Filed under: Navy Football, NCAA FB Rumors

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm saying I wouldn't like to have an athlete like Mitch Mustain around the Academy, but you can't be serious, can you? I mean this is a team which rarely ever picks up a three-star recruit, much less the Nation's premier blue chip quarterback after what has become a very convoluted situation Fayetteville.

It sure is weird, and it smells of complete fallacy, but what exactly in this whole situation hasn't been a little off-the-wall? For the past two days a conversation has been going on at the popular Navy football message board GoMids.com, where several posters claiming to be from Arkansas insist that Mustain is considering the Naval Academy. Now I realize 99% of what you hear on the Internet is cannon law, and that armchair fans would never have any reason to lie, but is anyone really taking this seriously? Case in point, a poster named deafnwsport05 is claiming to have spoken to Mitch in the library the other day, and that Mustain told him he was not only panning to apply to the Naval Academy, but is willing to change positions to accommodate Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku Enhada (!?!)

Alright, is it just me, or does that sound like complete bogus? I'm not exactly up-to-date on the whole Nutt/Mustain/Mustain's Mom situation, but I thought it was a given he'd follow Malzahn to Tulsa? I've got nothing against Mitch, but this rumor has about as little substance as Adam Ballard's Heisman campaign (although, God knows, I'd vote for the guy.) More proof that the Internet is a weird place I guess...

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Filed under: Navy Football

What are the odds? On the same day Jeromy Miles' transfer is confirmed, Navy fans must also learn that Phillip Davis, arguably the most highly touted of the current recruiting class, has backed out of his commitment with the Naval Academy.

Longtime readers should recognize the name, since for the past few months I've been declaring Davis as a huge steal for Navy recruiting. Davis was the heart and soul of the Peachtree Ridge secondary and helped lead his team to a state championship back in December, but received surprisingly little interest from big name schools. Interestingly enough, it doesn't look like some big school came and turned Davis' attention away from Navy, although he has received interest from the likes of Southern Miss, Chattanooga, Georgia Southern, and Woffard. But a few I-AA schools and a underperforming Conference-USA team couldn't really cause Davis to rescind his verbal his commitment to Navy, could they?

I just don't know, and until more information is made available I can't even say whether Davis has just decided to reconsider his offers or to rule out Navy altogether. Fortunately Coach Johnson has been putting together a good enough class (especially on defense) that even the loss of a great young talent like Davis can't spoil what will likely be one of the best Navy recruiting classes in the modern era.

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Filed under: Navy Football

The rumor has been going around for some time now, but we can make it official today as Head Coach Paul Johnson confirmed the rumor to the Annapolis Capital. Jeromy Miles started eleven games for the Midshipmen in 2007 after coming in for the injured DuJuan Price in week three, and in doing so established himself as one of the best freshmen defensive backs in the entire country.

The 6'2, 189-lb safety was granted a release from the team and the Academy by Johnson last week, and is looking to enroll at another Division I school in time for the spring semester. Miles reportedly told Coach Johnson that the reason for his leaving was the five year military commitment he'd have to serve after his graduation. The Capital reported that Miles is eying Temple, Bowling Green, and I-AA UMass. Our friend Frank from the UMass football blog has already begun a campaign for Miles, who was named an Honorable Mention Freshmen All-American as well as the All-East Freshmen on the Year.

Navy has several veterans who could take Miles' place, including hard-hitting rover Ketric Buffin and current junior Dell Robinson. Miles recorded 61 tackles in 2006, while intercepting two passes and forcing two fumbles.

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Filed under: Navy Football, NCAA FB Recruiting

Navy picked up two-star receiver Jordan Delk today, after the 6'1, 160-lb wideout from Lyons, Georgia gave a verbal commitment to play for the Naval Academy. Delk caught 32 passes for 570 yards last season, in addition to rushing for 700 yards on 92 carries.

A simple google search digs up some information on Jordan, including a post at a Georgia message board which states that he picked off "eight or nine" passes as a cornberback. That same forum reports that a representative from the Air Force academy came to visit him today (offering him a scholarship?), and that things are "still up in the air." Take that with a grain of salt if you want, but either way it sounds like he's a great young man who has the versatility to make an impact on either offense or defense. In my biased opinion, I hope Jordan decides to stay with Navy.

