ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Navy has five players named to Phil Steele's 2019 Preseason All-AAC team released earlier this week.  Senior center and co-captain Ford Higgins was named to the second team, senior raider Nizaire Cromartie and sophomore linebacker Diego Fagot was named to the third team and junior slot back CJ Williams and junior striker Jacob Springer were named to the fourth team.
 
Higgins started all 13 games for the Mids last year on the offensive line (12 at center and one at tackle).
 
Cromartie started all 13 games at outside linebacker last year and led the Mids with 3.5 sacks, was second on the team in tackles for a loss with 6.5 and fifth in total tackles with 58.
 
Fagot saw action in every game last year as a freshman and made his first career start in the Army-Navy game. He finished the year with 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and recovered a fumble.
 
Williams played in 11 of Navy's 13 games last fall (missed two due to injury) and made two starts. He finished with 183 yards rushing and a touchdown on 22 carries. He was also dangerous out of the backfield as a receiver, making nine catches for 187 yards.
 
Springer played in 12 games last year and made four starts at safety. He finished the year with 36 tackles, two pass break-ups and two interceptions.  He is also a dangerous punt returner, averaging 8.2 yards per return on 12 returns.  Springer will move from safety to striker this fall.
 
Steele has Navy as one of the teams he expects to be much better in 2019.
 
In his position rankings, Steele has the Mids ranked in the AAC B=anywhere from first to 11th (out of 12 teams): quarterbacks, fifth; running backs, fifth; receivers, 11^th; offensive line, seventh; defensive line, eighth; linebackers, eighth; defensive backs, 11^th; special teams, 10^th; coaching, first.
 
Navy will kick off the 2019 campaign on Saturday, August 31 against Holy Cross at 3:30 PM at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Season tickets are available here: https://tinyurl.com/y56dkbvj