October 311:30 PMWofford
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN3L 20–414,437
November 72:00 PMat No. 25 The Citadel
ESPN3L 14–3514,925
November 211:30 PMWestern Carolina
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN3L 20–244,523

Game summaries

Ball State
See also: 2015 Ball State Cardinals football team
1 2 34Total
VMI 0 10 71936
Ball State 3 17 141448

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

Morehead State
See also: 2015 Morehead State Eagles football team
1 2 34Total
Morehead State 14 3 131040
VMI 8 15 101043

at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA)

  • Date: September 12, 2015
  • Game time: 1:30 PM
  • Game attendance: 5,016
  • Referee: Thomas Graham
  • TV: ESPN3

Richmond
See also: 2015 Richmond Spiders football team
1 2 34Total
VMI 3 7 0010
#22 Richmond 7 14 14742

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
See also: 2015 Furman Paladins football team
1 2 34Total
VMI 7 7 0721
Furman 0 7 14324

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
See also: 2015 Bucknell Bison football team
1 2 34OTTotal
Bucknell 7 0 015628
VMI 7 6 09022

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
See also: 2015 Samford Bulldogs football team
1 2 34Total
Samford 7 14 72149
VMI 0 10 3013

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
See also: 2015 Chattanooga Mocs football team
1 2 34Total
#6 Chattanooga 3 17 31033
VMI 7 14 0627

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
See also: 2015 Mercer Bears football team
1 2 34Total
VMI 14 14 0028
Mercer 0 14 7021

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

Wofford
See also: 2015 Wofford Terriers football team
1 2 34Total
Wofford 7 7 21641
VMI 7 3 7320

at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA)

  • Game time: 1:30 PM
  • Game attendance: 4,473
  • TV: ESPN3

The Citadel
See also: 2015 The Citadel Bulldogs football team
1 2 34Total
VMI 7 0 7014
#25 The Citadel 14 6 6935

at Johnson Hagood Stadium (Charleston, SC)

  • Game time: 2:00 PM
  • Game attendance: 14,925
  • TV: ESPN3

Western Carolina
See also: 2015 Western Carolina Catamounts football team
1 2 34Total
Western Carolina 0 7 71024
VMI 7 6 0720

at Alumni Memorial Field (Lexington, VA)

  • Game time: 1:30 PM
  • Game attendance: 4,523
  • TV: ESPN3
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References
  1. "Scott Wachenheim Named VMI Head Football Coach". Virginia Military Institute Department of Athletics. December 14, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. King, Randy (November 24, 2014). "VMI Declines to Extend New Contract to Football Coach Sparky Woods". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  3. "2015 VMI Football Quick Facts" (PDF). Virginia Military Institute Department of Athletics. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  4. "2015 VMI Football Game Notes" (PDF). Virginia Military Institute Department of Athletics. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
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