Navy fullback Adam Ballard is dealing with a complete role reversal this spring.
Last year, the 6-foot-1, 236-pound Ballard was challenging for a starting job while incumbent starter Matt Hall recovered from a season-ending knee injury. This year, Ballard, who won the job from Hall, is the returning starter while coming off a season-ending broken leg he injured against Army last season.
And like Hall, Ballard is receiving a stern challenge from his replacement, Eric Kettani, a rising junior. Kettani started in Ballard’s place in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Boston College.
Both fullbacks will get a chance to start next fall,each making a good case for themselves in Navy’s last two scrimmages on April 7 and last Saturday. Ballard rushed for 95 yards on 23 carries the last two weeks, while the 6-foot-1, 233-pound Kettani finished with 109 yards on the ground on 18 carries. Kettani also had two receptions for 76 yards, including a 63-yard screen pass from quarterback Troy Goss in the April 7 scrimmage.
Ballard, who said he is at about 75-80 percent healthy right now, feels like Kettani is pushing him just like he pushed Hall last season.
“Healthy competition is always good, and if Eric wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be working as hard as I am,” Ballard said.
Ballard, who averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season, finished with 792 yards and three touchdowns on 151 carries before getting injured. Kettani averaged 4.3 yards per carry and finished the 2006 season with 229 yards and a touchdown on 53 carries.
Navy coach Paul Johnson said at the start of the spring season that the competition between Ballard and Kettani is open, adding that he feels that Kettani is faster and stronger than Ballard.
“There is going to be some good competition,” Johnson said. “I don’t think Eric Kettani is willing to just give the starting fullback job to Adam Ballard.”
In the meantime, Ballard said he is going to use the spring practice season to continue to rehabilitate his leg and try to improve the chemistry between the offensive players involved in running Navy?s triple-option offense.
“Right now, just working out the soreness and breaking the scar is good for me physically and mentally,” Ballard said, “because I don’t want to be lacing it up, putting the helmet on and making cuts for the first time in August.”
