QUARTERBACKS
B+ Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada passed for 952 yards and ran for 834 yards, as he accounted for 19 touchdowns. Backup Jarod Bryant also proved he could run the triple-option offense as he replaced the injured Kaheaku-Enhada during several games, including in a 35-24 win over Northern Illinois. He threw for 252 yards, ran for 463 and scored five touchdowns.
RUNNING BACKS
A The unit, which lacked star power, excelled as whole, and was as dominant as any in the country. The Midshipmen had five running backs rush for at least 480 yards, including fullbacks Eric Kettani (880 yards, 10 TDs ) and Adam Ballard (665, 5) and slot backs Zerbin Singleton (484, 10), Shun White (629, 8) and Reggie Campbell (522, 9). Campbell also led the team with 13 receptions for 242 yards and four touchdowns. Navy also will likely finish the year leading the nation in rushing for an NCAA-record third straight year as it averaged 348.7 yards per game.
RECEIVERS
B O.J. Washington made the most of his few opportunities, as he finished with 12 catches for 246 yards ? an average of 20.5 yards per reception. Tyree Barnes was second with10 catches for 168 yards and a touchdown. However, Navy?s receivers are judged more on their blocking, not catching.
OFFENSIVE LINE
A Center Antron Harper, left tackle Josh Meek, left guard Anthony Gaskins, right guard Ben Gabbard and right tackle Paul Bridgers anchored a line that gave Navy one of the most feared rushing games in the country. The undersized group did a solid job of protecting Bryant and Kahaeku-Enhada by allowing just 13 sacks in 13 games.
DEFENSIVE LINE
D Michael Walsh led the unit with 57 tackles and three sacks, and nose guard Nate Frazier contributed 41 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Still, Navy had a hard time pressuring the quarterback, recording just 12 sacks in 13 games, but did play better as the season progressed.
LINEBACKERS
C- Irv Spencer finished with a team-high 91 tackles and a sack, but more importantly, took over the role as defensive captain after safety Jeff Deliz suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Rutgers during the second game of the season. Navy also had several young and inexperienced players make big strides, especially sophomore linebackers Ram Vela (57 tackles) and Ross Pospisil (65 tackles, 1 interception).
SECONDARY
C- An injury-depleted secondary regularly surrendered big passing plays ? a major reason why the team finished 8-5 for the second straight year. Navy allowed the opposition to average 263.3 passing yards per game, despite facing few good quarterbacks. Along with Deliz, juniors Ketric Buffin (team-high four interceptions) and Rashawn King also missed games due to injuries. Safety Wyatt Middleton was the unit?s biggest bright spot, as his 87 tackles? second-most on the team ? were the most by a plebe in school history.
SPECIAL TEAMS
B+ Navy had two pretty good, but not great, kickers. Joey Bullen made 11-of-16 field goals and 43-of-45 extra-point attempts. Matt Harmon made 6-of-10 field goal tries and all 15 of his extra-point attempts. The big lift on special teams came from Campbell, who had two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Prior to this year, Navy had not return a kick for a score in more than a decade. His 98-yard return for a touchdown against Army was a school record.
COACHING
A Navy lost Coach Paul Johnson when he resigned earlier this month to take over at Georgia Tech, but not before he led the Midshipmen to an 8-4 record, including winning the Commander-In-Chief?s Trophy for a fifth straight season and beating Notre Dame for the first time since 1963. He guided the Midshipmen to a school-record fifth straight bowl game despite having a young defense that allowed opponents to average more than 35 points per game and gave up more points than any team in school history. Navy?s defense, however, opened the year with nine first-year starters and showed tremendous improvement the second half of the season. Ken Niumatalolo, the team?s former offensive line/assistant head coach, who took over for Johnson, did an excellent job preparing Navy for the Poinsettia Bowl, as the Midshipmen nearly pulled off the upset before losing to Utah, 35-32. He also retained most of the assistants and the program is in great shape entering 2008.
OVERALL
B+ Navy will graduate eight starters on offense this spring, but the program has always rebounded from losing key players. Navy?s young defense should be much-improved next year after gaining confidence by playing well during the season?s final stretch that included four victories in the last five games.
The Niumatalolo era is here, and only time will team if Johnson?s longtime disciple can maintain what it becoming the most successful span in the school history.
