[Baltimore Sun] Jaxson Campbell taking over Navy football’s striker position; Mids rebuilding depth chart with converted safeties

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Striker was a position of concern entering Navy football spring camp. The Midshipmen lost their top two players at the hybrid outside linebacker spot in starter Xavier McDonald and backup Eavan Gibbons.

Head coach Brian Newberry and defensive coordinator P.J. Volker feel a lot better about the striker depth chart after seeing rising senior Jaxson Campbell step up and several other converted safeties make significant progress.

Campbell moved from safety to striker during spring camp his freshman season and immediately impressed the coaching staff. Going into is junior season in 2023, he was listed even on the depth chart with McDonald going into the season opener against Notre Dame.

However, Campbell’s stock fell quickly because he made mistakes and often got caught out of position. He appeared in all 12 games as a member of special teams, but saw very limited action on defense.

Because Campbell was not ready for prime time, Navy shifted Gibbons from safety to striker and he split time at the position with McDonald.

Campbell has worked hard to gain a better grasp of the defense and the striker’s role in it. He played smarter and more instinctively during spring drills and emerged as the clear-cut starter.

“Jaxson Campbell had an excellent spring and really came into his own. He’s a really talented player who was learning the system last fall. He was undisciplined and had a lot of eye violations,” Newberry said. “He’s become a much more disciplined player. I love that he plays extremely hard and with a chip on his shoulder.”

Campbell, who began his collegiate career as a wide receiver, learned a lot by listening to McDonald and Gibbons in the meeting room and watching them operate on the field.

“I just feel really thankful to have X take me under his wing, as well as Gibby. I made huge jumps as far as learning the defense and that’s because of them. They taught me what to do and where to be,” Campbell said.

Campbell said he has learned how to play “within the confines” of the defense and has focused on doing his job. In practice last season, he tried to run around and make plays like he was still at Independence High in Tennessee.

“I already feel more comfortable as far as knowing the defense, playing faster and understanding where my help is coming from,” Campbell said. “It all starts with your eyes. My eyes have gotten a lot better and I’m in the right spots at the right time.”

Campbell said his biggest problem last season was not knowing where his help was coming from, which led to positioning mistakes. He didn’t recognize if help was coming from the inside or outside and would lose containment or leverage.

“A good defender is always going to know where his help is coming from and I don’t think I knew that as a sophomore,” he said. “Being a young player, I would get greedy at times and try to make every play. At this level, you have to read your keys, do your job and the plays will come to you.”

After spending time as a wide receiver and safety, Campbel said he has “found a home” at striker, which is an important position in Navy’s 3-4 alignment. At various times during a game the striker must set the edge in the running game, drop into coverage or rush the quarterback.

“Striker is an interesting position because you’re going to be put in position to make a lot of plays,” Campbell said. “I think I can dominate this position. I trust Coach Volker to put me in positions to make plays and feel confident I’m going to do just that.”

To restock the depth chart at striker, Navy’s coaching staff moved Riley Bergeson and JaSean McLean from safety. Both were described as long and athletic by outside linebackers coach Ricky Brown.

McLean found a role on special teams for the final eight games of last season and gained experience. Brown said The Avalon School product and Laurel resident must improve as a run defender.

“JaSean is still getting used to being in the box. It will just be a matter of reps for him to get more comfortable,” Brown said. “You can see he looks comfortable blitzing off the edge or dropping into coverage.”

Bergeson did not see any varsity action as a plebe, serving solely on the scout team and playing in junior varsity games.

Brown said Bergeson is “trending in the right direction” and likes that he brings the same level of effort, attitude and toughness to the field for every practice. “Being a consistent player is one of the best compliments you can give and Riley has certainly been that,” he said.

McDonald and Gibbons combined to record 91 tackles (9 ½ for loss), four sacks and four quarterback hurries last season. Campbell, McLean and Bergeson have just four career tackles among them, so Navy football fans are going to look at the striker position as a question mark until shown otherwise.

“We definitely have a lot to prove as a group. Personally, I feel like I have a lot to prove just because last season isn’t what I expected for myself,” Campbell said. “I’m not going to be that weak link in the chain. I’m not going to let my position group hold [the defense] back.”