Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said senior Jarod Bryant has performed well at slot back during the first week of camp. Bryant has been running the ball well and has surprised the coaching staff with his solid blocking.
"Jarod pancaked a linebacker the other day. A couple of the coaches looked at each other and were like, 'Was that really Jarod?' "
Bryant will probably be no worse than second on the depth chart when an updatd version is released on Monday. He is also practicing as a punt returner. However, both Niumatalolo and offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper have said that if starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada were injured, Bryant would definitely be the replacement.
Which begs the question: Is it wise to have your backup quarterback, the guy who is one play away from being the starter, taking repetitive hits as a slot back and punt returner?
"Oh it's a gamble. It's definitely a risk," Niumatalolo admitted. "It's (Bryant's) last year. If we sit him on the bench all season, then people say 'Why aren't you playing him? It's a waste of talent.' It's six, half dozen the other. We're going to take a chance. We're going to get him on the field. If he gets hurt, it's on the field. I'd rather do that than say at the end of the season, 'I wish I had played him.' "

In a previous posting, I wrote that Jeff Deliz might be the first former team captain to play for the Navy football team. An alert reader, former Naval Academy graduae and knowledgeable Navy football fan points out that is not entirely true.
In the spring of 1981, Jon Ross was elected defensive captain by his teammates. However, Ross was subsequently thrown out of the academy due to an honor offense for allegedly cheating on a navigation final in May.
Ross spent a year serving in the fleet, but was re-admitted to the academy and rejoined the football team in 1982.
Tim Jordan wound up serving as defensive captain in 1981 while Travis Wallington was the defensive captain in 1982 when Ross returned to the team.
However, what makes the Deliz situation different is that he actually began the regular season as team captain and served in that role up until the point he returned home to Clinton Township, Michigan to undergo rehabilitation. Deliz was never stripped of the title of defensive captain, although inside linebacker Irv Spencer assumed the role on a ceremonial basis for the latter half of the season.
So, we stand by the original claim that Deliz is believed to be the first player to actually serve as team captain (not just elected to the post) then play another season afterward.

Inside linebacker and defensive captain Clint Sovie has been granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. Sovie received the "hardship" year based on the fact he played just two games in 2007 before suffering a season-ending injury.
Also, due largely to problems associated with the injury and subsequent surgery and rehabilitation, Sovie has been extended academically at the Naval Academy and will not graduate until December, 2009.
The Capital had previously reported that safety and 2007 defensive captain Jeff Deliz had been granted an extra year of eligibility for the same reasons, but that wide receiver Greg Sudderth had been denied the same.
Deliz is believed to be the first former captain to play for the Naval Academy football team. Obviously, that is because captains must be seniors and (except in very rare instances such as this) go on to graduate. Sovie could join Deliz in that exclusive club.

Obviously, an ongoing theme during the 2008 season will be how Ken Niumatalolo adjusts to serving as head coach after spending the initial 17 years of his career as an assistant.
The Capital interviewed defensive coordinator Buddy Green, veteran defensive line coach Dale Pehrson along with defensive captain Clint Sovie and starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada about this topic. To a man, all four expressed complete confidence in Niumatalolo's ability to lead the program and feel that Navy football will not miss a beat due to the head coaching transition.
"Kenny is a good football coach. He's a good person, a good leader, a good instructor," Green said. "He's very demanding and I think he'll motivate our guys to rise to another level. I’m enthused and excited about the direction of the program."
Former head coach Paul Johnson had more of a dictatorial style. He had been a head coach previously at Georgia Southern, had spent nearly three decades in the profession and knew exactly how he wanted things run. Johnson did not seek a whole lot of input from his assistants.
Niumatalolo, on the other hand, has tried to be more inclusive in terms of gathering opinions from every member of the staff. As a rookie head coach, the native Hawaiian has not been afraid to seek the advice of veteran assistants such as Green and Pehrson.
"That's been a nice change. Kenny asks for input and encourages the assistants to give ideas," Pehrson said. "He has created an atmosphere in which every member of the staff feels comfortable speaking his mind."
Quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada noticed a slight change in Niumatalolo's on-field demeanor during spring practice.
"He's definitely a lot more vocal. There is no question that he's the man in charge," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "He's no different from Coach Johnson in that he will get in your face. He will push you, he will challenge you. ... this is an abbreviated post. Read the entire article.

Navy kicked off the 2008 football season on Thursday afternoon by conducting its annual Fan Fest/Media Day.
First-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo threw a wrinkle into the event by having the players complete their running test on the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium field in front of approximately 600 fans.
Afterward, Niumatalolo was pleased to report that every single player met the minimum time allotted for their respective position. Strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Brass said participation in offseason workouts was outstanding and clearly the entire team has returned in outstanding condition.
"Coach Brass did a phenomenal job of getting our guys in shape. This is the best we've done on this test in six years as far as results," Niumatalolo said. "I'm very pleased with the time and effort our players put in during the off-season. What happened today was proof that our kids worked hard."