Army fullback Jakobi Buchanan feeling good about recovery, comeback from knee injury

At first glance, you wonder if this is the same Jakobi Buchanan who could deftly maneuver his way through narrow passages of surging humanity and find breathing room on the second level.
Could it be the same brutish Army football fullback who used his bulk and sheer strength to send linebackers reeling, becoming the nation’s most dependable ground gainer for three years?
You had to wonder after Buchanan went down with a knee injury in the third game of the 2022 season. Though he was back two weeks later, he admittedly was never quite the same, maybe a half-step slower and not demonstrating the same leg strength crucial for his tasks.
Buchanan said the “marvels of modern medicine’’ kept him in the lineup but offseason surgery awaited and he sat out the hitting aspects of spring ball.
With the arrival of preseason drills a week ago, Buchanan is back wearing his familiar No. 33 in the Black Knights’ backfield, flashing a beaming smile and displaying the pure joy of being back on the football field.
The 6-foot Buchanan is clearly leaner and fitter, checking in at 255 pounds this week after competing at 280-290 in recent seasons. He’s happier to be working at his new weight, and eager to re-establish himself for his final collegiate season.
“This is the first time being able to go back onto the field since my injury,’’ said Buchanan, taking part in the first two days of full-contact drills on Tuesday and Thursday on the Howze practice field. “This is my first time taking full, live-contact reps and it definitely feels good.’’
The course of his junior season changed on Sept. 17. Army was already reeling with opening losses to Coastal Carolina and Texas San Antonio. The scoreless game was barely two minutes old when Buchanan got the call from the Villanova 25. With a quick change of direction at the line, Buchanan burst through a hole on the left side. “Here’s Buchanan … running free … the big guy … 270-plus pounds is loose!’’ exclaimed CBS announcer Dave Ryan.
Villanova cornerback Christian Sapp valiantly chased Buchanan, who cradled the ball with his left arm and stiff-armed the defender with his right. Buchanan’s momentum carried him out of bounds at the Wildcats’ 20 and he bounced up immediately as the Michie Stadium audience roared.
“Buchanan was rumbling, bumbling, stumbling, as Chris Berman would say,’’ said CBS analyst Ross Tucker. Just then, the camera caught Buchanan on the Army sideline, already reaching down to his left knee.
“When I came down I slammed my knee down on the turf,’’ Buchanan said. “When I got to the sideline I took a step and fell down (and said) ‘Oh, that doesn’t sound good.’’’ His day was done – the big question was whether his season would be over, too.
An MRI the next day revealed a torn meniscus. Immediate surgery was not needed so “modern medicine’’ and a brace were able to get Buchanan through the remainder of the season, he said. Buchanan said he never felt the same the rest of the way.
“It was a really interesting feeling,’’ he said. “It feels like you’re almost out of your body (and) not really yourself. Sometimes I would cut off this left knee (and) I didn’t know if it was going to be my last cut. So not being able to play the way I know, play my style of football and (have) the confidence I probably would have hurt me mentally more than anything else.’’
Buchanan admits he entertained doubts about whether he’d be able to return to playing following surgery.
“I definitely thought about it,’’ he said. “I love football. I love this team. My number one goal was really trying to graduate. I definitely thought, do I want to keep on playing through all of this?’’
The recovery took a bit longer than Buchanan had hoped for and he didn’t return to the team until the final week of spring practice drills – he was cleared for some limited contact but not enough to play in the Black-Gold scrimmage.
Army football quarterback Bryson Daly hands off to Jakobi Buchanan during practice on August 2, 2023.
(Credit: Patrick Oehler/Times Herald-Record)
“I talked to my coaches and I talked with my brothers on the team,’’ he said, “and they led me in the right direction. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I would never take for granted.’’
Buchanan used his down time to shed weight, being more disciplined with his eating habits and executing the proper workout drills. He said the reduced weight is easier on his joints.
Buchanan said he feels good, and now it’s just a matter of getting used to the new offense operating out of the shotgun formation, requiring different reads from the wishbone he had been accustomed to over three years. With just one career carry that went for negative yardage, Buchanan has amassed 1,403 yards and 24 touchdowns.
“I’m definitely excited,’’ said Buchanan, who will put his skills to the test in Saturday’s first veterans scrimmage of the preseason. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s the last season and a little bittersweet but I’m definitely excited for it, just to kick things off and get it going. I’m definitely going to miss football but I’m about ready to graduate.’’