2015 Navy Midshipmen football team

The 2015 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Midshipmen were led by eighth-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo and played their home games at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen competed as a member of the Western Division of the American Athletic Conference, and were first year members of the conference. In their entire football history, this was the first season that Navy did not compete as an Independent. They finished the season 11–2, 7–1 in American Athletic play to finish in a tie for the Western Division title with Houston. However, due to their head-to-head loss to Houston, they did not represent the Western Division in the American Championship. They were invited to the Military Bowl where they defeated Pittsburgh.

2015 Navy Midshipmen football
The American West Division co-champion Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy Military Bowl champion
Military Bowl, W 44–28 vs. Pittsburgh
Conference	American Athletic Conference
Division	West Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 18
AP	No. 18
Record	11–2 (7–1 AAC)
Head coach	Ken Niumatalolo (8th season)
Offensive coordinator	Ivin Jasper (8th season)
Offensive scheme	Triple option
Defensive coordinator	Dale Pehrson (interim season)
Base defense	Multiple
MVP	Keenan Reynolds
Captains	Keenan Reynolds Bernard Sarra
Home stadium	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 2014 2016 →

2015 American Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Temple x		7	–	1					10	–	4
South Florida		6	–	2					8	–	5
Cincinnati		4	–	4					7	–	6
UConn		4	–	4					6	–	7
East Carolina		3	–	5					5	–	7
UCF		0	–	8					0	–	12
West Division
No. 8 Houston xy$		7	–	1					13	–	1
No. 18 Navy x		7	–	1					11	–	2
Memphis		5	–	3					9	–	4
Tulsa		3	–	5					6	–	7
Tulane		1	–	7					3	–	9
SMU		1	–	7					2	–	10
Championship: Houston 24, Temple 13
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant As of December 31, 2015 Rankings from AP Poll

Before the season

Spring practices

Navy held spring practices during March and April 2015.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	12:00 p.m.	Colgate*		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CBSSN	W 48–10	28,015
September 19	3:30 p.m.	East Carolina		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CBSSN	W 45–21	34,717
September 26	12:00 p.m.	at UConn		Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	CBSSN	W 28–18	33,204
October 3	3:30 p.m.	Air Force*		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)	CBSSN	W 33–11	32,705
October 10	3:30 p.m.	at No. 15 Notre Dame*		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	NBC	L 24–41	80,795
October 24	1:00 p.m.	Tulane		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CBSSN	W 31–14	32,033
October 31	12:00 p.m.	South Florida		Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CBSSN	W 29–17	26,766
November 7	7:00 p.m.	at No. 13 Memphis		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	ESPN2	W 45–20	55,212
November 14	3:30 p.m.	SMU	No. 20	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD (Gansz Trophy)	CBSSN	W 55–14	35,778
November 21	7:00 p.m.	at Tulsa	No. 16	Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK	CBSSN	W 44–21	22,749
November 27	12:00 p.m.	at Houston	No. 15	TDECU Stadium Houston, TX	ABC	L 31–52	40,562
December 12	3:00 p.m.	vs. Army*	No. 21	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA (Army–Navy Game, College GameDay)	CBS	W 21–17	69,722
December 28	2:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh*	No. 21	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD (Military Bowl)	ESPN	W 44–28	36,352	^[1]^[2]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 3 released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Rankings

Further information: 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Note: Navy is ranked for the first time since their 2004 season. (Ranked 24 in AP poll)

The Midshipmen have been nationally ranked for four consecutive weeks, making it the first time this has happened since 1978.

