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LEXINGTON, Va. – Throughout fall camp, VMI Athletics will do a Q&A session with the offensive and defensive position groups in addition to special teams.
Today’s report is on the status of the quarterbacks and running backs and how they are preparing for the Idaho State season opener coming up on August 29.
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— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) July 30, 2026
First-year Running Backs Coach Christopher Culton and Slot Backs Coach Mike Patrick provide their thoughts on Fall Camp and how the ball carriers are coming along. Quarterbacks JoJo Crump, Chandler Wilson and Nana Utsey as well as backs Leo Boehling and Aslin Shipe provide their insight below.
The Coaches’ Report
1. How would you assess how Fall Camp is going so far for the backs?
Coach Culton: Camp moves through phases. First, you have early excitement, the progression from helmets to pads, then from thud to full contact. Through every phase we’re chasing offensive efficiency and developing an identity. Every team eventually finds the plays that best showcase what it can do as a unit of 11. We are still building toward that, and we will be there by August 29 at kickoff.
Coach Patrick: Slot backs are getting better every day. The group will be a key contributor in all aspects of the offense. Throughout the year, they will make plays in the blocking game, running game and the passing game. We are a young group overall, but Shipe brings some playing experience to our room. Varner, Slaughter, and Tyree will have plenty of opportunities to make plays for the program this year as well. Cody Shelton has had been setback by injury but was having a good camp up to that point. When he gets back, he will add even more depth to the room. The newcomers Parrot, Ballard, Watters and Lewis are all progressing very well and need to stay ready because they could easy be a part of the rotation at any point in the season. We still have work to do but we are on the upward trajectory.
Break it down.🗣️ pic.twitter.com/SKK5KYVGIr
— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) July 29, 2026
2. What is the difference between a running back and a slot back in the triple option?
Coach Culton: The A-Back is the Swiss Army knife of establishing an offensive identity. He must be highly skilled and ready to block a defensive end on one play, carry the ball on the next, block on the perimeter after that, and then get open in the passing game. He must embrace multiple roles and know every assignment cold, because the moment a play is checked, his job can change based on alignment. Playing B-Back in this offense requires a special kind of player. Toughness comes first followed by size, strength, and speed as secondary traits.
The B-Back is the tip of the spear and the business end of what we do offensively. When he’s making yards, the entire defense must account for him. A defense can commit to shutting him down, but when it does, it leaves itself vulnerable to the quarterback, the slots, and the wide receivers. Everything we do starts with establishing the threat of the dive. We have multiple schemes that accomplish that, but the No. 1 theme is forcing the defense to account for the first leg of the triple option.
Coach Patrick: The slots are the ultimate football player. It’s truly one of the hardest positions in college football to play because we ask the slot to do every assignment that an offensive skill can get. We may ask the slot to block a defensive end on one play then tell him to beat a safety in man-to-man coverage on the next play. The slot is the homerun hitter in our option attack. When we get the ball to those guys we are expecting big plays. That’s why
we break it down by saying “A’s make plays” after every meeting and practice.
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— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) July 29, 2026
3. With a spring and summer under their belt, are the RBs feeling more comfortable with the offense and knowing their assignments?
Coach Culton: We’re learning as much as we can about them without seeing them perform under the pressure of actual game situations. Some players look great in helmets and shoulder pads but disappear when the full pads come on. Others look sharp in practice but disappear when the lights come on. I expect our guys to fully embrace what we’re doing by Game 4. There are concepts and a standard we are holding the guys will resonate once they experience our style of play in live game conditions.
Fall camp is off and running!#RahVaMil | #Brotherhood pic.twitter.com/37nTceFZko
— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) July 29, 2026
Coach Patrick: The offensive staff has put a lot on their plates with the new system, but they have been very receptive to what type of offense we want to be. They have a good grasp on the big concepts but now it’s time to iron out the wrinkles. We are light years ahead from where we were at the end of spring and will be ready to play fast and physical on August 29.
4. How are experienced backs like Boehling and Shipe helping the younger guys come along?
Coach Culton: The #1 thing Leo has shown both the returners and the younger players is how to practice. You don’t need to know anything about football to understand what he brings. If you simply watch how hard he practices every day you will see exactly what I see. From the first day of spring, he has fully embraced his new role. I have not seen him play on Saturdays but if he plays the game as hard as he practices the wins will follow.
I also won’t be surprised if Leo breaks the single-season rushing record of 1,548 yards set by Hall of Famer Thomas Haskins, or if he is named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year. We have the offensive line to make it happen. We have wide receivers and A-Backs who won’t allow defenses to simply pack the box and take away the B-Back. And we will have a quarterback who can run the entire show.
