The graduation of four-year starting safety Wyatt Middleton surely was a factor. With his speed, range and experience, Middleton was a one-man safety net for a defense that thrived on its stubborn refusal to surrender home run plays.

Minus Middleton and three other speedy defensive backs from 2010 — Emmett Merchant, Kevin Edwards and De’Von Richardson — the Mids’ lack of athletic ability in the secondary was apparent early this season. But Navy has taken steps to address the void with the promotion of freshmen Parrish Gaines and Chris Ferguson.

While still learning on the job, Gaines, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback, and Ferguson, a 6-2, 195-pound safety, have lent athletic presence to the secondary. If nothing else, they give the Mids two players with a build similar to that of Middleton (6-2, 190).

“We were definitely not looking toward the future,” Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. “We’re trying to win on Saturdays. They’re playing because they’re the best at those positions.”

Both freshmen excelled Saturday when Navy (3-6) snapped its losing streak with an emphatic 42-14 victory over Troy. With Ferguson making six tackles and Gaines making seven and forcing a fumble, the Mids held the Trojans to 330 yards.

“They’ve got good size and good ball instincts,” Green said. “They’re plebes, and plebe year is very tough. They’ll get stronger and faster and bigger.”

Both have been productive since they moved into the lineup. After the Navy secondary was riddled in a 63-35 loss to Southern Miss, Ferguson made his starting debut the following week, returning an interception for a touchdown and forcing a fumble in a 21-20 loss at Rutgers. Ferguson, who is from Angier, N.C., came to Annapolis after a year at the Naval Academy Prep School.

As a child, Ferguson survived a harrowing ordeal, contracting Guillain Barre syndrome, in which the immune system attacks part of the nervous system. The condition went undiagnosed for several days, leaving Ferguson hours from death.

“It’s given me perspective,” Ferguson said. “Being that close to dying, playing football is like a cakewalk.”

Gaines arrived straight out of Smyrna, Tenn., as a wideout but readily accepted a shift to defense. Had it not been for a hamstring pull in the preseason, Gaines might have made his starting debut earlier than two weeks ago. In a 56-14 loss at Notre Dame, Gaines had seven tackles.

“I came in and tried to act like I belonged,” Gaines said. “I tried to be loose, and it worked out for me.”

The rapid ascent of their quick-study freshmen is one of the reasons the Mids believe their defensive troubles are in the past and they’re capable of making a run at a ninth straight bowl appearance.

“They’ve had an opportunity. They seized it,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “It doesn’t mean they’re playing perfect. But the future is bright for those two guys.”

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