Continuing on the recruiting front, it looks as though the Midshipmen are making a late run for St. Pius X running back Aaron Springer, who verbally committed to the Air Force Academy last month. If St. Pius X sounds familiar, it's because Navy brought in DL/LB Bayard Roberts from the New Mexico powerhouse last year (BTW- I've noticed that New Mexico has been producing some fine players the past few years). Springer is a phenomenal athlete who at 5'11, 175 runs a sub 4.5/40. He's been broadcast as one of the top players to choose Air Force this year, and if Navy could sway his interest it may be a huge recruiting coup pulled off against Navy's biggest rival. Only time will tell on this one...

As usual, any firsthand accounts or information regarding recruits is welcomed and encouraged.

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Filed under: Navy Football

A photographic journey through Navy's 2006 season. All photos taken by Dan Nettina.

The 2006 season started with East Carolina coming into Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, as Skip Holtz's veteran ballclub looked to play spoiler for a Navy team with high expectations. In a dogfight against the Pirates, the Mids ultimately came out on top, as Brian Hampton's hard-nosed running style propelled his team to a 28-23 victory against an ECU team which would finish the regular season at 7-5. It wasn't a perfect performance by Navy, but already there was reason to be optimistic for the 2006 season.

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Filed under: Navy Football

Last year's stats in parenthesis and next year's class noted.

Projected Starting Outside Linebacker: Jr Clint Sovie (61 tkls, 1.5 for loss, 2 ints)

Projected Starting Inside Linebacker: Sr Irv Spencer (27 tkls, 1 fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles)

Projected Starting Inside Linebacker: Sr Jon Alvarado (3 tkls, 1 sack)

Projected Starting Outside Linebacker: Sr Matt Wimsatt (6 tkls)

Should Compete for Time: Jr Matt Humistan (10 tkls), So Ian Meredith (6'3, 225), Jr Mike Walsh (6'2, 234), So Zach Weatherington (6'4, 235), So Ross Pospisil (6'0, 205)

Need to Assert Themselves: Jr Will Scarle (6'4, 224), Sr Jordon Young (6'0, 210), Alex Horne (6'0, 217), So Jordan Eddington (6'0, 213), So Brian Smith (6'1, 210), Jr Scott Reider (6'0, 218), So Craig Schaefer (6'2, 202), So Matt Nechak (6'4, 221), So Stephen Tripp (5'11, 191), So Tony Haberer (6'1, 216)

2006 Review: Navy's linebacker corps was one of the most underrated in the entire country, leading a surprisingly good rush defense that helped the Mids win nine games. While Rob Caldwell (109 tkls) and Clint Sovie (61 tkls) anchored the inside, veterans David Mahoney (84 tkls, 7 sacks) and Tyler Tidwell (53 tkls, 5 sacks) excelled at outside linebacker. Tiwell, Caldwell, and Mahoney all depart this offseason.

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Filed under: Navy Football, NCAA FB Recruiting

They say you can't go wrong recruiting high school players from the state of Florida, and if that saying only rings halfway true, Navy should be in good shape for several years to come. That's because Mandarin defensive back Jarrell Smith becomes the third player to commit to the Naval Academy from Florida this year, joining defensive lineman John Cabbage and running back Caleb King.

The 5-11, 185-lb south Florida native recorded 65 tackles (9 for loss), five deflections, and two interceptions in 2006. But why take my word for it when you can watch his official highlight video from the Mandarin football website. As you can see from the video, Smith appears to be a very physical player who looks like he could be a solid player in run support at the college level. Another thing I noticed was that he sticks with the play and uses his great speed to run down players from behind.

There isn't a lot listed on Smith, although his Rivals page says he runs a 4.5/40 and boasts a 1090 SAT score (old grading scale I assume.) Smith chose Navy over Youngstown State and Furman, both of which are upper-tier I-AA teams. No word yet on whether he will attend NAPS or come directly to the Academy.

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Filed under: Navy Football, NCAA FB Recruiting

Well, it's been something of a forgone conclusion, but I guess we can say its finally official; Brian Blick has committed to Navy.

