Army West Point Athletics
Photo by: Ariel Fox
Brady Small: Built for Something Bigger
October 14, 2026 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Can you name one of only two Division I football players who have been on the Rimington Trophy Watch List in each of the last three years?
A couple of hints: He's a four-year starter at Army West Point. He calls Michie Stadium Preserved by USAA his collegiate home. He's helped his team accumulate more than 15,000 yards of total offense during his career. He's helped Army beat Navy once, and he's started 44 consecutive games as a cadet.
Got it yet?
A couple more hints: He's on the watch lists for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's top center, and the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top interior lineman. He's never suffered a bad center-quarterback exchange during his collegiate career. He wears uniform No. 51 for the Black Knights.
Meet Army senior Brady Small.
He plays a position cloaked mostly in anonymity on the football field. He's a player who has found a way to make quite a name for himself by making sure the football gets into the quarterback's hands on every play and then blocking for one of the top rushing offenses in the nation.
But for Small, his life is about so much more than center-quarterback exchanges, yards gained and touchdowns scored.
It's about service to his family, his country, Army West Point and his teammates.
"I'm the first person in my family that chose the military route," said Small. "The opportunity to play high level football and serve this great nation one day as a second lieutenant is why I chose to come to Army West Point. It was a great opportunity coming out of high school and it stands as one of the best decisions I have ever made.
"I think one of my greatest strengths is being a natural-born leader," Small said as he and his teammates prepared to play Florida Atlantic this Saturday at noon in a game that will be televised live on CBS Sports Network from Michie Stadium Preserved by USAA. "I strive to be someone who my teammates can rely on. We have a very tight-knit brotherhood here at Army. The ability to lean on one another each and every day through the hard times and the good times is one of the greatest things I've enjoyed in my life."
For Small, the Army brotherhood began about as quickly as it could for any freshman at any level of college football, as he earned a starter's role at center in his first career game against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 1 of the 2023 season. In becoming a starter on the offensive line, he became the first Army freshman to start a season opener since 2017.
The Black Knights earned six wins on the season and, most importantly, victories over Air Force and Navy during his first season to capture the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
His success as a freshman led to national prominence for the law and legal studies major, as he was added to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the first time in his career to begin the 2024 season.
His stock has continued to skyrocket in each of those three years.
During his sophomore season at Army, Small led a unit that won the Joe Moore Award. The Joe Moore Award is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football. In winning the award, Army became the first military academy and the first Group of Five program to take home the honor.
The Joe Moore Award is the most special award he has received because it is a team award. It's the only major award given to a group or unit, not an individual.
The Joe Moore Award has been presented to Alabama (2015, 2020), Iowa (2016, 2025), Notre Dame (2017), Oklahoma (2018), LSU (2019), Michigan (2021, 2022), Washington (2023) and Army (2024).
With the same five players starting on the offensive line for each game in 2024, Army boasted the nation's No. 1 rushing attack at 300.5 yards per game and opened holes for Bryson Daily to set the FBS single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
"That's a great group of guys," said Small. "We were really close; we did everything together. One of the reasons we were so successful is because we had great leadership from both our teammates and our coaches. We did everything for one another. There were no individual or selfish attitudes. We did everything we did for each other."
While the Black Knights offensive line is again a candidate for the Joe Moore Award in 2026, Small is on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the third consecutive season. The trophy is presented annually to the nation's top center.
"To be on the Rimington Award Watch List is a great honor," said Small. "It's one of the greatest honors I have ever received. It's a tribute to my teammates and all the hard work they have put into this program. Individual accolades are great, but more than that, it's a tribute to my teammates, this organization, and everything West Point has given me."
The trophy is named for Dave Rimington, a consensus All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982. It is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis research.
A former wide receiver, Army head coach Jeff Monken understands the importance of a great center and the value Small has brought to the Army program throughout his career.
"The Rimington Trophy is one of the most prestigious honors in college football," said Monken. "The physical and mental toughness it rewards are a perfect match for our program and for what we hope our linemen represent. It recognizes the type of player Brady Small is to us and the leadership, pride, and physical playing style that he brings each day."
The Rimington Trophy is rooted in the history of college football and has a special connection to Army West Point.
In 2005, the Rimington Trophy and the office of President Gerald R. Ford announced the creation of the Gerald R. Ford Legends Award. Ford was the first recipient of the annual award that bears his name.