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	—	—	RV	22	19	16	16	22	21	18
Coaches	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	23	19	15	15	22	22	18
CFP	Not released									—	20	16	15	15	23	21	Not released

Roster

2015 Navy Midshipmen football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 2 Trayvon Clark Fr WR 2 Luke Holley So QB 3 Zach Abey Jr WR 4 Jamir Tillman Jr QB 5 Travis Marshall So SB 5 Akili Taylor Fr QB 7 Garret Lewis Fr QB 8 Cole Euverard Fr SB 9 Cameron Dudeck Fr QB 10 Derek Morefield Fr WR 11 Conrey Meagher So QB 11 Troy Thompson Jr WR 13 Tyris Wooten So WR 14 Chris Von Hendrix Fr QB 15 Will Worth Jr QB 17 Brandon Coleman Fr QB 18 Tago Smith Jr QB 19 Keenan Reynolds (C) Sr SB 20 Calvin Cass Jr. Jr SB 21 DeBrandon Sanders Sr SB 22 Toneo Gulley Jr FB 23 Myles Swain Jr SB 24 Joshua Walker So SB 24 Jahmaal Daniel So SB 25 Demond Brown Sr SB 26 Bryan Hammond Fr SB 28 Dishan Romine Jr SB 29 Darryl Bonner So FB 31 Shawn White Jr FB 32 Quentin Ezell Sr FB 33 Chris High So FB 34 Anthony Gargiulo Fr WR 35 Kel Williamson Fr FB 36 Jalen White Jr FB 37 Chris Swain Sr SB 38 John Brown III So FB 39 Justin Artis So SB 40 Mike Martin Fr SB 42 Kendrick Mouton Jr SB 44 Josh Brown So FB 46 Will Huntsman Sr SB 47 Travis Pospisil Fr WR 49 Colin Butler So WR 81 Taylor Johnson Fr WR 82 Craig Scott So WR 83 Marc Meier Sr WR 84 Chad Lewellyn So WR 86 Julian Turner Jr WR 87 Brandon Colon So WR 88 Tyler Carmona So WR 89 Thomas Wilson Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 2 Brendon Clements Jr S 2 Lorentez Barbour Sr OLB 3 Brandon Jones So S 4 Isaac Wright So CB 5 Quincy Adams   Sr CB 6 Sean Williams Fr CB 7 Shelley White   Sr S 8 Randy Beggs So OLB 9 Myer Krah Sr CB 10 Cameron Bryant Jr S 11 Jerry Thompson So CB 13 Kyle Battle Jr CB 14 Elijah Merchant So CB 15 John Gillis Fr CB 16 Jarid Ryan Fr S 17 Kwazel Bertrnad So CB 19 Elijah Jones Fr S 20 James Munson So CB 21 Abdul Majeed So S 22 Conner Doyle Fr LB 23 Mason Hicks So S 24 Forrest Forte Fr S 25 Juan Hailey Fr S 26 Daiquan Thomasson Jr OLB 28 Travis Kerchner Fr S 29 Brady Petersen Fr S 31 Khaylan Williams Fr LB 32 John Fiorelli Fr S 34 Justin Norton So OLB 35 Nick Martinez Sr OLB 37 Tony Delmonico Fr OLB 38 Dexter Bell So OLB 39 Dre Williamson Fr OLB 40 Kevin McCoy So LB 47 Zach Hester Sr OLB 43 Jordan Pittman So LB 44 Micah Thomas So OLB 45 D.J. Palmore So OLB 46 Terrence Laster So OLB 47 A.K. Akpunku Sr OLB 48 Joshua Powell Jr OLB 49 Mike Kelly Jr LB 50 Don Pearson Sr G 50 Steve Satchall Fr LB 51 Winn Howard So OT 51 Adam Amosa Fr OT 52 Zach Peck So DE 52 Amos Mason Jr OT 53 Tony Taylor Fr OLB 53 Kikau Pescaia Sr G 54 Chibuzo Ukandu Fr LB 54 Tyler Goble Sr OT 55 Jake Hawk Fr OLB 55 Ted Colburn   Jr LB 56 Myles Davenport So OLB 57 Trey Olsen So G 57 E.K. Binns   Sr LB 58 Daniel Gonzalas Jr G 58 Chris Gesell Fr LB 59 Ryan Harris Jr OC 59 Tyler Morgenthaler Fr NG 60 Lance Angulo Fr G 60 Ben Tamburello Sr C 61 Brandon Greene Sr DE 61 Jake Banholzer Fr C 62 Parker Wade So DE 62 Buck Elliot Fr DE 63 Kevin Uebelhardt Fr OT 63 Seth White So C 64 Bryan Barrett Fr C 64 Blaze Ryder Sr NG 64 Anthony Villalobos Fr OT 65 Joey Gaston Sr DE 65 Josh Webb Fr DE 66 J.T. Wise Fr G 66 Jeremiah Robbins Jr DE 67 Jarvis Polu Fr C 67 Zach Laniewski Sr NG 68 Patrick Forrestal Jr G 68 Alex Brown Jr DE 69 Nick Czar Fr OT 69 Andrew Wood Fr C 70 Maurice Norris Jr NG 70 Austin Hauge So DE 71 Garrett Wiedle Fr G 71 Evan Martin So DE 72 Jackson Mitchell Fr G 72 Adam West Jr OT 73 Shane Artim So NG 73 Alec Keener Fr OT 74 Rob Dusz Jr OT 74 Artie Vasquez Fr OT 75 Robert Lindsey So NG 76 Trenton Nollar So OT 76 Evan Akins So NG 77 Benard Sarra (C) Sr G 77 Laurent Njiki Fr OT 78 John Ferguson Jr OT 79 Blake Copeland Jr OLB 80 Monte Armstrong Fr OLB 81 Eli Dawson So LB 82 Conner Doris Fr LB 83 Taylor Heflin Fr LB 84 Hawken Hydrick Fr OLB 85 Zach Richards Fr LB 86 Matt Stewart Fr LB 87 Hudson Sullivan Fr OLB 89 Ryan West Fr DE 90 Will Anthony Sr DE 91 Tyler Sayles So DE 92 David Gordeuk Sr DE 93 Reggie Miles So NG 94 Nofo Tii Fr DE 95 Sean Spencer So DE 96 Michael Raiford So DE 97 Nnamdi Uzoma Jr NG 98 Dylan Fischer So DE 99 Sean Reaver Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 1 Patrick Cassley So K 6 Nick Sloan Sr P 16 Gavin Jernigan Sr K 43 Austin Grebe Sr K 48 D.J. Grant-Johnson Jr P 80 Alex Barta Jr LS 85 Ronnie Querry So LK 93 Bennett Moehring Fr K 94 Josh Antol Fr P 98 Erik Harris Fr LS 99 Nate Hawkins So	Head coach Ken Niumatalolo Coordinators/assistant coaches Chris Culton – Offensive line Justin Davis – Outside linebackers Dan O'Brien – Outside linebackers Buddy Green   – Defensive coordinator/Secondary (replaced by Dale Pehrson) Ashley Ingram – Offensive line Ivin Jasper – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Steve Johns – Inside linebackers/special teams Keith Jones – Secondary Mike Judge – Fullbacks Shaun Nua – Defensive line Danny O'Rourke – Slot Backs Dale Pehrson – Defensive line Mick Yokitis – Wide receivers Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible   Injured   Redshirt Roster Last update: September 5, 2015