The 5-10, 185 state-champion quarterback out of J.H. Rose in North Carolina has been considering Navy for several weeks now, and finally gave a verbal commitment this week after deciding to forgo offers from VMI and Bucknell. Blick has an impressive resume, including the distinction of never losing a game as a starter. Blick went 98-153 (64%) for 1,549 yards with a 17-4 touchdown-interception ratio, while accounting for 751 yards and eleven touchdowns on the ground en route to being named The Offensive Player of the Year by the Greenville Daily Reflector. Perhaps the most impressive aspect about Blick is his dream to become a United States Marine, which played a key role in his decision to attend the Naval Academy.

While undersized, Blick looks like a great pickup for the program. Not only does he have the dedication and drive to want to be at the Academy, but he has the intangibles of a winner that just don't show up on Tom Lemmings report. He has even drawn parallels to Shaun Carney (the High School one which started ahead of Troy Smith, not the college one who implodes at Air Force) in the way in which he runs the option.

Blick will attend the Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island next year before making his way to the Academy (hopefully) in 2008. Thanks to reader Stephen Prather for catching this and bringing this to our attention.

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Filed under: Navy Football, NCAA FB Recruiting

Lots of new recruits to report on today, and with the season finally over hopefully a lot more to come. Here are the latest to give verbal commitments to Navy.

Fayettville, North Carolina offensive/defensive linemen Jared Marks committed to Navy this week, although he'll first attend a year at the Naval Academy Prep School. Marks is a 6-4, 250-lb linemen from Pine Forest High School who led his team with eight sacks and projects as a defensive linemen for the Midshipmen. He was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Two Rivers 4-A conference, and passes up offers from Appalachian State, William and Mary, and Elon among others.

The Mids also landed another star quarterback in Mike Stukel, a versatile athlete who could literally play any of the skill positions on offense or defense. You can check out videos of the 5-11, 180-lb Jacksonville product here and here.

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Plano wide receiver Greg Harrell has chosen the Naval Academy over Air Force and given a verbal commitment to the Midshipmen. The 6'4, 200-lb Texas product saw time at both wide receiver and quarterback last season.

And cornerback Joe Davis out of St. Edwards and Cleveland gave a verbal to the Midshipmen back in December, passing up offers from Harvard, Georgetown, Bowling Green, and Air Force to come to Annapolis.

HT: GoMids.com

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Filed under: Navy Football

Projected Starting Left End: Casey Herbert (one sack in '06)

Projected Starting Nose Gaurd: Nate Frazier (6'3, 295)

Projected Starting Right End: Chris Kahur-Pitters (6'2, 252)

Will Compete For Time: NG Andy Lark, DE Ryan Griffith (6'2, 260), NG Derek Rothchild (6'3, 256)

Rest of the Pack (AKA need to assert themselves): Artie Pauls (6'1, 233), Tyler Wagner (6'3, 233), Jordan Stephens (6'4, 255), John Maddox (6'4, 244), Andrew Burger (6'3, 230), Kyle Bookhout (6'2, 237), Bayard Roberts (6'2, 210), Mike McClarin (6'3, 230), Penetekoso Peau (6'1, 276), Michael Walsh (6'2, 234)

2006 Review: Despite being one of the smallest defensive lines in all of major college football, Navy's defensive line played better the expected in 2006. Led by seniors John Chan (63 tkls, 7 sacks), Tye Adams (45 tkls, 4 sacks), and David Wright (34 tkls, 1 sack), the Midshipmen defensive line helped lead a defense that was ranked a respectable 41st against the run in the country. While the unit struggled establishing a pass rush against the better teams on the schedule, they did nevertheless cause havoc to the likes of Temple and Duke by establishing penetration and blowing up plays. All three starters depart after this season, as well as backups Andrew Tatersall (4 sacks in '05) and Rick Amos (2 sacks.)

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Filed under: Navy Football

As mentioned many times before, I'm not a huge fan of CollegeFootballNews.com. They take a somewhat hostile approach towards non-BCS teams and have never shown a lot of love for the Service Academy teams. With this in mind, I wasn't all that surprised to see Navy ranked 65th for their early 2007 rankings. I know, I know, it's much too early to be worrying about these things, and who cares anyway, rankings are meaningless, right?

