WEST POINT, N.Y. — The encounter between Army quarterback Bryson Daily and legendary Army player Pete Dawkins was brief yet impactful. During pre-game warmups prior to the 2022 matchup against Navy, Dawkins reflected on his experiences at the academy and the significance of being part of the last undefeated Army team in 1958. Daily, a sophomore who was waiting for his opportunity behind three seasoned quarterbacks, absorbed Dawkins’ advice about valuing every moment and giving his all on the field.
For the Army program, resilience has always been fundamental, and Daily epitomizes that battle-hardened spirit. With a strong 9-0 record, the Black Knights have earned a spot at No. 18 in the AP Top 25, gearing up for a crucial game against No. 6 Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium.
“I play the way I know best, and the team relies on me to run hard,” Daily stated. “Winning here requires grit, and I’m all in for that.” He also credited his father and former coach, Darrell Daily, for instilling the value of perseverance in him. Darrell emphasized that undertaking difficulties consistently makes it easier to handle such challenges, leading to personal growth in toughness.
With this mindset, Daily is gearing up for what could be Army’s most significant non-service academy match since the Cadets triumphed over the Fighting Irish in 1958. Currently, Daily tops FBS quarterbacks in rushing yards with 1,062 and is tied for second across all players with 21 rushing touchdowns, breaking Army’s single-season record of 17 in only seven contests. In a 48-28 victory against East Carolina, he achieved an impressive feat, scoring five rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown, becoming the first Army player to accumulate six touchdowns in a single game since Elmer Oliphant in 1916.
The 6-foot, 221-pound senior embraces contact rather than avoiding it, a characteristic that his father observed since Daily’s early days in youth football, including his stint as a linebacker. Darrell Daily recalled, “He thrives on contact. Even back in fifth and sixth grade, he’d get penalties for hitting harder than everyone else. It was always physical, nothing cheap.”
This same intensity is evident in Army’s games. In his last performance, a narrow 14-3 win against North Texas, Daily led the team with 153 rushing yards across a career-high 36 carries, despite limited practice because of an undisclosed injury prior to the game against Air Force.
“He’s truly one-of-a-kind,” remarked Army offensive coordinator Cody Worley. “I’ve never encountered a player with such violent physicality at this position. It’s challenging to replicate what he brings as a ball carrier.” Worley also pointed out Daily’s quickness in short distances, allowing him to evade tackles just as effectively as he barrels through defenders.
Daily’s combination of athleticism and toughness was a key reason why Army assistant coach Mike Viti sought him out during a recruiting visit to West Texas. There, Daily, who played both quarterback and linebacker, amassed an astonishing 6,300 rushing yards, 4,800 passing yards, and 154 total touchdowns, along with a strong record in basketball and baseball.
Initially recruited for the team’s triple-option offense, Daily was also allowed the chance to explore positions like linebacker and fullback. “He was the complete package for us,” Viti noted. “His leadership abilities were remarkable, and he could have excelled at multiple positions on both sides of the ball.” Daily received his first scholarship offer from Army, with several Texas FCS schools hoping to sign him for a defensive role, alongside offers from prestigious schools like Harvard and Princeton.
Ultimately, Daily committed to Army after a visit to West Point in his senior year and quickly started to make an impression on the veteran players during his freshman year.
“He was part of my cadet company and consistently excelled,” shared Tyhier Tyler, who played as Army’s starting quarterback during Daily’s sophomore year. “He performed all the essential tasks well and embodied the qualities we expect from an Army quarterback.”
Daily’s potential shone bright during his sophomore year, evident in his long touchdown runs in the final quarter against Louisiana-Monroe and UMass while serving as the fourth-string quarterback. As the starting quarterback in 2023, he guided Army to four consecutive victories, including key wins against Air Force and Navy.
With the Black Knights currently enjoying a nation-leading 13-game winning streak that began last year, Daily and his team have many goals ahead, including the crucial match with Notre Dame, followed by a battle against Tulane for the American Athletic Conference championship, and the annual rivalry against Navy.
As Daily’s college career nears its conclusion, he remains focused on maximizing every meeting, practice session, and game, eager for the opportunity to share more of his journey with Dawkins the next time they meet.