Depth chart

The following players comprised the team's Depth chart prior to the 2014 Poinsettia Bowl:

Defense [1] FS Lorentez Barbour Justin Norton Randy Beggs RAID SAM MIKE SLB D.J. Palmore Daniel Gonzales Micah Thomas ⋅ A.K. Akpunku Ryan Harris Myles Davenport ⋅ Kevin McCoy Winn Howard Tyler Goble ⋅ ROV ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ CB Brendon Clements Elijah Merchant Cameron Bryant DE NT DE Will Anthony Benard Sarra Amos Mason Michael Raiford Patrick Forrestal Nnamdi Uzoma Sean Spencer Trenton Noller Jarvis Polu CB Quincy Adams Sean Williams Kyle Battle Offense [2] WR Jamir Tillman Brandon Colon Chad Lewellyn SB Demond Brown Dishan Romine Joshua Walker LT LG C RG RT Joey Gaston E.K. Binns Brandon Greene Ben Tamburello Robert Lindsey Andrew Wood Adam West Maurice Morris Evan Martin Blake Copeland John Ferguson Alex Brown Parker Wade Jeremiah Robbins Adam Amosa SB DeBrandon Sanders Calvin Cass Jr. Toneo Gulley WR Thomas Wilson Craig Scott Marc Meier QB Keenan Reynolds Tago Smith Will Worth FB Chris Swain Quinton Ezell Shawn White Special teams PK Austin Grebe PK Nick Sloan P Alex Barta P Gavin Jernigan KR Demond Brown PR DeBrandon Sanders LS Josh Antol H Will Worth

