Navy rising senior Jarod Bryant wants to make it perfectly clear.
He doesn?t care where he plays ? just as long as Navy wins.
If that means being the backup quarterback behind starter Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, he has no problem waiting his turn.
But he might bide his time in a unique place: on the field.
That?s because Bryant is expected to see some time at slot back during spring practice this month, as Midshipmen coach Ken Niumatalolo looks to find ways of getting the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder on the field.
Bryant rushed for 464 yards, threw for 252 yards and scored five touchdowns last season. He appeared in 10 of 13 games in relief of Kaheaku-Enhada, who is widely considered the favorite to earn the starting job of running the triple-option offense this fall.
“I?m trying to get better with every rep because I?m not sure what the fall will hold for me,” Bryant said. “We?re going to do what?s best for the team. If the coaches want me to play kicker, I?d do that if they feel that gives us the best chance to win.”
Niumatalolo said: “Jarod is a good quarterback, but we felt like Kaipo gives us the best chance to win. For Jarod, it doesn?t make any sense for him to sit on the bench his senior year. He?s just too talented. After watching cuts of the season, he?s very special with the football and we want to find ways to get him on the field.”
Bryant will go into the season as the backup quarterback. But Niumatalolo has continued the trend that began under former coach Paul Johnson of trying to get the best 22 players on the field regardless of their natural position.
Bryant also will see time as a punt returner, as Navy tries to fill the void left by the expected graduation of slot back Reggie Campbell, who accounted for 2,019 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
But Bryant is not the only one who may switch position this spring. Rising junior Andy Lark, who is being moved from defensive to offensive line and rising sophomore Emmett Merchant, who is moving from defensive back to slot back. Merchantjoins Bryant as one on many players competing for time as only junior Shun White returns as one of the starting slot backs from last season.
Merchant said he?s glad to have a chance to learn more about being an offensive player this spring, as he hasn?t played running back since his sophomore year in high school.
“This has been different for me and right now I?m just getting used to the offense, although I feel like I?m ahead of the curve,” Merchant said. “The spring is a chance to play at a slow pace and just get comfortable with a new role.”
