7/14/2004 - Football
Navy Backfield Ranked 16th Best In The Country
ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The Navy backfield (fullbacks and slot backs) was ranked the 16th best backfield in the nation by Phil Steele's College Football Preview Magazine.
The Mids running game is led by senior fullback and All-American candidate Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.), who rushed for 1,249 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall as he helped lead the Midshipmen to an 8-5 record, a berth in the Houston Bowl and victories over Air Force and Army that brought the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy back to Annapolis for the first time since 1981. Eckel, who was ranked as the second-best fullback in the country by The Sporting News, enters his senior campaign as the ninth-leading rusher in school history with 1,759 yards and has a chance to become just the third player in school history, joining Napoleon McCallum and Chris McCoy, to rush for 3,000 yards in a career.
Eckel isn't the only All-American candidate in Navy's backfield as senior slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) has made big plays with stunning regularity over the last two seasons. Roberts is one of the most explosive players to ever play at the Naval Academy, a statement that is backed up by the video game like numbers he has put up over his career. Roberts enters his senior year averaging 8.6 yards per carry, the second best average in school history, and a school-record 24.9 yards per catch. Roberts, who has had six games in which he has scored two touchdowns in a game, needs just 78 yards receiving to become the first player in school history to surpass the 1,000 yard barrier rushing and receiving.
The backfield, though, is more than just Eckel and Roberts. The Mids are stocked at fullback, a position that may be Navy's strongest, with senior Michael Brimage (Birmingham, Ala.), sophomore Matt Hall (Cape Coral, Fla.) and junior Marvin Dingle (Coronado, Calif.).
Brimage showed what he could do when healthy in 2002 when he rushed for 171 yards and a touchdown in Navy's near upset win at Wake Forest.
Hall, considered to be the heir apparent to Eckel at fullback, may have been the most impressive player in Navy's spring drills as he showed a toughness to run inside and the speed to get away from defenders once he pops through the line. Not to be forgotten is Dingle, who may be the most physically gifted of the group.
Roberts will get help at slot back from senior Frank Divis (Avon, Ohio), sophomore Trey Hines (Douglassville, Ga.), junior Marco Nelson (Scottsdale, Ariz.), senior Ryan Barry (Raleigh, N.C.) and sophomore Byron McCoy (Liberty, Mo.).
Divis is one of the fastest players on the team, covering the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, and is the best blocker among the slot backs.
Hines, after a productive freshman campaign that saw him score three touchdowns on 13 carries, is expected to have a big impact in 2004. Hines has the speed and hands to challenge Roberts' career numbers before he leaves Annapolis.
Though small in stature, Nelson should not be overlooked. The 5-8, 185 pound slot had a big spring capped off by a four-catch, 102-yard performance in the spring game.
McCoy could be the sleeper of the group this year as he played junior varsity ball as a freshman, but he possesses good speed and can catch the ball out of the backfield. McCoy is a star in the classroom as well; pulling down a perfect 4.0 is freshman year. Barry is hard-nosed player who will provide depth at slot and will be a key special teams performer.
Season and single-game tickets are currently on sale at the Naval Academy Box Office in Ricketts Hall, by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY or by logging on to the internet at www.navysports.com. The Mids will kick off the 2004 campaign on Sept. 4 when Duke comes calling to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a 6 p.m. contest.
TOP 25 BACKFIELDS IN THE COUNTRY
1. Kansas State
2. USC
3. LSU
4. Auburn
5. Texas
6. Louisville
7. NC State
8. Minnesota
9. Syracuse
10. Memphis
11. Miami (Fla.)
12. Florida State
13. Virginia
14. Tennessee
15. Wisconsin
16. Navy
17. Florida
18. South Carolina
19. Georgia
20. Maryland
