Mitchell takes charge of the revamped unit Early this preseason, the depth chart at Navy revealed the most indispensable Midshipmen player. Listed as a co-starter at three positions was senior defensive back Kwesi Mitchell.
What wasn’t as clear was whether it was more a compliment to Mitchell’s versatility or an indictment of the Mids’ depth.
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“More than anything, it was something to be scared about,” Mitchell joked last week.
| Up next |
| Delaware at Navy |
| When » Saturday, 3:30 p.m. |
| Where » Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis |
| TV » CBS Sports Network |
With the graduation of Wyatt Middleton (51 career starts), Kevin Edwards (30 starts) and Emmett Merchant (19 starts) and the dismissal of De’Von Richardson, who started the last nine games of 2010, the secondary has gone from being the Mids’ most experienced unit to their least.
But in the preseason, senior David Wright and junior David Sperry have emerged at the cornerback slots, allowing Mitchell to shift to rover, the position Navy coaches hoped he would occupy all along.
“To be able to move him to the safety spot really gives us our best combination on the field,” Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. “It gives me a guy back there that knows the defense, that can make calls and get us lined up. That’s critical.”
Mitchell, a cornerback last year, now lines up deep next to Shawn Lynch, a sophomore who moved from wide receiver in the spring and has been a quick study at free safety.
The Mids have reason to believe their revamped unit, previously full of questions, could be an area of strength. Their first test comes Saturday against Delaware, the FCS runner-up a year ago, which undergoes a quarterback change after the graduation of Pat Devlin, now with the Miami Dolphins. Tim Donnelly, a 6-foot-4 junior, and Trevor Sasek, a 6-6 sophomore, are competing for the job.
“We will have a starting quarterback in place sometime before 3:30 on Saturday,” Delaware coach K.C. Keeler joked on Monday.
One player Navy is sure to see is sophomore running back Andrew Pierce, the CAA preseason player of the year who rushed for 1,655 yards last year.
“Through the air or on the ground, they can make big plays,” Mitchell said. “They can hit you deep or bring it up the middle on the run. We have to stay balanced as a defense.”
At the exposed cornerback positions, the pressure will be on Wright, who started two games last year, and Sperry, who will make his debut as a starter.
“I’m more anxious than nervous,” Sperry said. “I’m excited. It’s my first opportunity to show what I can do on a big stage. No question in my mind that I’m ready to go.”
And if not, Mitchell will be ready. He still is listed No. 2 at both corner positions. If Mitchell moves there, junior Tra’ves Bush, who made 44 tackles last year as a valuable secondary reserve, will take over at rover.
“It’s an important position,” Mitchell said of the slot occupied last year by Middleton. “It’s basically the quarterback of the defense, a lot of responsibility back there.”
