By Jackson Schroeder
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

VMI enters its third season back in the SoCon with reborn confidence and a drive to turn this program around.

nContrary to prior years, VMI enters its third season back in the SoCon with reborn confidence and a drive to turn this program around.

nFor a team that went 2-9 overall and 1-6 in conference play last year, a winning record in 2016 is surprisingly not that far out of reach. Head coach Scott Wachenheim has 15 returning starters including star quarterback Al Cobb, record-breaking receiver Aaron Sanders, and the dynamic linebacker duo Ryan Francis and Allan Cratsenberg.

nThe Keydet offense is built around Cobb. He finished 2015 with 2,736 passing yards, completing 61.2% of his throws.xc2xa0 Coach Wachenheim stated, xe2x80x9cAl Cobb is a great leader. We are excited he is our quarterback.xe2x80x9d Cobb is predicted to shatter the VMI career passing records after the 2016 season.

nCobb does not do it all on his own. Receiver Aaron Sanders makes Cobbxe2x80x99s job a lot easier by catching nearly everything that comes his way. Sanders ranked 3rd in the country last year in receptions.

nDefensively, linebackers Francis and Cratsenberg hold down the middle. Each of them had over 100 tackles in 2015. Coach Wachenheim added, xe2x80x9cI donxe2x80x99t know if there are any pair of linebackers coming back that have 200 tackles between them anywhere in the country.xe2x80x9d

nxe2x80x9cThere are a lot of good pieces to the puzzle as we get going here,xe2x80x9d Wachenheim stated with certainty. He recognizes the strength of the SoCon but is more than accepting of the challenge. xe2x80x9cItxe2x80x99s great football week in and week out, and the games are very closexe2x80x9d, said Wachenheim.

nThere is an aura of excitement in Coach Watchenheimxe2x80x99s voice. He is convinced that he will start to turn this program around. With few injuries and a bit of luck, if the Keydets win a few games early they will gain enough confidence to shotgun themselves into a successful 2016.

nVMI open the season at Akron on September 3rd. Conference play begins on October 1st against Mercer in Lexington, VA.