Another Spalding grad in mix for ’19
Fochtman is in running behind Morris to take quarterback reins next year
Dalen Morris is the early front-runner to become Navy’s starting quarterback in 2019, but he could be challenged by a player currently playing defense.
Morris has been the team’s third string quarterback for this entire season, initially backing up Malcolm Perry and Garret Lewis and now working behind Zach Abey and Lewis.
Abey and Lewis will graduate in May and all indications are that Perry will remain at slotback moving forward. That means Navy will start a quarterback with virtually no game experience next year.
Actually, it would be more accurate to say minimal game experience at the quarterback position. Following practice on Tuesday, offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper revealed that Archbishop Spalding graduate Evan Fochtman, who has seen significant action at outside linebacker this season, could be in the mix at quarterback starting this spring.
“We might move Evan Fochtman back to quarterback as well,” Jasper said. “He’s a good athlete who can run.”
Morris did not see any varsity action as a freshman and has appeared briefly in two games this season. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound sophomore got in for mop-up duty toward the end of Navy’s 51-21 rout of Lehigh and carried the ball twice for three yards. It wasan inauspicious debut as the youngster committed a fumble that was recovered by the Mountain Hawks.
Morris entered the SMUgamefor one play after Lewis lost his helmet and had to come out per NCAArules. He gained one yards on a quarterback keeper then exited.
Morris practices with the full varsity, but does not receive any repetitions running the Saturday, 3:30 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network Radio: 1090 AM Line: Navy by 6 Navy linebacker Evan Fochtman tries to bring down Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book. Fochtman, an Archbishop Spalding graduate, could move to quarterback next season. offense as Navy has always run two huddles led by the starter and backup. However, the Alabama native does get valuable mental repetitions as he stands next to offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper and gets constant tutelage.
Morris did run the Navy scout team during Air Force week since he is of similar size and physique as Donald Hammond III and Arion Worthman. He did not travel with the team to Colorado Springs due to an undisclosed medical issue.
“Dalen had a pretty good spring, especially toward the end,” Jasper said. “Unfortunately for Dalen, we had two seniors that have played for us so he hasn’t gotten a lot of the reps that he normally would. Next spring will be very, very important for him.”
Morris played quarterback in a conventional offense at Madison County High in Huntsville, Ala. He has shown a strong, accurate arm during passing drills in practice and apparently possesses the skills necessary to operate the triple-option.
“The key thing I always look for whena kid hasn’t run option is: Does he look comfortable doing it. I think Dalen looks very comfortable doing it,” Jasper said. “(Morris) is a big body, very strong with a great arm. He looks comfortable running the option and that is the main thing.”
Jasper indicated that Morris will have every opportunity to seize the starting job during spring camp. He will likely be listed atop the depth chart and thus will lead the first team huddle.
“Dalen will get a lot of live reps during the spring so we’ll get a good feel for how he’s coming along,” Jasper said. “Hopefully, he’ll come out of the spring ready to play.”
Fochtman followed Abey as the starting quarterback at Archbishop Spalding. The Columbia resident was named Capital Gazette Newspapers Player of the Year as a junior after accounting for more than 2,800 yards of total offense and 34 touchdowns.
As a senior in 2016, Fochtman was named Metro Player of the Year by The (Baltimore) Sun and was co-recipient of the Rhodes Trophy as the most outstanding player in Anne Arundel County as chosen by the Touchdown Club of Annapolis. Fochtman passed for 1,747 yards and 20 touchdowns, rushed for1,120 yards and12 scores as a senior.
Fochtman played quarterback on the scout team as a freshman at Navy and impressed the coaching staff with his athleticism and physicality. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound sopho- more switched to safety during spring practice and opened eyes with his aggressiveness and hard hitting.
Defensive coordinator Dale Pehrson bumped up Fochtman one level to the outside linebacker spot known as striker. That hybrid position requires a versatile player with the size and strength to defend the run as well as the speed and quickness to cover slot receivers in pass defense.
Fochtman has been the primary backup behind starter Elan Nash all season and has recorded 23 tackles and a sack. He missed the SMU game with an injury and is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s home finale versus Tulsa after getting hurt against Central Florida last Saturday.
“Obviously, it’s going to be an important spring as far as figuring it all out,” Jasper said of the quarterback situation. “As always, we’ll grind away and I’ll get someone ready.”
Junior Jacob Harrison was a first team All-State selection as a sophomore and junior at Chaminade-Julienne High in Ohio. The 6-foot-1, 194-pounder transferred to Centerville High for his senior season and was named Greater Ohio Western Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
In three seasons of varsity football, Harrison rushed for 2,853 yards and 33 touchdowns and passed for 8,437 yards and 72 touchdowns. He is the only upperclassmen quarterback serving on the scout team this season.
Navy has three freshmen quarterbacks in Ben Glass (St. George’s High in Memphis, Tenn.), Tyger Goslin (Moorpark High, Calif.) and Steve Steen (Permian High, Odessa, Texas).
“We’ve got some young freshmen that we want to take a look at,” Jasper said.
There are four quarterbacks playing at the Naval Academy Prep School this season. Sources said the coaching staff is high on Jordan Cooper out of New Caney High in the Texas town of the same name. The 6-foot, 208-pound dual-threat performer was rated a three-start prospect by several recruiting services.
Cooper chose Navy over Air Force following a heated battle that went right downtothe wire. He was named District 21Class 5A Most Valuable Player in 2016 and surpassed 1,000 yards rushing and passing as both a junior and senior.