3/27/2003 - Football
Navy Football Team Opens Spring Practice Monday
ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy head football coach Paul Johnson will conduct his second spring ball as head coach of the Midshipmen starting Monday, March 31.
The Mids will practice every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through the month of April at 4 p.m. and will scrimmage every Saturday at 9 a.m. on the grass practice fields at the Naval Academy. All practices and scrimmages are open to the public.
The annual spring game will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 2:30 p.m. on Rip Miller field following the Army-Navy lacrosse game.
The Mids return 32 letter winners from last year's squad (14 offense, 15 defense, and three specialists), including 15 starters (seven on offense, six on defense and two specialist).
Navy, which posted a 2-10 record last year after winning just one game the previous two years combined, ended last season playing its best football. The Mids lost close encounters to nationally ranked Notre Dame (30-23) and Seattle Bowl Champion Wake Forest (30-27) before routing Army in the season finale, 58-12.
Senior quarterback Craig Candeto returns to lead an offense that was third in the nation last year (270.8 yards per game). Candeto led the Mids with 775 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, including a remarkable six-touchdown performance against Army.
Navy should be solid in the backfield as senior slot back Tony Lane (480 yards rushing, 174 yards receiving) and junior slot back Eric Roberts (469 yards rushing and 429 yards receiving) return along with junior fullback Michael Brimage (291 yards rushing) and junior fullback Kyle Eckel (510 yards rushing). Eckel will miss spring ball after having off-season surgery. Junior Lionel Wesley returns as the top wide receiver (eight catches for 115 yards).
The Mids will be looking to rebuild the offensive line after the graduation of starters Matt Nye (guard), Grant Moody (guard) and Derek Jaskowiak (tackle). Senior tackle Josh Goodin, senior guard Shane Todd, junior center August Roitsch and junior tackle Nick Wilson are experienced returnees.
Defensively, the top returnees include junior safety Josh Smith (127 tackles, two interceptions), junior corner Vaughn Kelley (68 tackles and four passes broken up), senior corner Shalimar Brazier (59 tackles, three passes broken up), senior linebacker Eddie Carthan (74 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, three fumble recoveries), junior linebacker Lane Jackson (53 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss) and senior linebacker Ben Mathews (53 tackles and four tackles for a loss). The biggest question mark on defense is the defensive line where the Mids lost four starters.
"I am looking forward to getting spring practice started," said Navy head coach Paul Johnson. "I don't think there is a guy on the team that has a guaranteed starting spot so the competition will be good."
Navy opens up the 2003 football season on Aug. 30 when the Mids host VMI at 1:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