Well, yea, for all intensive purposes I guess they are meaningless, but a week into the offseason we do need something to talk about, don't you think? That's what I thought, of course in addition to the idea that 65th in the country is probably a little low. Despite often disagreeing over the nature of where the program stands and where it is going, most Navy fans will concede that the team probably falls into the 30-50 range on a year-in, year-out basis (or it has at least for the past couple seasons.) Even with that said I can understand the hesitation with so many starters leaving from the defense but c'mon, it's not like a whole bunch of freshmen are coming in to replace them. As I will show in my previews this week, Navy's 2007 defense, while young and inexperienced, won't be nearly as woeful as some of the national pundits may think. Combine that with what should be an even more improved offense, and you've certainly got the combination for a Top 50 team. But, as my father always says, so much the better. After all, what's the point in playing the underdog role if your not actually the underdog?

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Filed under: Navy Football

While you were off watching the season premier of "24" I was carefully evaluating the play of the three service academy players in this year's Hula Bowl (its all good, that show is a sellout to political correctness anyways). As you know, Navy's David Mahoney, Army's Cason Shrode, and Air Force's Gilberto Perez all saw time in the game, which was watched by some 23 people in person. The game was something of a snooze fest, but not to worry, I took stream-of-conscience notes on the Service Academy players.

• On the second play of the game Dave piles on. Sweet.
• Dave makes a solid solo tackle on an underneath route early.
• As usual, Navy's 5'9 linebacker has a lot of emotion. I love it how he's always jumping up and down and hitting his guys on the head. Enthusiastic but classy.
• Shrode, Perez, and Mahoney are all playing together, for what that's worth.
• Cason Shrode recovered a fumble on a punt but the play was negated by a penalty. The announcer doesn't even mention Shrode's name. This is a reoccurring theme throughout the broadcast. Bummer.
• I like the way Shrode plays. He's tough and hard-nosed and just gritty, not the fastest guy and not the most athletic, he plays like a West Point linebacker should, and is having a decent game.
• Apparently, Gilberto Perez is playing in this game. Talk about a non-factor...
• Dave made a really nice one-armed tackle late in the third quarter, although gets no credit what-so-ever from the announcers. Of all of the positive aspects of his game I think the part that gets most overlooked his his ability to shed blocks and pursue the ball-carrier.
• I'll be honest, by the start of the fourth quarter I'm watching comedy central and only checking back periodically on the game. I go to bed with three minutes left to play. Basically, I missed David Mahoney recover a fumble to set up a winning score for his team. Again, bummer.

Well, there you have it. I don't think any of these three players really have a shot at the NFL, but that shouldn't matter. David Mahoney will always be remembered as the best 5'9 outside linebacker EVER while Cason Shrode and Gilberto Perez will always be known as hard-nosed players who unfortunately played on some not-so-great teams.

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Filed under: Navy Football

Today, we continue our season ending review/preview for next year with the offensive line. Remember all "projections" are tentative and reflect only the opinion of the author. Keep in mind a lot of these positions are interchangeable and a lot can happen between now and next season.

Projected Starting Center: Antron Harper (Two year starter at Right Guard, see this article for explanation)

Projected Starting Right Guard: Ben Gabbard (Saw time in '05 and '06)

Project Starting Left Guard: Anthoney Gaskins (Saw work in '06)

Projected Starting Right Tackle: Josh Meek (Eight starts in '06)

Projected Starting Left Tackle: Andrew McGinn (Saw limited action in '06)

Primary Backups: OG Jesse Scheff (6'2, 293), OT Paul Bridges (6'3, 271), C Reyn Kaupiko

Youngsters to Watch (All current freshmen and sophomores): OT Austin Milke (6'3, 231), OT Jeff Lener (6'6, 269), OG Curtis Bass (6'1, 268), OG Osei Asante (6'1, 281), OT Richard Marshall (6'6, 230), OT Joe Breaux (6'0, 245), OT Michael Von Bargen (6'5, 266), OT Sander Gossard (6'4, 249), OG Rickey Moore (6'4, 266).

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Filed under: Navy Football

Projected Starting Fullback: Adam Ballard (792 yards, 5.1 avg, 3 TDs)

In the Mix: Eric Kettani (229 yards, 1 TD, 4.3 avg)

Rest of the Pack: Nic Jesse, Kevin Campbell, Patrick Shannon, Jack Hatcher, Glen Wood.

