Junior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw led Army’s first-team offense in a preseason scrimmage on Saturday. Bradshaw's play had positioned him to be Army’s opening-day starter for the second straight season. Afterward, he talked about the unit's progress.

Just a few days later, Bradshaw, who made seven starts last season, has left the football team and is leaving West Point.

The news comes after West Point held its Affirmation Ceremony on Sunday before the start of the academic year. Juniors take the oath to complete their final two years at West Point and the ensuing commitment to serve five years of active duty following graduation.

Bradshaw didn’t attend Tuesday’s practice, Army’s first since classes began on Monday.

“He has some administrative stuff for something on campus,” Army coach Jeff Monken said after practice. “There’s things, especially with the start of school, just stuff you can’t control.”

Bradshaw missed most of his freshman season with an unspecified Academy matter. He opened his college career last season with consecutive 100-yard rushing games against Fordham and UConn. He finished the season rushing for 468 yards and five touchdowns, and passing for 429 yards and five scores.

The team was told of Bradshaw’s departure on Tuesday.

Bradshaw and sophomore Chris Carter, who started Army’s last two games of 2015, were expected to compete for starting quarterback position. Carter aggravated a hamstring injury during Army’s first practice on Aug. 1. Bradshaw ran the first-team offense for the next two weeks.

Now Army is left without an experienced quarterback behind Carter, assuming he gets healthy. Monken said after Saturday’s scrimmage that Carter might be another week away from practicing.

Four quarterbacks – all freshmen – practiced on Tuesday. Malik McGue took first-team snaps. Joey Benden worked with the second team. Kelvin Hopkins, who played at Army Prep last fall, and Korie Frausto, a true freshman from Wichita, Kansas, are next on the depth chart. Sophomore Luke Langdon is recovering from offseason knee surgery.

sinterdonato@th-record.com

Twitter: @salinterdonato