Army is one of the biggest surprises so far in the 2024 NCAA football season, capitalizing on four consecutive wins to end the 2023 campaign and catapulting into the upper echelon of the FBS.
Led by quarterback Bryson Daily, Army is in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2020, sitting in between SMU and Washington State at No. 21. With then-No. 12 Notre Dame besting No. 24 Navy last weekend, Army is the lone military academy in the poll with an undefeated résumé through seven games.
Unfortunately, Army's luck has seemed to run out ahead of Week 10. Daily will miss the team's game against Air Force — a consequential rivalry matchup — with an undisclosed injury/illness, Army officials told ESPN on Saturday morning.
Here's everything to know about Daily's injury, which will sideline him for the Black Knights' game against the Falcons.
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Bryson Daily injury update
There is no timeline for Daily's return, though it's likely it is not a "season-ending setback," per ESPN. Still, his absence represents a major blow for Army, which is on its way to a potential CFP appearance as the Group of 5 representative.
Daily's injury comes after his six-touchdown performance in Army's last game, a 45-28 win against East Carolina on Oct. 19. The 6-foot, 221-pound senior rushed for five touchdowns and threw for one more.
Already in 2024, Daily has set Army single-season records for total touchdowns (26) and rushing touchdowns in seven games (19).
Army star QB Bryson Daily will miss Saturday’s game vs. Air Force with an undisclosed injury/illness. He was unable to practice this week. Daily’s 19 rushing TDs lead the country, and his 909 rushing yards lead QBs. Dewayne Coleman will make his first career start at QB for Army.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) November 2, 2024
MORE: College Football Playoff prediction after Week 9
Army QB depth chart
| QB1 | Bryson Daily |
| QB2 | Dewayne Coleman |
| QB3 | Cale Hellums |
Junior Dewayne Coleman will step in for Army in Daily's absence, making his first career start. Recruited out of Selma, Texas, Coleman was an All-Area player at Theodore Roosevelt High School. Notably, the school is the alma mater of several NFL players, including DB Quintin Demps and DE Erik Flowers.
Coleman made three appearances (with minimal stat lines) in 2023. He also has appeared several times in 2024 in relief of Daily, including brief drives against Lehigh, Rice, Temple, Tulsa and UAB.
So far in 2024, he has collected 73 yards on 6-for-8 passing, throwing one touchdown and no interceptions. Coleman is also a threat on the ground, taking 22 handoffs for 94 yards and a score as well in five appearances.
Behind him is sophomore Cale Hellums, also from Texas. At Tomball High, Hellums threw for just over 8,000 yards and 83 touchdowns during his career, receiving First-Team All-District, First-Team All-Region and Third-Team All-State honors twice each.