In 2018, retired Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. received the Ford Legends Award. Caslen served a distinguished 43-year military career before retiring in 2018. His military journey culminated in his appointment as the 59th superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a position he held from 2013 to 2018.
"Playing D1 football at Army prepared me to lead America's sons and daughters in the crucible of combat operations more than any other program I was affiliated with," said Caslen. "It taught me teamwork, selfless service, grit, determination, tenacity, and what it means to play for your country, and to play with honor. I learned how to fight and to win. I learned how to commit to a purpose and a mission. And I learned how to lead from the front, where shared hardships build trust and confidence.
"I am so proud of Brady Small, as I see the same characteristics in him that I learned myself. I am confident he will serve our nation with honor, integrity, and with the same toughness and grit that he learned from playing Army football. America would expect nothing less, and he will be there when our nation needs him the most. He will never let you down."
Serving the United States is what Small has prepared himself to do after football.
"The biggest aspect of my success as a cadet and a football player is getting into a rhythm," said the Mt. Ephraim, N.J., native. "One of the great things we are provided as student-athletes is an incredible support system. I constantly lean on my support system through teachers, teammates, and coaches. They've ultimately done an amazing job of helping me become successful at West Point."
With a lot of football remaining to be played, Small can't help but think about the pomp and circumstance of graduating from Army West Point in May.
"Graduating from West Point is going to be one of the greatest feelings of my life," said Small. "You work so hard for something. My parents are super proud. I'm the first person in my family to come to this prestigious academy. When I throw my graduation cap up in the air on graduation day, it's definitely going to be a great feeling on a very emotional day."
Upon graduation, Small has his sights set on branching into field artillery, infantry or armor.
"I'd be happy with any of those three assignments, but Field Artillery is definitely my first choice. I really like the tight-knit culture of the field artillery. I have a number of teammates who are in the Army right now and who are currently in the FA branch. They speak of nothing but great things about their experiences, and I would love the opportunity to lead our nation's soldiers."
Brady Small, a leader on the football field and a cadet at one of the nation's most important academic institutions, is certainly a name you need to know.
Secure Your Seats
There is no setting quite like West Point. To purchase directly online now, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com/ticketsor call 1-877-TIX-ARMY.
Need other ticket options? Complete the form HERE identifying your ticket interests and an Army representative will contact you!
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
—www.goarmywestpoint.com—
A couple of hints: He's a four-year starter at Army West Point. He calls Michie Stadium Preserved by USAA his collegiate home. He's helped his team accumulate more than 15,000 yards of total offense during his career. He's helped Army beat Navy once, and he's started 44 consecutive games as a cadet.
Got it yet?
A couple more hints: He's on the watch lists for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's top center, and the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top interior lineman. He's never suffered a bad center-quarterback exchange during his collegiate career. He wears uniform No. 51 for the Black Knights.
Meet Army senior Brady Small.
He plays a position cloaked mostly in anonymity on the football field. He's a player who has found a way to make quite a name for himself by making sure the football gets into the quarterback's hands on every play and then blocking for one of the top rushing offenses in the nation.
But for Small, his life is about so much more than center-quarterback exchanges, yards gained and touchdowns scored.
It's about service to his family, his country, Army West Point and his teammates.
"I'm the first person in my family that chose the military route," said Small. "The opportunity to play high level football and serve this great nation one day as a second lieutenant is why I chose to come to Army West Point. It was a great opportunity coming out of high school and it stands as one of the best decisions I have ever made.
"I think one of my greatest strengths is being a natural-born leader," Small said as he and his teammates prepared to play Florida Atlantic this Saturday at noon in a game that will be televised live on CBS Sports Network from Michie Stadium Preserved by USAA. "I strive to be someone who my teammates can rely on. We have a very tight-knit brotherhood here at Army. The ability to lean on one another each and every day through the hard times and the good times is one of the greatest things I've enjoyed in my life."
For Small, the Army brotherhood began about as quickly as it could for any freshman at any level of college football, as he earned a starter's role at center in his first career game against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 1 of the 2023 season. In becoming a starter on the offensive line, he became the first Army freshman to start a season opener since 2017.
The Black Knights earned six wins on the season and, most importantly, victories over Air Force and Navy during his first season to capture the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
His success as a freshman led to national prominence for the law and legal studies major, as he was added to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the first time in his career to begin the 2024 season.
His stock has continued to skyrocket in each of those three years.