Game summaries

Colgate

1 2 3 4 Total Colgate 3 0 0 7 10 • Navy 10 21 7 10 48 Date: September 5, 2015 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland Game start: 12:04 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 15 minutes Game attendance: 28,015 Game weather: Temp: 77 F • Wind: NE 7 MPH • Weather: Partly Cloudy Referee: Ed Ardito TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): John Sadak and Randy Cross

See also: 2015 Colgate Raiders football team

East Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total East Carolina 7 7 0 7 21 • Navy 7 21 0 17 45 Date: September 19, 2015 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland Game start: 3:34 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 22 minutes Game attendance: 34,717 Game weather: Temp: 80 F • Wind: SSE 10-15 MPH • Weather: Sunny, Clear Skies Referee: Rick Lourniet TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): John Sadak and Randy Cross

See also: 2015 East Carolina Pirates football team

At UConn

1 2 3 4 Total • Navy 7 14 0 7 28 UConn 3 7 0 8 18 Date: September 26, 2015 Location: Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut Game start: 12:04 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 17 minutes Game attendance: 33,204 Game weather: Temp: 64 F • Wind: NW 3-6 MPH • Weather: Mostly Sunny Referee: Todd LaPenta TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Dave Ryan and Corey Chavous, Lauren Gardner (sideline)

See also: 2015 UConn Huskies football team

Air Force

Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

1 2 3 4 Total Air Force 0 0 3 8 11 • Navy 7 14 6 6 33 Date: October 3, 2015 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland Game start: 3:39 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 24 minutes Game attendance: 32,705 Game weather: Temp: 56 F • Wind: NE 12-30 MPH • Weather: Overcast, Light Rain Referee: C. Castlebury TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): John Sadak, Randy Cross and Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline)

See also: 2015 Air Force Falcons football team and Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

At Notre Dame

Rip Miller Trophy

1 2 3 4 Total Navy 7 14 3 0 24 • #15 Notre Dame 7 17 14 3 41 Date: October 10, 2015 Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana Game start: 3:40 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 14 minutes Game attendance: 80,795 Game weather: Temp: 63 F • Wind: W 8 MPH • Weather: Sunny Referee: Michael Roche TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappan (sideline)

See also: 2015 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Navy–Notre Dame football rivalry

Tulane

1 2 3 4 Total Tulane 0 7 0 7 14 • Navy 7 3 7 14 31 Date: October 24, 2015 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland Game start: 1:04 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 13 minutes Game attendance: 32,033 Game weather: Temp: 54 F • Wind: S 5 MPH • Weather: Overcast Referee: Todd LaPenta TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): John Sadak, Randy Cross and Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline)

See also: 2015 Tulane Green Wave football team

South Florida

1 2 3 4 Total South Florida 10 0 7 0 17 • Navy 3 10 3 13 29 Date: October 31, 2015 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland Game start: 12:04 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 6 minutes Game attendance: 26,766 Game weather: Temp: 53 F • Wind: SE 9 MPH • Weather: Sunny Referee: Rick Loumiet TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): John Sadak, Randy Cross and Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline)

See also: 2015 South Florida Bulls football team

At Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total • Navy 7 10 14 14 45 Memphis 10 0 10 0 20 Date: November 7, 2015 Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee Game start: 7:10 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 6 minutes Game attendance: 55,212 Game weather: Temp: 57 F • Wind: NE 5 MPH • Weather: Cloudy Referee: Adam Savoie TV announcers (ESPN2): Adam Amin, Kelly Stouffer and Olivia Harlan (sideline)

