Navy football head coach Paul Johnson has always made a point of getting his best athletes on the field.
It doesn?t matter to him if someone is listed second on the depth chart at his natural position. Johnson?s belief is that if they can play, he?ll find a place on the field for them.
Nowhere might this be more true currently then at the quarterback position, where Johnson said he feels he has four extremely athletic players in starter Brian Hampton and backups Jarrod Bryant, Troy Goss and Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada. The latter three are so close together in talent that Johnson has them all listed as No. 2 on the depth chart.
However, to make sure he doesn?t waste their talent on the sidelines, Johnson has used Bryant at slot back and Goss and Kaheaku-Enhada as wide receivers during practice. At the same time, all three are also getting practice snaps at quarterback.
“When you have good athletes, you have to try and get them on the field,” Johnson said. “Those kids are pretty good athletes, so there is no use for them to be standing over there next to me the whole game if Brian?s the starting quarterback and somebody who isn?t as good an athlete is getting 30 reps a game at wide receiver or slot back.”
Goss, who hasn?t played at wide receiver since middle school, said he is picking up the position quickly but knows he has more work to do.
“Being a quarterback, I know all the routes and the blocking assignments,” Goss said. “I?m still working on the fundamentals of the position. I?m just willing to go wherever is best for the team.”
Kaheaku-Enhada is more familiar with the role sincehe spent time at receiver last year. The sophomore from Kapolei, Hawaii, is one of the Midshipmen?s most athletic players. He can also play special teams.
“I think for coach [Johnson] to want to get me on the field any way he can is a great thing,” Kaheaku-Enhada said. “I would rather be playing quarterback, but that doesn?t really matter as long as I?m helping the team.”
NAVY QB NOTES
» Hampton played slot back and, as a freshman, returned kicks. He appeared in all 12 games last year when he ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries. He also passed for 99 yards and a score.
» Kaheaku-Enhada displayed his athleticism during Navy?s annual spring game when he rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns while also passing for 43 yards.
» Goss may be the strongest quarterback on the team. He owns the best bench press (310 pounds) and squat (465) marks among those at his position.
