Athletics
VMI Football 2024 Season Shows Grit
The VMI Keydets win at home against Furman University in a tight 21-17 battle during the 2024 season.—Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.
With the season at its close, it is time to look back at VMI football’s 2024 campaign.
Prior to the start of the season, VMI set down a new surface on Alumni Memorial Field, creating a new game experience for the cadet-athletes.
Despite the 1-11 overall record, VMI showed grit in different ways throughout the campaign. The Keydets played five FCS opponents that were ranked during at least 1 week and challenged nationally ranked FBS Power-Five, Georgia Tech, in Atlanta, Georgia. VMI’s big win came at home against Furman University in a tight 21-17 battle. Shamus Jones ’25 would be named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the win after recording a career-high 13.0 tackles, an interception, and a blocked field goal.
The Keydets landed seven players on the All-Southern Conference list with one first team, Tyriq Poindexter ’25; three second team, Jones, Hunter Rice ’25, and Eric Rankin ’25; and three freshman team, Ethen Horne ’28, Asa Locks ’28, and Austin Fletcher ’28. Jones was also named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after a career-high 13.0 tackles, a blocked kick, and a game-sealing interception in the victory over the Paladins.
VMI had some strong statistical numbers, including Rankin, who led the league in tackles and was 11th in FCS with 120.0 total tackles. He also received FCS Nation Radio National Player of the Week. Jones tallied 98.0 stops, which included 56.0 solos, ranking fifth in the SoCon, and his 98.0 stops are 44th in FCS. With their strong efforts defensively, VMI led the league with 862.0 total tackles and 14 forced fumbles.
Rice proved to be a top-tier back in the conference, boasting the second-most rushing touchdowns of seven and third-most yards at 800 yards. His 30 career rushing touchdowns are second all-time at VMI, with his 2,191 yards on the ground ranking eighth all-time, etching himself into the VMI record book.
The Keydets honored 17 1st Class cadets during Senior Day, including four fifth-quarter players.