During his sophomore season at Army, Small led a unit that won the Joe Moore Award. The Joe Moore Award is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football. In winning the award, Army became the first military academy and the first Group of Five program to take home the honor.
The Joe Moore Award is the most special award he has received because it is a team award. It's the only major award given to a group or unit, not an individual.
The Joe Moore Award has been presented to Alabama (2015, 2020), Iowa (2016, 2025), Notre Dame (2017), Oklahoma (2018), LSU (2019), Michigan (2021, 2022), Washington (2023) and Army (2024).
With the same five players starting on the offensive line for each game in 2024, Army boasted the nation's No. 1 rushing attack at 300.5 yards per game and opened holes for Bryson Daily to set the FBS single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
"That's a great group of guys," said Small. "We were really close; we did everything together. One of the reasons we were so successful is because we had great leadership from both our teammates and our coaches. We did everything for one another. There were no individual or selfish attitudes. We did everything we did for each other."
While the Black Knights offensive line is again a candidate for the Joe Moore Award in 2026, Small is on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the third consecutive season. The trophy is presented annually to the nation's top center.
"To be on the Rimington Award Watch List is a great honor," said Small. "It's one of the greatest honors I have ever received. It's a tribute to my teammates and all the hard work they have put into this program. Individual accolades are great, but more than that, it's a tribute to my teammates, this organization, and everything West Point has given me."
The trophy is named for Dave Rimington, a consensus All-America center at the University of Nebraska in 1981 and 1982. It is presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for cystic fibrosis research.
A former wide receiver, Army head coach Jeff Monken understands the importance of a great center and the value Small has brought to the Army program throughout his career.
"The Rimington Trophy is one of the most prestigious honors in college football," said Monken. "The physical and mental toughness it rewards are a perfect match for our program and for what we hope our linemen represent. It recognizes the type of player Brady Small is to us and the leadership, pride, and physical playing style that he brings each day."
The Rimington Trophy is rooted in the history of college football and has a special connection to Army West Point.
In 2005, the Rimington Trophy and the office of President Gerald R. Ford announced the creation of the Gerald R. Ford Legends Award. Ford was the first recipient of the annual award that bears his name.
In 2018, retired Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. received the Ford Legends Award. Caslen served a distinguished 43-year military career before retiring in 2018. His military journey culminated in his appointment as the 59th superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a position he held from 2013 to 2018.
"Playing D1 football at Army prepared me to lead America's sons and daughters in the crucible of combat operations more than any other program I was affiliated with," said Caslen. "It taught me teamwork, selfless service, grit, determination, tenacity, and what it means to play for your country, and to play with honor. I learned how to fight and to win. I learned how to commit to a purpose and a mission. And I learned how to lead from the front, where shared hardships build trust and confidence.
"I am so proud of Brady Small, as I see the same characteristics in him that I learned myself. I am confident he will serve our nation with honor, integrity, and with the same toughness and grit that he learned from playing Army football. America would expect nothing less, and he will be there when our nation needs him the most. He will never let you down."
Serving the United States is what Small has prepared himself to do after football.
"The biggest aspect of my success as a cadet and a football player is getting into a rhythm," said the Mt. Ephraim, N.J., native. "One of the great things we are provided as student-athletes is an incredible support system. I constantly lean on my support system through teachers, teammates, and coaches. They've ultimately done an amazing job of helping me become successful at West Point."
With a lot of football remaining to be played, Small can't help but think about the pomp and circumstance of graduating from Army West Point in May.
"Graduating from West Point is going to be one of the greatest feelings of my life," said Small. "You work so hard for something. My parents are super proud. I'm the first person in my family to come to this prestigious academy. When I throw my graduation cap up in the air on graduation day, it's definitely going to be a great feeling on a very emotional day."
Upon graduation, Small has his sights set on branching into field artillery, infantry or armor.
"I'd be happy with any of those three assignments, but Field Artillery is definitely my first choice. I really like the tight-knit culture of the field artillery. I have a number of teammates who are in the Army right now and who are currently in the FA branch. They speak of nothing but great things about their experiences, and I would love the opportunity to lead our nation's soldiers."
Brady Small, a leader on the football field and a cadet at one of the nation's most important academic institutions, is certainly a name you need to know.
Secure Your Seats
There is no setting quite like West Point. To purchase directly online now, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com/ticketsor call 1-877-TIX-ARMY.
Need other ticket options? Complete the form HERE identifying your ticket interests and an Army representative will contact you!
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
—www.goarmywestpoint.com—
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