Two Leaders, Two Paths, One Standard: Army’s Andon Thomas and Noah Short Earn NFL Opportunities

By J.J. Pavlick | West Point, N.Y. | April 25, 2026

Army doesn’t produce prospects by accident. It produces leaders. It produces men who understand structure, pressure, and responsibility long before the NFL ever calls. This week, two of the Black Knights’ most respected veterans — linebacker Andon Thomas and slotback Noah Short — earned their chance to take that standard to the next level.

Thomas has been invited to rookie minicamp with the Baltimore Ravens, while Short has agreed to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. Different roles. Different skill sets. Same foundation.

Both built their reputations through hard work, dedication, and leadership on and off the field. Both have the ability and talent to turn heads in the NFL and create solid football careers for themselves. One thing is certain: neither will bend under the pressure of the NFL; they’re the definition of American Solider.

Andon Thomas: The Defense’s Quiet Commander

Thomas didn’t need theatrics to lead. He led by showing up, by diagnosing plays before they developed, and by finishing tackles other players couldn’t reach. A 2025 team co‑captain, he started all 13 games last season and led Army in total tackles (113) and solo stops (66). His 211 career tackles across 27 starts place him among the most productive linebackers of the Jeff Monken era.

He was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the “Academic Heisman,” underscoring the balance West Point demands—excellence in the classroom, excellence in the huddle, and excellence in uniform.

Thomas earned All‑American Conference honors in back‑to‑back seasons and became the defensive voice teammates trusted. Now he heads to Baltimore, a franchise that has long valued linebackers who think as sharply as they hit.

It’s a fit that makes sense for the Ravens and is one with plenty of upside while being a low-cost move for Baltimore.

Noah Short: The Offense’s Most Versatile Threat

Short’s path was different — and in some ways, even more remarkable. He arrived at West Point as a defensive back. He made his first mark on special teams, blocking a punt in the 2022 Army‑Navy Game that turned the rivalry on its head. Then he reinvented himself, transitioning to slotback in 2023 and becoming one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in program history.

Short leaves as the first Army player ever to surpass both 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a career. His 2025 season alone featured 571 rushing yards, 438 receiving yards, and a program‑era record 32 receptions. His 67 career catches are the most by any player under Monken.

He didn’t just adapt—he expanded what his roles could be and fully exploited the defenses he saw.

Now he heads to Tampa Bay, joining a growing list of Black Knights in the NFL, including Andre Carter II, Brett Toth, Cole Christiansen, Jimmy Ciarlo, and Lucas Scott.

Two Careers, One Legacy

Thomas leaves behind a defense that trusted him to set the tone every week. Short leaves behind an offense that learned how to stretch the field because he proved it was possible. They didn’t lead the same way, but they elevated the same standard.

Now they move on to the next challenge—Thomas to Baltimore’s rookie minicamp and Short to Tampa Bay’s roster fight—carrying the habits and expectations that shaped them at West Point. Nothing is guaranteed at the next level, and they know that better than most. What they’ve earned is the opportunity to compete and to show that the Army standard travels.

Thomas and Short leave West Point as two very different players who shaped the same standard—toughness, consistency, and the ability to elevate the people around them. Now they step into the NFL with the same mindset that carried them through Michie Stadium: earn everything, expect nothing, and compete like every rep matters.

If you want deeper coverage of the Army’s next wave of leaders—the stories behind the stats, the context behind the opportunities, and the kind of reporting that treats service‑academy athletes with the respect they deserve—subscribe to the Bad Dawg Sports Newsletter for just $2 per year.

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