When University of Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith takes snaps Saturday at Navy, he?d better pay extra attention to the Midshipmen?s defense.
If not, he may end up on his back a lot courtesy of linebackers David Mahoney and Tyler Tidwell. The pair of seniors are quickly climbing up the service academy?s list for all-time tackles for a loss and career sacks.
The 5-foot-9, 219-pound Mahoney has 14 career sacks, including eight last season, and is currently second all-time for Navy. He also has 32.5 tackles for a loss in his career, which is sixth best all-time among Midshipmen.
Tidwell, a 6-foot-2, 224-pounder, is coming off a junior campaign in which he had a school-record 10 sacks. He now has 12 forhis career, which is third in school history, right behind Mahoney. Tidwell is 11th on Navy?s tackles for a loss list with 22.5. Currently, Mahoney leads the Midshipmen with 23 total tackles, while Tidwell is seventh with 11.
Navy coach Paul Johnson said he has been impressed with his linebacker corps as a whole, including senior Rob Caldwell, sophomore Clint Sovie and junior Joe Cylc, all of whom have made key plays over the course of the early season.
“David and Tyler have played a lot of football. They?ve both made a ton of big plays,” Johnson said. “David has been really consistent this year, and Tyler plays really hard.”
Mahoney, who has appeared in every game since he was a freshman, said having such a veteran group on the defensive side allows each player to contribute in their own way.
“A lot of us have been playing together for four years and know what to expect of each other,” Mahoney said. “It allows us to do things, like put pressure on the quarterback.”
Tidwell, who had 67 tackles as a junior before combining for just 18 his first two years, said having so many quality players on defense has made it tougher for opposing teams to prepare for them. Defensive lineman John Chan recorded a sack in each of the first three games, and DuJuan Price and Tidwell came up with an interception and fumble recovery, respectively, in Navy?s win over Massachusetts two weeks ago.
“This defense has been great because, each week, a new guy has stepped up to make plays,” Tidwell said. “Everyone on this defense has the ability to be a playmaker.”