Projected Starting Slot Backs: Reggie Campbell (706 yards, 7.1 avg, 5 TDs) Shun White (578 yards, 12.0 avg, 5 TDs), Zerb Singleton (191 yards, 6.8 avg, 1 TD)

In the Mix: John Forbes (Did not play in 2006), Greg Shinego (13 yards), Bobby Doyle (11 yards)

On the Radar: Greg Garden, Cory Finnerty, Scott Oswald, Frank Rizzo, Luke Lagera, Ram Vela.

2006 Review: Ranked as the 13th best backfield in the country by Phil Steel magazine before the season started, Navy's backs did not disappoint in 2006, once again playing a huge role in an offense that finished first nationally on the ground. Adam Ballard, Matt Hall, and later Eric Kettani teamed up at the fullback position, with Ballard leading the way with 792 yards and 3 TDs despite being hampered by injuries all season. While Matt Hall started out strong, he ultimately relinquished his second string role to Eric Kettani, who came on strong at the end of the year and has a bright future ahead of him. The slotbacks were lead by both Reggie Campbell and Shun White, who bring big-play potential to the offense every time they touch the ball. While Zerb Singleton has started every game and contributed both running and blocking, the biggest surprise of 2006 was Shun White. White proved an excellent compliment to the speedy Campbell, averaging an insane 12 yards per carry. Senior Trey Hines provided quality depth as the fourth slot back, and played well when he saw time.

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Filed under: Navy Football, NCAA FB Recruiting

Last month I told you that St. Joseph Prep defensive end Neil Doogan had committed to Navy, and that his teammate Jeff Battipaglia had narrowed his choices to Navy and Army. Well, the verdict is in, as the 6'5 offensive lineman from Philadelphia had decided to take his services to Annapolis.

Scout.com reported the commitment of Battipaglia this morning, who was named to the "Big 33" All Star team for Pennsylvania. The 6'5, 260 lb Battipaglia was named to the First Team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania offense by the Philadelphia Inquirer, in addition to being named to first-team All-City and All-Catholic teams in the paper. Battipaglia had been receiving a fair amount of attention from both Boston College and Syracuse prior to narrowing his choices to Army and Navy. His Scout.com page reports that he runs a 5.2 40-yard dash and bench presses 320 pounds, in addition to squatting 420lbs and holding a 24-inch vertical leap. Battipaglia could project as either a defensive or offensive lineman. More information hopefully available soon.

(ESPN.com Recruit Tracker Page)

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Filed under: Navy Football

The University of Connecticut has decided to scrap it's upcoming football series with the Naval Academy, most likely because of an embarrassing 41-17 shellacking at the hands of "just Navy" last season. Both Bill Wagner of the Annapolis Capital and Shawn Courchesne of the Hartford Courant have written stories of the change, which Navy Athletic Director Chet Gladchuck confirmed early this week.

The series was to begin in 2007, in which the Midshipmen were scheduled to travel to Hartford on Nov. 10th and play three additional games up until 2010. However, the Huskies backed out of series, replacing Navy with Akron for 2007 while leaving the future dates open. Chet Galdchuck meanwhile has secured a home-and-away series with Bowling Green for 2007 and 2008, with the Midshipmen heading to the Ohio school in 2007. Bowling Green, if you are unaware, went 4-8 in 2006, and had the rather unfortunate privilege of losing to Temple.

This is a rather sudden change, but doesn't seem without reason. UConn has struggled to gain any kind of footing in the "new" Big East, and the last thing the Huskies need is to schedule a consistent non-conference opponent that is anything but an easy win. Chet Galdchuck said that UConn AD Chet Hathaway didn't give a reason for the cancellation, but the I think we all know Navy's rout of the Huskies last year had everything to do with it. While UConn was probably a good team for Navy to measure up against, the impending series with Bowling Green gives the Midshipmen a good chance to win amidst a difficult schedule which also includes Wake Forest, Rutgers, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh.

