2005 Statistics

Three consecutive QBs have equaled three consecutive bowl games. The trend is not likely to change. Exit Aaron Polanco and Lamar Owens and enter senior Brian Hampton, who played in all 12 games last fall. Hampton is the cousin of former NBA star Charles Barkley. As with most Midshipmen QBs, his accuracy throwing the ball will come into question. The bottom line - he is big, strong and can run the option. Pushing him could be former receiver Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada. The Hawai'i native represents a new wrinkle with his blazing speed.

The three-man backfield is as powerful and speedy as any of their previous groups. Adam Ballard is the team's leading rusher at FB and is set for a huge season. The big play threat comes in Reggie Campbell, a sprinter on the track team, who scored a record-tying five TDs in the Poinsettia Bowl while averaging over nine yards per carry last season. Still, the fastest of the bunch is senior Trey Hines, which could make this the best offensive backfield Navy has fielded since Coach Johnson arrived.

Since it's no secret Navy predominately runs the ball (82%), the receivers are not the focal point, nor the tight ends. They are all primarily blockers, plain and simple. Senior Jason Tomlinson is a quality pass catcher with a 35-inch vertical leap and good speed. He is easily the No. 1 target opposing defenses must respect.

The backfield will benefit from the strength of an offensive line that returns four starters. Yes, this group is as undersized as usual. But Coach Johnson recruits this type of lineman, one that is tenacious and is smart enough to use the necessary angles that make this crazy triple-option attack work. And he's got such a group with the jest of them being upperclassmen. Senior anchor Joe Rossi is a prime example (6-1, 269) with his 450-pound bench press and 555-pound squat to go with his great footwork.

As with the OL, size is a major issue up front, maybe more so than it has been in year’s prior. Hiding this aspect through their 3-4 scheme will prove difficult seeing how three of the rotating linemen weigh less than 250 pounds. Hopefully, depth can play a positive roll in keeping legs fresh (tussles versus much bigger opposing blockers will take their toll). This unit needs to play above their means to keep opposing offenses from pounding the ball between the tackles. All this rushing should make for some quick, low scoring games.

A quartet of top-notch players backing them up at LB should provide some hope - three of them are explosive seniors. Rob Caldwell (140 tackles) from the inside is one of the best tacklers across the country. His power and hard-nosed style is everything a coach could want at one of the service academies. Watch out for Clint Sovie (the breakout player of the spring) as he joins Caldwell on the inside. David Mahoney and Tyler Tidwell play on the outside and are the team's primary playmakers. This is by far the best unit on either side of the ball. Looking further, this may be one of the better LB units nationwide.

Eight different people started in the secondary last fall due to injury and lack of production. This group can only improve. On that note, senior speedster Jeremy McGown makes a switch from safety to cornerback and has emerged as the team's best cover man. On the other side is another senior in Kennan Little, who was recruited by several ACC schools out of high school. Overall, the back seven on defense fields as much talent as some of the BCS schools. It needs to translate better than 2005’s 90th-ranked pass efficiency defense.