Sophomore Raymond Wright battles for No. 1 NG spot
For sophomore Raymond Wright, he is not only vying for playing time, but looking to lock down the No. 1 spot at nose guard, which is one of two positions on the 2016 Army defense that does not have a returning starter.
Well, as the Army Black Knights hit the halfway through spring practice, Wright appears to be in the middle of the race for the starting nose guard position, with Cordell Davis and Andrew McLean (who is out this spring).
“Ray is doing well,” first year defensive line coach Chad Wilt told GoBlackKnights.com after Saturday’s scrimmage. “I’m excited about his progress and I think he has a chance to make a big impact this fall and for several years to follow. It’s still too early to declare a starter, but he is square in the hunt for the spot. He is just starting to learn what it takes to be a DI nose guard, but he has what it takes.”
After Saturday’s scrimmage, GBK spoke to the 6-foot-3, 280 pounder out of Charlotte (NC), who made no secrets about his affinity for being the guy in the middle of Army’s 3-4 defense.
“Of course I’m striving to be No. 1,” said Wright. “I’m very competitive and want to be the best. I don’t want to be No. 2 or 3, which means picking up my intensity. I think in today’s scrimmage I did okay, but I could have done better. It’s a good time for evaluation as well.”
Although he did not see the field a ton of action last season, he indicated that his limited reps during the 2015 campaign have assisted him coming into spring practice sessions.
“I learned that college is a whole other level, especially mentally,” said Wright. “Physically of course you have to be ready because everyone is big and everyone is fast, but mentally you have be ready. Even though I played a little last year, I was able to get a hold of that part of it.”
Wright also shared that he is now feeling more comfortable playing in the middle of Army’s 3-4 defense.
“I feel good and much better than last year,” he declared. “I feel that my movements are better and I understand the defensive concept, plus I think I’m faster and stronger. The winter strength and conditioning help me a lot.”
Wright and his fellow nose guards have a new position coach in Chad Wilt and according to the sophomore, he had already has a solid relationship with Wilt, and embraces his coaching style.
“I love him and he’s a great guy,” Wright stated. “He came in ... he was open, he was honest with everyone and I already feel like I have a good relationship with him and trust him. He knows what he’s talking about and I think what he brings is a different level of intensity. I don’t want to say that he’s more strict, but he expects a lot more from everyone and that’s not just first team players, but he expects everyone to do their best.”
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