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Filed under: Navy Football

Projected Starters: OJ Washington (3 rec, 50 yards, 1 TD), Tyree Barnes (6 rec, 105 yards, 2 TDs)

Could Challenge: Curtis Sharp (Saw time as a blocker), Greg Sudderth, Troy Goss (Saw time as a blocker)

Rest of the Pack: Logan Coffey, James Dryden, Mike Matthews, Nick Henderson, T.J. Thiel, Joseph Proffitt.

2006 Review: As everyone knows, Navy's receivers did more blocking then receiving in 2006, but by the end of the season it was apparent that this unit has the potential to play an even greater role in the passing game. Senior Jason Tomlinson led the team in receptions, while both O.J. Washington and Tyree Barnes saw significant time in every game. In addition to these three, Troy Goss and Curtis Sharp came on as blockers during the season, while Greg Sudderth made several appearances late in the year. Tomlinson and Washington continued to be stand-out blockers, while Barnes continued to come on as a deep threat in Navy's run-oriented offense. Senior Jason Tomlinson is expected to be the only loss for the 2007 campaign.

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Filed under: Navy Football

Clear Favorite: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku Enhada (23-48, 5TD, 1INT, 507 rush yards)

Main Challenger: Jarod Bryant (6-15, 42 yards, 86 rush yards)

Depth As Needed: Troy Goss (nine rush yards)

Still Developing: Greg Zingler, Michael Speciale

2006 Recap: Senior Brian Hampton had his ups and downs during the first six games of the year, but was really starting to come around as the quarterback everyone thought he would be by the time he sustained his season-ending knee injury against Rutgers. Kaipo-Noa came in and played well after the injury, but was obviously aided by an easier schedule which allowed him to make the most of his ability. Still, Kaipo played well enough against the likes of Notre Dame and Boston College to earn respect, and his knowledge of the offense cannot be overlooked. Jarod Bryant showed ability when he did get into games, but did not make the most of his chances, giving up the ball against both Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan. With six starts and significant time under his belt in two additional games, Kaipo-Noa is obviously the favorite for 2007.

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Filed under: Navy Football

For the past four seasons, the likes of David Mahoney, Jason Tomlinson, and Jeremy McGown have been fixtures on a reborn Navy program which has gone a combined 35-15 during that time period. Starting this week however, 36 seniors will depart the team and leave behind their college football careers.

Joining Mahoney, Tomlinson, and McGown are a number of solid Navy seniors who have helped to build this program from the ground up under Paul Johnson. Among them are Rob Caldwell, who in two seasons has notched up 250 tackles, and Keenan Little, an aggressive cover corner who sealed the deal against Army in 2005. Their absence from the field this spring will be a huge blow to this Navy team, which has not seen a more successful group of players in the modern era. But despite these obvious loses in personnel, Navy will return a talented and fairly experienced group to the field when the 2007 season kicks off at Lincoln Financial Field against Temple.

Over the next week I'll work to bring you season ending analysis at each position, complete with look-a-heads and even projections at each position for 2007. In the meantime though, you can check out read great accounts of both what the class of 2007 has accomplished and what next year's team may look like from both the Baltimore Sun and the Annapolis Capital. Both articles make reference to the young but talented group of skill players coming back, including virtually the entire backfield. I won't steal the Sun's or the Capital's thunder, but needless to say, we are going to have a very exciting spring ahead of us.

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Filed under: Navy Football

Well, I fibbed. I knew I said yesterday that I wasn't going to make a big deal out the holding calls against Navy in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, but that was before I came across this video of Shun White's run on Youtube. Over the past few days I've been getting bombarded with questions from people I know in "real life" over the third and one call and the decision to pitch the ball at the end of the game, but I think the play we may want to be talking about is this one. Had Navy gotten the first down on the play (which they probably would have had the holding penalty on Cole Smith never been called) the game would likely have been over. My opinion is simple; yes, Cole Smith did get a piece of the defender, but was it really enough at that point in the game for the officials to take the play away? It's often said in important sporting events and situations to "let them play" and overlook minor penalties in the spirit of competition, and considering how the officials had called absolutely no BC holding penalties I thought they should have let this one go. But why listen to me, after all, I'm probably just a frustrated fan. Take a look for yourself...

EDIT: Apparently it was actually Matt Pritchett who was called for holding. Can't believe I missed that...

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