Navy assistant Ricky Brown was no doubt beaming with pride when he convened the outside linebackers meeting to start this week, a result of their performance in last Saturday’s season-opening win over Bucknell.
Jaxson Campbell, a first-year starter at striker, led the Midshipmen with 10 tackles, including 1½ for loss. He also had half a sack and a pass breakup.
“Jaxson played the way I hoped and expected he would,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said after the game. “That’s a critical position that needs to be productive. Typically, when that guy is productive we’re doing pretty good on defense.”
Luke Pirris, in his second season as the starting raider, recorded eight tackles with 2½ for losses. Pirris notched 1 ½ sacks and forced a fumble that he recovered himself.
“I love Luke Pirris and the way he plays football. He had a couple really nice pass rush moves in the game and was very disruptive,” Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker said. “Luke just keeps getting better, keeps getting bigger, stronger and faster. You can tell the game is starting to slow down for him quite a bit.”
Campbell and Pirris got most of the defensive repetitions while the Bucknell game was in doubt, but Brown feels very comfortable with replacing them at any time with backups Kenneth McShan (striker) and Dylan Spelios (raider).
Brown said Spelios gets his vote for most improved player on defense, while McShan has adapted well after being moved from inside linebacker.
“We’ve had really, really healthy competition at both positions,” Brown said. “Dylan Spelios has shown that he’s ready to be a key member of this dark side defense. Kenny McShan has come really far in such a short time and is playing at a high level as well.”
Pirris was pressed into the starting lineup five games into last season after Jordan Sanders suffered an injury and played so well he kept the job even once Sanders was healthy.
Pirris wound up leading Navy with 10 tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with 4 ½ sacks. He ranked fifth with 62 total tackles and also had three pass breakups, three forced fumbles.
“You don’t really experience what playing in a game is like until you’re thrown into one,” Pirris said. “I grew a lot last year as far as seeing the pace of the game with how fast things move and how talented the players we go against are.”
Brown praised Pirris for working hard during the offseason with strength and conditioning coordinator Jim Kiritsy to “totally transform his body.” Pirris put on 15 pounds of primarily muscle and believes the increased size and strength has allowed the junior to “take my game to another level.”
Both Brown and Volker pushed Pirris to improve as a pass rusher and the production in the opener showed that he did. “I feel like I’ve taken a big step forward in that department and I’m looking forward to showcasing that this season,” he said.
While Pirris was impressive in the opener, he was nowhere near flawless and Volker pinpointed several fundamental mistakes while reviewing the game tape.
“Luke’s got to be more consistent with some of the techniques we’re looking for,” Volker said.
Volker says this is the deepest Navy has been at the raider position during his six years with the program and that is evidenced by the fact Sanders, who has played in 29 career games with four starts, is third on the depth chart. However, Volker is not surprised Spelios has made a move because he was the best defensive player at the Naval Academy Prep School in 2021.
“Dylan Spelios has really come on and is developing into the type of player we thought he would be when we recruited him,” Volker said. “Jordan has started games and is a tremendous talent as well. He brings some pass rush ability and is sturdy in the run game.”
Campbell was given every opportunity to earn the starting striker spot in August 2023 and was unable to do so. He too often played outside the parameters of the defense and got caught out of position. Senior Xavier McDonald wound up starting all 12 games and the coaching staff switched classmate Eavan Gibbons from safety to be the backup. Campbell was forced to prove himself on special teams.
“Jaxson probably got humbled a bit last year for the first time in his football career,” Volker said. “It was probably a little surprising for him, as it was for the coaches.”
One year later, Campbell is a completely different player with a better understanding of the defense and his role within it.
“Jaxson has matured a lot and made a ton of progress. The thing he’s improved the most is his discipline and not trying to make every play,” Volker said. “The level of detail with him has gotten so much better.”
Campbell agrees with that assessment and took to heart the Navy defensive mantra of having a high fixation to details.
“I know my job and where I’m supposed to be, so the coaches are now able to trust me. I’m not just relying on my athleticism to just run into plays and kind of be lucky,” Campbell said. “I’m so excited that I’m finally getting released and have the opportunity to go out and showcase what I can do for my football team. I’m excited to cause a lot of havoc.”
Brown said Campbell attacked spring camp like a consummate professional and saw the light bulb come on in terms of executing what the coaching staff demands from the striker. Newberry said Campbell’s “motor runs hot” at all times and noted he’s learned how to properly channel that intensity.
“Jaxson loves football and is hungry to improve. I love his work ethic and the way he attacks every day with amazing energy and enthusiasm,” Volker said. “We need that position to be a game wrecker and Jaxson has shown he can do that. He’s a very versatile athlete who can win off the edge or drop into coverage.”
McShan is another talented player who has been the victim of the injury bug. He earned a spot on special teams as a plebe and suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game against Memphis. He worked hard to rehabilitate and was back in the mix at inside linebacker during preseason camp a year ago when the right knee blew out and required another surgery.
“It speaks volumes about Kenny’s mental toughness and character to battle back and be primed to make an impact for this football team,” Volker said. “Kenny brings a level of physicality to the striker position that we haven’t had in the past. He is a very sudden, violent hitter.”
Navy Outside Linebackers
Position coach: Ricky Brown, second year
Current starters: Jaxson Campbell (Junior, 5-10, 202) at striker; Luke Pirris (Junior, 6-4, 217) at raider
Top backups: Kenneth McShan (Junior, 6-1, 207) at striker; Dylan Spelios (Junior, 6-4, 225) at raider
Starters lost: Striker Xavier McDonald (graduated)
Other lettermen lost: Striker Eavan Gibbons (graduated)
