Freshman back gives Navy a shot of speed
Naval Academy freshmen are treated with extra derision. It’s a necessary component of military training. At the academy, “plebe” is a pejorative term.
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With the shock treatment Navy freshmen receive, transitioning to a significant role on the football team is a major feat. But it’s one that Gee Gee Greene, one of the smallest Midshipmen at 5-8, 180 pounds, is accomplishing.
In Friday’s final preseason scrimmage, Greene was the most impressive player on the field. On two kickoff returns, he burst into the clear before coaches whistled the play dead. At slotback, he ran under a touchdown pass from quarterback Ricky Dobbs. He also sprinted away from the scout team defense on a touchdown sweep.
Getting outside and using his speed is Greene’s specialty and makes him a fit for the slotback position in Navy’s triple-option set. Greene is listed No. 2 on the depth chart, behind sophomore Marcus Curry, but don’t be surprised to see him play several snaps when Navy travels to No. 6 Ohio State Saturday. At the very least, Greene will handle kickoff returns.
“From everything I’ve seen, we’ll play him in a heartbeat,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. “His first college play will be catching the kickoff.”
On a squad lacking experience and explosiveness at the skill positions, Greene provides a much-needed home run threat, a role played last year by graduated, and comparably-sized, Shun White (5-9, 190), who rushed for 1,092 yards, the most ever by a Navy slotback.
Greene was an all-state tailback last year at Class 4A Richland Northeast High in Columbia, S.C. But he was ignored by major Division I schools because of this lack of size.
Plucking overlooked and undersized players has become an art form for a Navy program that has won six straight Commander In Chief trophies and made six consecutive bowl game appearances. Is Greene the next example?
“Very, very excited about him,” said Niumatalolo. “The future only gets brighter. For some young guys there’s so much going on as a plebe, they get overwhelmed. Gee Gee has a way. It seems like he compartmentalizes the military, the school, football. Very impressive young man.”