See also: 2015 Memphis Tigers football team

SMU

Gansz Trophy

1 2 3 4 Total SMU 0 7 7 0 14 • Navy 14 14 6 21 55 Date: November 14, 2015 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland Game start: 3:39 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 9 minutes Game attendance: 35,778 Game weather: Temp: 53 F • Wind: NW 12-20 MPH • Weather: Sunny Referee: Todd LaPenta TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): John Sadak, Randy Cross and Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline)

See also: 2015 SMU Mustangs football team and Gansz Trophy

On Senior Day, Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds reached the end zone for the 78th time to set the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns, surpassing University of Wisconsin's Montee Ball who amassed 77 touchdowns during the 2009–2012 seasons. Number 78 came quickly on a 4-yard run on Navy's opening drive. Reynolds then scored three more rushing touchdowns to boost his career total to 81, leading his #20 ranked team past SMU. The Midshipmen racked up 403 yards rushing, reaching a season high in total points. With this win, they also remain undefeated in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

At Tulsa

1 2 3 4 Total • Navy 7 16 14 7 44 Tulsa 0 7 7 7 21 Date: November 21, 2015 Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, Oklahoma Game start: 7:09 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 16 minutes Game attendance: 22,749 Game weather: Temp: 40 F • Wind: N 6 MPH • Weather: Clear skies Referee: Rick Loumiet TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Rich Waltz, Adam Archuleta and Rashan Ali (sideline)

See also: 2015 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

The Navy offense racked up a total of 512 yards on the ground, while quarterback Keenan Reynolds ran for 81 yards with a rushing touchdown in the Midshipmen win over Tulsa with a score of 44-21. Reynolds also threw for a touchdown to become Navy's all-time leading rusher with 4,195 yards, breaking fellow Midshipmen Napoleon McCallum's record of 4,179 yards.

At Houston

1 2 3 4 Total Navy 7 7 3 14 31 • Houston 14 10 14 14 52 Date: November 27, 2015 Location: TDECU Stadium, Houston Game start: 12:05 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 11 minutes Game attendance: 40,562 Game weather: Temp: 76 F • Wind: SE 8 MPH • Weather: Cloudy & Humid Referee: Michael Roche TV announcers (ABC): Mack Brown, Dave Flemming and Allison Williams (sideline)

See also: 2015 Houston Cougars football team

Despite the American Athletic Conference west division title loss, Navy Midshipmen quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender Keenan Reynolds tied the Navy record for passing touchdowns with 29. Reynolds also tied Wisconsin's Montee Ball for the most touchdowns with 83 in FBS history.

Vs. Army

116th Army–Navy Game/Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

1 2 3 4 Total • Navy 7 7 7 0 21 Army 10 7 0 0 17 Date: December 12, 2015 Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Game start: 3:10 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 26 minutes Game attendance: 69,722 Game weather: Temp: 68 F • Wind: WSW 6 MPH • Weather: Mostly cloudy Referee: Tracy Jones TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce (sideline)

See also: 2015 Army Black Knights football team and Army–Navy Game

Vs. Pittsburgh (Military Bowl)

2015 Military Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total Pittsburgh 7 0 14 7 28 • Navy 14 7 10 13 44 Date: December 28, 2015 Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland Game start: 2:35 pm EST Elapsed time: 3 hours 11 minutes Game attendance: 36,352 Game weather: Temp: 44 F • Wind: NE 10 MPH • Weather: Cloudy Referee: Joe Pester TV announcers (ESPN): Eamon McAnaney, Rocky Boiman and Quint Kessenich (sideline)

See also: 2015 Pittsburgh Panthers football team and 2015 Military Bowl

With this win, the Midshipmen ended the season 11-2, the first time in 135 years of school football history. Senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds scored four touchdowns: one touchdown pass and three rushing, becoming the NCAA career leader with 88 touchdowns and scoring a total of 530 points. Meanwhile, senior fullback Chris Swain rushed for a career 1,000 yards. The senior class picked up their 36th win, which tied the Midshipmen class of 1909.

References

1. "No. 21 Navy accepts bid to play in 2015 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman". December 2015.
2. @MilitaryBowl (December 28, 2015). "Attendance today: 36,352. That's the..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.