Navy Midshipmen Preview 2024
It’s been a while since Navy was dangerous. When it was humming under former head coach and current San Jose State head man Ken Niumatalolo it was a machine.
The modified option attack was unstoppable, the defense was good enough to hold serve, and Navy was a player on the bowl circuit winning six in an eight-year span highlighted by 11-win seasons in 2015 and 2019.
And then it all stopped.
Navy had 14 winning seasons in 15 years from 2003 to 2017, and now it’s on a run of four losing seasons in a row.
But in his first season, Brian Newberry was able to at least turn the ship the right way.
Yes, Navy was overmatched against Notre Dame to start the season, and had no prayer of keeping up with SMU late in the campaign, but it hung tough with Memphis, wasn’t awful against Tulane or Air Force, and had a shot at a 6-6 run before losing to Army for the second year in a row.
It’s Navy. The ground game will still be good, the defense will still be solid, and the mistakes will be kept to a minimum. It’ll be tough to push through in what appears to be a stronger AAC, but coming up with a winning season is a realistic expectation again.
NOTE: The previews were published early this summer. We tried to catch the changes, but if we missed anything, please let us know at @ColFootballNews and we'll fix it right away.
Navy Preview 2024: Offense
- It’s Navy. It’s about the ground game, even though the offense is trying to get more out of the passing attack than just the occasional big play. It starts with a line that doesn’t have the big bulk, but this year it has the experience to be a bit more cohesive.
- The running backs are in place. Leading rusher Alex Tecza works as a smallish fullback who barreled for over six yards per carry with 758 yards and five scores, and 5-8, 213-pound fellow FB Daba Fofana can fill in, finishing second with 283 yards. Eli Heindreich is a top receiver as well as a quick runner on the outside. But …
- Who’s going to run the Navy attack? Blake Horvath was the best backup runner of the quarterback lot last season, and Braxton Woodson showed off enough passing skills to add another option to the mix. It’s Horvath’s gig going into the season.
Navy has receivers and tight ends, but it doesn’t use them in the passing attack - Nathan Kent is the top returning wideout with five catches for over 17 yards per pop.
Navy Preview 2024: Defense
- The run defense held up well and the pass rush wasn’t all that bad. Considering the offense wasn’t nearly good enough to take over games, the D held up just fine, but it’ll take a little bit to find the right pieces to fill in key places. It isn’t unusual for Navy to go into the season without a ton of proven depth, but that’s a big problem early, especially at …
- Linebacker. Navy needs more of them. Leading tackler Colin Ramos might be among the best LBs in the AAC, but there weren’t many other options in the rotation last year. Now a slew of new parts will be thrown into the mix.
The line, is in better shape - the linebacking situation isn’t all that bad, by the way - with the hybrid Raider position full of disruptive edge rushers starting with junior Luke Pirris. He led the team with 4.5 sacks and ten tackles for loss, and he’ll be free to roam with a nice tackle pair of Landon Robinson and Kendall Whiteside inside.
- At least in terms of experience, the secondary should be a strength with the corner tandem of Dashaun Peele and Andrew Duhart back around good-tackling safety Rayuan Lane.
Navy Key To The Season
The offense has to be better.
If that sounds too simple, it’s because it is - Navy has to run for at least 250 yards every time out.
Navy will never put up massive overall yards because there’s no real passing game - but getting to 100 yards a game isn’t crazy - so the ground attack has to be amazing.
It was too much of a struggle to get to 200 rushing yards, moving the chains wasn’t easy, and the team was 0-4 when it didn’t get to 170 rushing yards and 2-6 when it couldn’t get past 240.
Navy Key Player
QB Blake Horvath
The combination of Tai Lavatai and Xavier Arline weren’t awful, but they didn’t do enough to bust out the big runs and were just okay with the passing attack. The 6-2, 195-pound Horvath got in a little work, but he broke his thumb five games in and missed the rest of the season. He can run - he’ll add some flash.
Navy Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: None
Navy didn’t bring in any transfers - not that it isn’t possible, but the military academies don’t actively go after them, but …
Top Transfer Out: CB Elias Larry and Jacob Busic, DE
Larry was a decent part of the corner rotation with 40 tackles and two picks in his career - he’s now a Colorado State Ram. Busic is an undersized but quick linemen who’s off to UCLA after making nine sacks and 62 tackles at Navy - but he missed most of last season. C Brent Self should be the best technician, but 300-pound guard Ben Purvis is the bulk.
Navy Key Game
Memphis, Sept. 21
Just how good is Navy? It has what could be a make-or-break AAC game early on against a loaded Memphis team that’s good enough to be in the mix for the Group of Five CFP spot. The Midshipmen haven’t beaten the Tigers since 2018, but it’s even bigger than that. At UAB and at Air Force are next with Notre Dame up soon after.
Navy 10 Best Players
1. Colin Ramos, LB Sr.
2. Luke Pirris, LB Jr.
3. Rayuan Lane, S Sr.
4. Alex Tecza, FB Jr.
5. Dashaun Peele, CB Sr.
6. Riley Riethman, P Sr.
7. Daba Fofana, FB Sr.
8. Justin Reed, DE Sr.
9. Mbiti Williams, S Sr.
10. Eli Heidenreich, SB Jr.
Navy 2023 Fun Stats
- Red Zone TDs: Opponents 20-of-32 (63%), Navy 14-of-29 (48%)
- Penalties: Navy 68 for 552 yards, Opponents 41 for 298 yards
- Navy 3rd Quarter Scoring: 35, Navy 4th Quarter Scoring: 85
Navy 2024 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
The team will be better and more productive, but it won’t do enough to take over and dominate games to pull off a big season. However, a winning campaign is possible if there aren’t any misfires.
Navy hasn’t started 2-0 since 2019 - the 11-2 season - and it’ll do it this season with Bucknell and Temple to start. The midseason loaded with away dates, and getting Memphis, Notre Dame, and Tulane close to home isn’t necessarily helping the cause.
The defense will do what it can to carry the offense through a few road upsets - UAB and East Carolina are on that watch list - but once again, it might come down to the Army showdown to avoid a losing season.
Set The Navy Win Total At … 5.5
Likely Wins: Bucknell, Charlotte, Temple
50/50 Games: at Air Force, at Army, at East Carolina, at Rice at UAB, at USF
Likely Losses: Memphis, Notre Dame, Tulane
2024 Navy Football Schedule
Aug 31 Bucknell
Sept 7 Temple
Sept 14 OPEN DATE
Sept 21 Memphis
Sept 28 at UAB
Oct 5 at Air Force
Oct 12 OPEN DATE
Oct 19 Charlotte
Oct 26 vs Notre Dame (in Landover)
Nov 2 at Rice
Nov 9 at USF
Nov 16 Tulane
Nov 23 OPEN DATE
Nov 30 at East Carolina
Dec 7 OPEN DATE
Dec 14 vs Army (in East Rutherford)
Missing: Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Tulsa, UTSA
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