College football: Army punter Zach Harding heads to NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

WEST POINT – One of the most unsung plays during last week’s Army-Navy game came in the second quarter with Army holding a slim 10-7 lead.

Army scored on its first two series but the third came up 3 yards shy near midfield. Punter Zach Harding was called upon for the first of five tries on the day. Navy’s Chance Warren called for a fair catch at his own 9 yard line but wisely let the ball go as it sailed over his head. The ball thumped down at the 5 and took an immediate turn to the left, allowing Leo Lowin to gather in the ball as it crossed the sideline at the 1. The Midshipmen never got the ball past their own 8 and had to punt.

Harding booted five punts on Saturday, dropped two inside the Navy 20 and averaged 43.2 yards, which was only 1 yard under his season average. In Army’s previous game against Liberty, Harding dropped four punts inside the 20, including one at the 1 yard line.

This season, he’s punted 35 times for 1,544 yards (44.1 average), with four touchbacks, 17 landing inside the opponent 20 and 11 traveling for 50-plus yards, including a career-best 63-yarder against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 25. He averaged 43.3 a year earlier, also dropping 17 inside the 20-yard line.

Scouts from the NFL have taken notice and Harding received an invitation to the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl on January 29. The senior showcase will be held at the Rose Bowl and televised by NFL Network.

Army players have regularly been offered invites to senior showcase events. Three other events include the Hula Bowl (Jan. 15 in Orlando, Florida, CBS Sports Network); the East-West Shrine Bowl (Feb. 3 in Paradise, Nevada, NFL Network); and, the Senior Bowl (Feb. 5 in Mobile, Alabama, NFL Network).

Steeley tough

Army placed nine players on the All-Independent Team as announced by Phil Steele, whose preseason magazine is the gold standard. It’s the fifth time in six years that Steele named at least nine Army players to the all-star team.

Named to the first team are AP All-American linebacker Andre Carter II, defensive back Marquel Broughton, nose tackle Nolan Cockrill, outside linebacker Arik Smith and punt returner Tyrell Robinson.

Second-team picks include quarterback Christian Anderson, offensive linemen Noah Knapp and Jordyn “Boobie” Law and cornerback Jabari Moore.

Pro Football Network’s All-Independent team named left guard Noah Knapp to its second-team offense. Carter was the defensive player of the year. Cornerback Jabari Moore and flex players Cedrick Cunningham and Marquel Broughton were named to the second-team defense.

Bring on Mizzou

Army players are taking term-ending exams this week. Practice resumes Friday and the team travels to Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday. Workouts for the Armed Forces Bowl take place Sunday through Tuesday. Wednesday’s game with Missouri (6-6) is at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Army (8-4) is an early 3.5 point favorite, with an over-under of 60 points.

College Football News said the consensus pick of its experts is Missouri, which garnered 12 of the 17 predictors. CFN picked Army for No. 46 in the nation (ahead of the Navy game) and No. 3 among independents.

NCAA team rankings

Army’s rushing offense ranks No. 2 (286.4 yards per game), trailing only Air Force (340.8), and total offense ranks No. 82 (381.2 yards per game). For all the pass-happiness this season, Army ranks third-worst in the nation at 94.8 passing yards per game – Navy was worst at 56.8 and Air Force was second-worst at 82.5. The five fumbles lost ranks tied for No. 26 fewest. The 33.6 points scored per game ranks No. 27.

The defense ranks No. 13 in rushing yards allowed (110.8). The 189 first downs allowed ranks No. 5.

Army was No. 9 in third-down conversion percentage (.475, 77-for-162) and No. 11 in fourth-down conversion (.694, 25-for-36).

Army leads the nation by allowing only 0.58 sacks (39 in all) per game. The 35 minutes of possession ranks No. 2 (behind Air Force).

Army is tied for No. 23 in turnover margin (plus seven, 0.58 per game). Four blocked kicks has the Black Knights tied for No. 9 – the three blocked punts is tied for No. 7. Army’s 3.83 penalties per game ranks No. 3 and the 444 yards penalized ranks No. 7. The 11 yards per punt return ranks Army No. 25.

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army West Point punter Zach Harding NFLPA Collegiate Bowl showcase