Navy knows it won’t snag top recruits. It can’t effectively run a pro-style offense, because it doesn’t have the personnel to do so. So Navy shouldn’t thrive offensively.
But the Midshipmen do anyway, because of the triple option.
“It gives us to chance to compete against people who are week in and week out bigger and stronger and faster than we are,” head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “… It’s who we are and have always been.”
Unlike most offenses in Division I, Navy (2-2, 1-1 American Athletic) avoids throwing the ball. This season, the Midshipmen have rushed on 88 percent of their plays, the highest mark in the NCAA, while averaging 5.