Keep these guys on your radar📡
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— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) July 21, 2026
I love our offensive staff. We are all on the same page and understand the blueprint and the standard required at every position in this offense. We will not settle for good or better. I can’t wait to see what VMI Football Team #136 looks like.
Coach Patrick: Shipe is a stabilizing force in the room. The guys really take to him. Shipe really cares about the things that he does. He works whether we are on the field or in the weight room. He’s not perfect but he tries to uphold the standard that we are trying to set here. He is a guy that the young guys should look up to on the field and on the hill.
Give it up for Day ✌️#Brotherhood | #RahVaMil pic.twitter.com/BoJyj9mfuj
— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) July 30, 2026
The Players’ Plug
After a spring and summer learning the offense, are you feeling more comfortable with the schemes and play calls?
Boehling: Definitely. Having the whole spring and summer to work and learn the new plays has made a huge difference. I feel like I’m at the point where I can play fast without thinking as much and just go out there and play. I know what I’m supposed to do, and I understand what the offense is trying to accomplish on every play.
Wilson: Yes, I feel like I’ve come a very long way since spring ball as far as my ability to execute and feel comfortable in the offense. The coaches have done a great job of installing the offense in phases and allowing us to master the basics. Of course, there are small details to clean up but I feel like we are in a good spot being about two weeks out from game 1.
Crump: I feel comfortable and confident in the schemes and play calls the new staff has brought. Working and meeting all spring and summer has allowed me to become confident in my abilities to execute the calls properly.
Shipe: Definitely, the A back position has a lot of moving parts to it, but the coaches have done a really good job of making everything easy to understand. I feel a lot more comfortable with the schemes and play calls now.
Utsey: I’m definitely feeling more comfortable with the offense after running it for some time. It’s definitely way easier to understand.
How is playing in an option offense different from what you’ve played in before at VMI and in high school?
Boehling: It’s definitely very different. I think the biggest thing is that the quarterback and I have to work hand in hand. If my track is messed up or the quarterback’s steps are wrong, the whole play can be unsuccessful. I do believe this offense gives me an advantage as a running back because on almost every play, I’m running downhill and can get that advantage on the defense. It’s definitely been a learning experience, but I believe it fits my style of play really well.
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— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) June 9, 2026
Wilson: Wildly different. In previous years at VMI we have been in a pro style/spread offense. In high school, I ran Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense which is also worlds away from the triple option as far as offensive philosophies go. Learning the triple option in my last year has been a challenge, but it has been rewarding in the sense that I now have a new offensive system to lean on and execute. I’ve accepted the challenge of learning this system head on and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish with it this year.
Crump: The option is very different than the spread offense I played in in previous years at VMI and in high school. There are some similarities but it’s a different system. The biggest thing I’ve noticed it’s the mindset that is different when running the triple option. In the spread you try to out scheme people but with the triple option there is an attrition aspect added to it. It’s all about wearing out the defense with toughness and execution repeatedly.
Shipe: In my senior year of high school, I played in somewhat of an option offense and grew to really like it. So being able to run the option again has been super fun. It’s definitely harder in my opinion but I really enjoy it.
Utsey: In high school and my first year at VMI ran a spread offense so it was definitely different from what I am used to running.
How are you helping the younger guys learn the offense?
Boehling: I really just try to help them with the things that helped me when we were learning the offense in the spring. If I see something on film or on the field that I can help them with, I’ll talk to them about it. I’ve been in the same position as them, so I try to be someone they can come to with questions. The better they understand the offense, the better our entire offensive unit will be.
Wilson: There are a lot of moving parts in the triple option. I’d say I’ve helped the young guys most by just being as knowledgeable as I can when we get out to practice. That way, if I see a young guy make a mistake I can help them out on the spot. This has also pushed me to get in extra film and time with Coach Thompson in order to put myself in a position to help during practice.
Crump: My biggest goal with the rats is just teaching them everything I know and sharing my experiences so they can use that to prepare and learn the offense. Letting them know they can ask me any question is very important and the understanding that there is no such thing as a dumb question. Another thing is sharing with them and the tips and tricks that help me execute the offense.
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— VMI Football (@VMI_Football) July 29, 2026
Shipe: Just finding time to meet as a position group or one on one without the coaches. It gives us time outside of a meeting environment where we can teach and learn from one another. Whether that’s walking through plays or drawing them up on a whiteboard, I think it helps the younger guys get more comfortable with the offense.
Utsey: If the rats have any questions about the offense, I can help them understand the offense and their job assignments.
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