Name: Gracen Bell

 

Nickname: G-Money

 

Year: Rising Sophomore

 

Position: Tight End

 

Height: 6'6

 

Weight: 260

 

Hometown: Lee's Summit, Mo.

 

High School: Lee's Summit North

 

Major: Political Science

 

What do you want to do after graduation and why? Navy Pilot: I have dreamt of becoming a military pilot for the entirety of my life. At a third grade graduation I wrote that I wanted to be a football player and fighter pilot.

 

Why did you choose Navy?  I chose Navy because of the culture within the football program, the challenges the school provides and the military commissioning.

 

What would you tell somebody that is considering coming to Navy to play football? Deciding to come play football at the Naval Academy assures that you will have opportunities to grow mentally, physically and morally. Those opportunities are not presented elsewhere and they will set you up for success.

 

If you could play another position, what position would you play and why? I would play defensive end, I love the mentality that comes with that side of the ball and I arguably had more success at that position than I did at tight end in high school.

 

If you could choose any opponent for Navy to play that is currently not on the schedule, who would you choose and why? I would want to play Missouri as I have several friends and teammates currently playing for them and I would love to face off against them.

 

Favorite class at the Naval Academy and why?  I would have to say U.S. Government and Constitutional Development. I enjoy learning about the subject matter and I enjoy the staff that administers that class

 

Hardest class at the Naval Academy and why?  Chemistry 2, because I struggle with stem classes and even though I was familiar with the concepts, the problems went right over my head.

 

Favorite teacher at the Naval Academy and why?  CAPT Mullaney would have to be my favorite teacher. He taught my Preparing to Lead class and literally wrote the curriculum we used for the course. Very highly esteemed, yet very humble. You can tell he cares about the subject matter and his students by the way he conducts the class.

 

Favorite form of social media and why? None, I hate social media. 

 

Favorite person to follow on social media and why?  I like to follow those that encourage me to get off social media and do something productive.

 

If you could have dinner with any 4 people at the Naval Academy who would you choose?: The Superintendent, the Commandant, a buddy from my high school that I came here with and the Anchorman of the Class of 2023.

Favorite sport to follow at the Naval Academy outside of football and why? Swimming, I have a lot of swimmers in my company that are in my class and I like to keep updated on their times.

 

If you didn't play football at Navy, what sport would you play and why? Water Polo. I love the culture that they have built and it's a very physically demanding sport. I also enjoyed playing in my swimming career.

What song is playing on your headphones in the locker room right before taking the field? First three and half minutes of "The Battle of Stirling" from the Braveheart soundtrack. 

 

What is your dream vacation? Somewhere on the West Coast with my family where I could go Surfing.

How many teams should make the FBS Playoffs?  6

 

What is the best thing about being in the American Athletic Conference? Underdogs when we play Power 5 schools.

 

Favorite Coach Newberry Saying: Success of the program requires the very best of all of us.

 

How would you describe Coach Chesnut's Offense: You will find out.

 

How would you describe Coach Volker's Defense: Fluid and dynamic, from an offensive perspective it's planning for chaos.

 

One word to describe a Navy Football player: Grit

 

Who is the toughest player on the Navy football team? Too hard to determine, everybody on this team has faced adversity unlike any other football team in the country. We have a unique edge in our tool box but obviously some guys have had to deal with more than others.

 

What player epitomizes Navy Football?  Eavan Gibbons, he may not be the most athletically gifted but you always know he will never quit or give anything less than a 100 percent effort. He's a dog.

 

Who will be the Most Valuable Player on offense in 2023? Everybody on the team must have the same standard, MVP is literally going to be everyone that buys in.

 

Who will be the Most Valuable Player on defense in 2023 and why? Everybody on the team must have the same standard, MVP is literally going to be the everyone that buys in.

What are you most looking forward to in 2023? Unleashing all the work that we have deposited in the offseason on our opponents.