Aug. 22, 2014
For many kids, it is difficult to see the bigger picture as they navigate through the rigors of childhood. The immediate future carries the most importance, and the need for instant gratification often trumps future success.
But for senior linebacker Joe Worth this was never the case. Worth has always been driven. He has always kept his goals and aspirations in the forefront and strove to obtain them.
Worth, the son of a Navy helicopter pilot, learned about commitment, camaraderie, and dedication at a young age. He was surrounded by the military throughout his youth which helped shape his character today.
"My parents instilled it in me and my older sister Jen led by example" Worth said. "I come from a military family. I was taught to get your work done before you go outside and play. Make sure to work on a project and don't procrastinate."
His grandfather is a 1953 graduate of the Naval Academy and both of his parents entered the service through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. His younger brother, William Worth, is a sophomore quarterback on the Navy football team.
In high school, Worth excelled both academically and athletically. At Newsome High School in Central Florida, he was a four-year football letter winner, a member of three-straight district championship teams and team captain his senior year. But Worth's success wasn't confined to the gridiron. He was a member of the principal's Honor Roll for four years, served as student body president his senior year, and received the principal's leadership award.
Worth enjoyed the athletic honors, but never deemed them possible without placing academic success as the first priority.
"I focused on grades first and making sure that I had everything in order academically so that my mind was clear when it came to athletics," Worth said.
Worth carried his superior work ethic and mentality with him upon his arrival at the Naval Academy in 2011. During his first three years in Annapolis, he has earned a 3.8 cumulative grade point average and ranks in the top 10 percent of his class in Overall Order of Merit, which combines academic and military performance. He majors in math, and admits that his experience with problem solving has been a valuable asset on the football field.
There aren't many college students that face a daily grind comparable to Worth's. He has developed a rigorous routine to keep up with the challenges that the Naval Academy has placed before him. Each day he wakes up and begins studying and preparing for his classes. His afternoon consists of film sessions and football practice. After all of the sweat and grunt work, he is back to the books and calculator for the remainder of the evening. In Worth's mind, there is very little room for downtime.
"Sometimes I have to sacrifice some relaxation. There are plenty of nights where I have to stay up until 2 a.m. You have to be ahead of the game and it can be tough. There are nights where you are exhausted from games or practices, but you just know you have to get work done. My dad always talks about compartmentalizing, and knowing when you have time to rest. The worst thing you can do is to get behind."
A Leader on and off the Field
This season, Worth will be competing for playing time at linebacker and on special teams. Senior Jordan Drake is making the move from outside linebacker to inside linebacker in an attempt to bolster the unit after losing last year's standouts Cody Peterson and D.J. Sargenti. Drake is a proven player, having started 26 games during his tenure with the Midshipmen. This will create an obstacle for Worth, but adversity doesn't scare him. He has already cemented himself as a leader both on and off of the field.
Earlier this year, Worth was selected as the Regimental Commander for Plebe Summer at the Naval Academy. This is one of the highest leadership honors that the Naval Academy offers. His duties included overseeing the training of approximately 1,200 incoming plebes. The strict guidelines for selection included a detailed review of Worth's service record as well as an extensive interview process.
Capt. Bill Byrne, the Commandant of Midshipmen, was responsible for the decision and reached out to Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo about the commitment that Worth would now be accepting.
"I told Kenny that I was going to demand an awful lot of Joe and I need a commitment out of you that he can pull it off," Capt. Byrne said to the Capital Gazette. "Without hesitation, Kenny said that Joe would do a tremendous job and that I would not be disappointed."
On the field, Worth knows his role. He understands that the younger players will be looking to him for guidance and watching his every move. Whether it is with the corps of linebackers or on special teams, he is ready to make himself available. Just like a sponge, they will absorb everything Worth says and does, a responsibility he has prepared for.
"I would like to think of myself as a leader," Worth said. "Someone is always watching, so you have to do the right thing. It doesn't matter if it is a freshman or just the guys around the hall. If you do the right thing people will follow. For me, it's all about having strong morals and good character."
As the Midshipmen prepare to kick off their 2014 campaign against one of the biggest powerhouses in college football, Niumatalolo understands that his defense will need to play with poise and focus if they want to make the game competitive. Ohio State's offense was ranked fifth in the country in 2013, averaging 45.5 points per game. Navy's coaching staff knows that Worth's leadership will be a valuable asset for their squad.
"He is a guy that our team looks up to," Niumatalolo said. "Joe epitomizes everything that we look for in a Navy football player. He is the prototype that we are looking for, just a great young man."
The Buckeyes won't be the only high-powered opponent on Navy's schedule this season. They will square off with No. 17 Notre Dame at FedEx Field on Nov. 1.
Niumatalolo noted that that the younger guys should mimic Worth's preparation and training if they want perform at a high level against some of the elite competition in the nation.
"He knows one way, just doing everything the best you can. Lifting, stretching, or watching film, he is trying to excel in everything that he does. He is very detailed and meticulous."
The Midshipmen will look to echo their impressive 2013 campaign, after finishing 9-4, and bringing home the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy for the ninth time in the last 11 years. They also qualified for a bowl game for the 10th time in the last 11 years, and won a bowl game for just the eighth time in school history.
Worth believes the team can take the momentum from last season and run with it. He thinks this year's group of men has the talent to hang with anyone in the country. He plans to exit on top.
"Our goal is always to go undefeated, go to a bowl game, and beat Army," Worth said. "We have to put our heads down and keep grinding. I have a lot of faith in our team and the brothers that I am playing with."
But on Dec. 13, after the final whistle blows at M&T Bank Stadium in downtown Baltimore, Worth will take off the historic blue and gold colors for the final time in a regular season game (if Navy wins six games they will play in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23 in San Diego). He will have just finished his final game against Army, and been part of one of the storied rivalries in all of sports. His jersey bearing the number 56 will be passed along to the next hungry Midshipmen. One can only hope that his successor will serve his team, school and community with the same pride that Worth did.
Life After School
The Naval Academy varies from most colleges upon graduation. Worth won't have the opportunity to try out for a professional football team, or pursue a job as an accountant. Just like the other service academies, he will begin a career in the military. He will either serve in the Navy or the Marine Corps, a decision that he is anxiously awaiting.
Worth isn't worried about the future task at hand, but only the details of his assignment.
"I'm a little nervous. I've put a lot of time and thought into it, I've been around a lot of mentors and leaders and they have helped make me more comfortable," Worth said.
If the stars align, Marine Cops barracks will be the next stop on Worth's journey. He dreams of working in the Marine Ground Combat Element, a division that focuses on land-based and amphibious operations, including offensive, defensive, humanitarian, reconnaissance and security operations. A decision should be reached in December.
Niumatolo is confident that Worth is ready for any challenges that he will face in his career. He has prepared himself for a life in the military, and will take the skills and lessons he has learned at The Naval Academy and apply them in real life situations.
"I think you can already see his leadership, people follow him," Niumatalolo said. It is easy to follow someone when he is leading the pack. No doubt in my mind he is a great leader and that will help him. He stands out amongst leaders on our team, and that isn't always easy to do."
From now until the spring, Worth will do what he has always done. He will work hard academically, and continue to provide leadership for those that will come after him. There will be late nights, exhausting days, and situations that would cause most people give up. That's not an option for Worth, he will continue to persevere.
"I've learned so much about myself," Worth said about his time at The Naval Academy. "I've learned how to succeed in the classroom and on the football field. I've learned the value of teamwork, brotherhood and leadership. These are all things will help me later in life."
