Army football gains 13 preseason all-star nods from Phil Steele magazine

The first major preseason all-star college football teams have been released and Army garnered 13 selections on the highly respected Phil Steele all-independent schools squad, six on the first team and seven on the second. Army’s 2023 season opens on September 2 at Louisiana Monroe. The home opener is September 9 against Delaware State. College football:TV, radio, web schedules for 2023 season First team Cooper Allan, P – A sophomore from Franklin, Tenn., Allan has not punted yet on the varsity. He played at Independence High School and the U.S. Military Academy Prep School. Isaiah Alston, WR – A junior from Carteret, N.J., the 6-foot-4, 195-pound receiver had 16 receptions for 269 yards and one touchdown last season. His top game came against Wake Forest with seven catches for 123 yards. Over 27 contests he has 40 catches for 765 yards and four scores, with two 100-plus yard games (both against Wake). Connor Finucane, OL – A senior captain from Baton Rouge, La., he started all 12 games in 2022 – eight at right guard and four at right tackle – running his starts streak to 25. He was named a Steele second team All-Independent star. Leo Lowin, LB – A senior captain from Austin, Texas, he started 11 of 12 games, leading the team with 100 tackles (48 solo), posting three sacks, two interceptions, three passes defended and a forced fumble. He was named the Black Knights’ player of the Army-Navy game with a career-high 16 tackles, the last of five contests with double-figure stops. He was a Steele second-team defense star, and was celebrated for his academics as well. Tyson Riley, RB – A junior from Mount Vernon, Mo., the rugged 6-2, 255-pound halfback played in nine games, missing two mid-season games with injury. He rushed for 441 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. He had a career-best 158 yards rushing vs. Villanova, his lone triple-digit effort. Tyrell Robinson, punt return – A junior from Dallas, Ga., Robinson is a triple threat in the run, pass and return games. Last season he returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown vs. Villanova. Was named a 2022 Steele all-star, though he was lost for the season with a leg injury suffered in the Wake Forest game. He sat out the 2023 spring drills. Second team Jakobi Buchanan, RB – A 6-foot senior from St. Charles, Mo., Buchanan has only one career rush for lost yardage – he has rushed for 1,401 yards and his 24 touchdowns ranks No. 10 in Academy history. Buchanan was slowed after injuring his left knee against Villanova, posting no better than 56 yards over seven subsequent appearances. He sat out the 2023 spring drills. Jimmy Ciarlo, LB – A captain senior from Ringwood, N.J., he started all 12 games at outside linebacker, posting 55 tackles (No. 3 on the team) and two passes defended. Ciarlo had eight tackles against Colgate and nine against Navy. He saw little time his first two seasons. Jackson Filipowicz, OL – A 6-3 senior from Alparetta, Ga., Filipowicz started at left guard in 11 games last season. He was selected to College Football Network's All-Independent offense second team. Quindrelin Hammonds, DB – A 6-foot senior from Covington, Ga., Hammonds started 11 games last season, posting 52 tackles (29 solo), three passes defended and a forced fumble against Troy – he had 12 total tackles in his previous two seasons. He posted at least six stops in five games, including seven at Troy and 10 against Air Force. Austin Hill, LB – A senior captain from Memphis, Tenn., Hill started in five of his 12 appearances. The 6-1, 245-pounder posted 41 tackles (19 solo), two tackles for loss and forced fumbles against Connecticut and Navy. He made seven stops against Air Force and six against Navy. Jordyn Law, OL – A 6-4, 295-pounder from Nashville, Tenn., the junior Law (nicknamed Boobie) started at left tackle in seven games last season and has appeared in 25 career games. His career highlight was recovering the overtime fumble in the end zone against Air Force, securing the 2021 Army win. Jabari Moore, DB – The 5-11 senior from Hoover, Ala., started in 10 games, recording 30 tackles (14 solo), one interception and five passes defended. He has played in 46 career games and has logged six interceptions.