Navy football defensive coordinator PJ Volker takes comfort in 7 returning starters, intact coaching staff

P.J. Volker enters his second year as Navy defensive coordinator in an enviable position. The Midshipmen return seven starters and 22 lettermen on that side of the ball. Also, the entire defensive coaching staff remains intact

Having experienced players and coaches gave Volker a certain comfort level going into spring camp.

“We’ve got a lot of depth coming back and what that’s enabled us to do is dive further into the schemes,” Volker said. “I’m really fortunate that I have everyone back on the defensive staff. That continuity enables us to hit the ground running a bit more.”

Volker acknowledged that he’s more comfortable after having a year’s worth of experience on the job. He entered spring drills in 2023 having to prove himself a worthy successor to Brian Newberry, whose performance in the position earned a promotion to head coach.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I don’t feel a heck of a lot more comfortable. There was a lot of anxiety at times last year because it was my first time doing any of those things,” Volker said.

Volker said the primary goal for the defense during spring practice was to build the culture. Newberry preaches playing with elite effort, attitude and toughness (EAT) and Volker called that “the foundation of everything we do here.”

“Another thing we’ve talked about is building on our style of play and our pillars defensively,” Volker said. “We want to be an even better fundamental football team on the defensive side of the ball. That means our tackling, our block destruction, our ball disruption and our fixation to detail.”

Navy must replace four defensive starters — nose guard Donald Berniard Jr., tackle Clay Cromwell, inside linebacker Will Harbour and outside linebacker Xavier McDonald.

Current sophomore Landon Robinson, who had four sacks and 4 ½ tackles for loss in limited duty last season, is the heir apparent at nose guard. He was the only nose guard in FBS to play on the kickoff coverage unit.

Two other sophomores — Kendall Whiteside and Tyler Narayan — are battling for the starting spot at defensive tackle.

“[Defensive line coach Jerrick] Hall has done as good a job as any coach here as far as developing his room. I think a perfect example of that is Landon Robinson,” Volker said. “Landon gets in there and gets a little bit of action last season in our dime package and was extremely productive.”

Volker said he sees a bunch of down linemen who are going to be good players. Among them is Terrence McCauley, who finished his freshman season third on the depth chart at nose guard.

The Mids lost both the starter and backup at the hybrid outside linebacker spot known as striker as McDonald split time with Eavan Gibbons. Rising junior Jaxson Campbell, who was listed third on the depth chart throughout last season, will get first crack at winning the job.

However, he is competing with two other converted safeties in rising senior Riley Bergeson and rising junior Jasean McLean. Volker is confident outside linebackers coach Ricky Brown will develop all three players into competent strikers.

“All of those guys are raw and green. We have a lot of work to do with those guys, but I think they’re up to the challenge,” Volker said. “We ask a lot of that position and we’ve got to impact football games at that position.”

Rising senior Jianni Woodson-Brooks and rising junior Trey Jamison were second and third on the depth chart behind Harbour at both inside linebacker spots at the end of last season. Rising senior Kyle Jacob will also be in the mix when he returns for preseason practice.

Volker, who coaches the inside linebackers along with Brent Wimberly, also mentioned current sophomores Liam Barbee, Elijah Oatsvall and Ian Pourciau as being in the mix. Current freshman Job Grant has stepped up and opened some eyes so far this spring.

“He plays our style of football. I’m really excited about him,” Volker said.

Navy will soon regain the services of a talented inside linebacker come when Marcus Bleazard returns from a Mormon mission. Bleazard, a first team All-State selection as a senior at Harrison High in Kennesaw, Georgia, worked his way onto special teams toward the end of his freshman season.

“I’m super-excited about Marcus. He’s a guy that played and was productive for us a couple years ago,” said Volker, who has been in contact with Bleazard’s father. “I can’t wait to see him get back here for training this offseason.”

In his initial meeting with the entire unit, Volker made it clear that 2024 must be a breakthrough year for the Navy defense.

“We’ve been knocking on the door. We’d come in every Monday after games and say we’re this close. We’re done with that. It’s over. There are no excuses. We’ve got to break through and get the job done this year,” Volker said.

“What I want to see when we look at the tape is that it’s a blur with 11 gold helmets flying around to the football while playing smart, playing fast, playing violent and playing together.”

Thin at wide receiver

Navy must replace both starting wide receivers as Jayden Umbarger and Camari Williams are both set to graduate. Unfortunately for the Midshipmen, there is very little competition at the position during spring camp due to lack of bodies.

Nathan Kent, who was listed as the backup to Umbarger at the Z wide receiver spot at the end of last season, is not participating in spring practice because he is the top sprinter for the Navy outdoor track and field team. Cody Howard, who closed out the 2023 campaign as the backup behind Williams at the X wide receiver spot, has been moved to tight end.

A pair of rising seniors, Kroy Myers and Regis Velez, are both sitting out the spring while recovering from surgery.

To compensate, the coaching staff has been using slotbacks as wideouts during spring drills.

“If there is an area where we’re thin right now it’s wide receiver,” said Newberry, who said slots were playing the position “out of necessity. We’re doing what we need to do to function right now.”

Meanwhile, tight end is an important position in Drew Cronic’s Wing-T offense and must be a weapon in the passing game. Navy added tight end as a position prior to the 2022 season and used converted defensive players almost exclusively in a blocking role.

The Midshipmen finally added several true tight ends, meaning prospects that played that position in high school, as part of the 2023 recruiting class.

Thomas Scully, who was recruited as a linebacker, was the one defensive convert who made a smooth transition to running routes and catching passes. The 6-foot-2, 236-pound rising senior closed out the 2023 campaign atop the depth chart, but did not catch a pass.

Scully had a big gain off a drag route during a recent spring practice and appears to be the starter at tight end. Jake Norris, who was a quarterback at Madison Central High in Mississippi, has also performed well so far.

“I’ve been really pleased with Scully and I think Norris has done some good things. Cody Howard is a really talented player who has put on some weight to play that position,” Newberry said. “I’m excited about the progress at that position. We’re going to want  and need to use the tight end as much as we can. It has to be a staple of our offense with what we’re doing.”

Sitting out spring

Navy has numerous players missing spring camp for various reasons in addition to the four aforementioned players.

Others sitting out the spring while recovering from surgery are offensive guard Javan Bouton, slotback Anton Hall Jr. along with inside linebackers Kyle Jacob and Kenneth McShan.