Perry maturing into top-notch option QB

Senior getting comfortable, but still feels he can improve

Malcolm Perry’s transformation into a full-fledged quarterback began after the Army-Navy game last season.

Perry played slotback against the archrival and was limited to 52 rushing yards on just six carries by an aggressive Black Knights defense during a disappointing 17-10 loss.

Following the game, Perry approached offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper with a message.

“Last year, after the Army game, we talked and Malcolm said, ‘Coach, I’m ready.’ When Malcolm got it into his mind that he was the quarterback, it helped tremendously,” Jasper said.

There were times last season when Perry looked like a running back playing quarterback during the five games he started at the position. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo switched the speedster back to slotback for the final eight games of the 2018 campaign and regretted doing so afterward.

Niumatalolo knew Perry was the team’s most dangerous weapon and could not be featured properly as a slotback. The 12thyear head coach decided during the offseason to name Perry the clear-cut starting quarterback and tailor the offense to suit his strengths.

That move was helped along by Perry embracing being a quarterback and committing to becoming a better one. The Tennessee native devoted the offseason to improving as a passer and vowed to emerge as a more forceful leader.

That dedication and effort has paid great dividends as Perry is enjoying a tremendous senior season. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder leads the Midshipmen in rushing with 604 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also been effective and efficient throwing the ball, completing 24 of 37 passes (65 percent) for 489 yards and three scores.

“All the credit goes to Malcolm, who put a lot of work in during the spring and the summer,” Jasper said. “It’s a credit to the young man. He knew the position was important to this team and that he had to get better at playing it.”

More than simply the statistics, it has been Perry’s leadership at the most important offensive position on the field that has been instrumental in Navy starting the season 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the American Athletic Conference. The Tennessee native has taken control of the team’s triple-option offense and provided outstanding direction to teammates.

“I just think it’s the maturation process from Malcolm knowing in January that he was going to be the starter and taking on a leadership role,” Niumatalolo said. “Malcolm has matured in so many ways and right now is giving us a chance to be successful. He’s showing great composure and making great decisions.”

Niumatalolo was asked about Perry’s development as a quarterback during the American Athletic Conference football coaches teleconference on Monday. He explained that part of the problem was that Perry has bounced back-and-forth between quarterback and slotback.

“Well, Malcolm has always been a great athlete, always been as dynamic a runner as we’ve had here at the Naval Academy,” Niumatalolo said. “We moved him to quarterback last year and he was kind of finding his way a little bit.”

Jasper played an important role in making Perry a more well-rounded quarterback, one that could complete passes downfield to keep opposing defenses honest and make all the necessary reads in the triple-option game.

Reading defensive alignments and making checks at the line of scrimmage is still a work in progress for Perry, who was mad at himself for committing some mistakes in that area during the Tulsa win. Navy’s coaching staff adjusted to a particular defensive tactic employed by the Golden Hurricane by giving them a heavy dose of mid-line option plays and Perry was not pleased with his execution on those.

“It’s the little things. Obviously, Malcolm made a lot of big runs — important runs and spectacular runs,” Jasper said. “There are still little fundamental things he’s got to get better at doing. Malcolm wants to be perfect and strives for that, which is a good thing.”

Niumatalolo loves that trait in Perry, who has set a high standard for himself.

“There are still some things he needs to clean up. As good as Malcolm has been playing, he would be the first one to tell you he can get better. He recognizes there are still things he can get better at doing,” Niumatalolo said. “I think that’s the great thing about Malcolm, he’s hard on himself and always feels like he can improve. I’m just grateful that he hasn’t settled, is always pressing forward, doesn’t feel like he’s arrived.”

Injury Report: Starting left end Jackson Perkins and backup Denzel Polk did not play against Tulsa and are questionable for USF. Fochtman suffered an arm injury against Tulsa, but could be available this weekend while wearing a protective wrap.