But Navy free safety George Jamison, winner of the Admiral Mack Award which goes to the Mids’ most improved player each spring, had an interesting explanation for his sudden emergence.

“The biggest area that I’ve improved is my eyes,” Jamison said.

It was Jamison’s unique way of saying the same thing. The 6-foot, 197-pound rising sophomore is seeing the ball better, allowing him to quickly read and react.

In the Mids’ final scrimmage this spring, Jamison anticipated consecutive plays — surging forward to drop a slot back for a 5-yard loss, then sprinting to the far end of the field to break up a deep sideline pass.

Saturday in the Gold vs. Blue game against the Mids’ first-team offense, Jamison continued his playmaking ways with five tackles, including one for a third-down loss, forcing the Blue team to punt.

“He’s just got so much better from the time he reported in the fall,” Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. “It really started in spring practice. He caught our eye in the first week.”

Jamison is another young, talented piece in a Navy secondary that includes safety Chris Ferguson and cornerback Parrish Gaines. Both were starters last year as freshmen.

Jamison’s play might have even earned him his own number. He shared No. 33 this spring with slot back John Howell, an indignity reserved only for those buried on the depth chart.

“I was on the scout team this year,” said Jamison, who is from Cordova, Tenn. “I felt I had a lot to prove.”

<span style=”font-size:14px;font-weight:bold; class=” briefshedeven”=””>Maryland’s depth will give defense plenty of options

With 16 players with starting experience returning, the Maryland defense will be in position to do a lot of situational substituting. But don’t expect to see much of it Saturday in the annual Red and White spring game.

Many of the players who the Terps will count on in the fall are nursing ailments, including linebackers Kenny Tate (knee) and Darin Drakeford (ankle), linemen Joe Vellano (foot) and Keith Bowers (heart), and safety Matt Robinson (shoulder).

The defensive line is an example of the Terps’ strength in numbers as six players with starting experience are back to fill three spots as Maryland has shifted to a 3-4 set.

“We’re gonna be able to rotate and keep people fresh,” defensive line coach Greg Gattuso said. “We’ll play six guys at a minimum and maybe another guy here and there.”

Two of the ends are especially anxious to play Saturday. Isaiah Ross started one game last year before suffering a season-ending broken leg, and Justin Anderson redshirted after breaking his foot in the preseason.

“I never felt like I was forgotten. I was part of the team,” Anderson said. “But I missed it. I missed it a lot. I was on the sidelines during the games. I wanted to be out there helping them out.”

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