Navy outside linebackers coach Ricky Brown enjoys a real luxury with his corps.
Brown is fortunate to have a returning starter and one experienced backup at both outside linebacker spots. Factor in several up and coming players and the Midshipmen are very well stocked at the position.
“There is some really nice depth there. I think they’re all working hard and trying to push the positions as far forward as possible,” Brown said.
Navy’s 3-4 defensive alignment features a pair of hybrid outside linebacker positions known as raider and striker. Rising senior Luke Pirris will be a third-year starter at raider, which is asked to set the edge and stop the run. Rising junior Kenneth McShan is the returning starter at striker, which is asked to rush the quarterback or drop into coverage.
Last season, rising senior Dylan Spelios received considerable game repetitions at raider, while classmate Jaxson Campbell started eight of 14 games at striker. Brown believes he has the equivalent of four starters at the two outside linebacker spots.
“Trust is a hard thing to get and an easy thing to lose. Each one of those four guys has done a nice job of establishing trust,” said Brown, now in his third season as Navy’s outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.
Pirris was forced into the starting role at raider five games into his sophomore season due to an injury sustained by Jordan Sanders. He probably wasn’t ready physically for such an expanded role, but nonetheless proved a real revelation by recording 62 tackles and ranking among the team leaders with 10 tackles for loss and 4 ½ sacks.
Pirris started all 13 games last season and totaled 68 tackles, but his behind the line of scrimmage numbers decreased (6 tackles for loss, 2 ½ sacks).
“I feel like I’m a very aggressive, athletic type of player,” Pirris said. “It’s a unique position I get to play and I try to bring my own style that combines aggressiveness and finesse.”
Pirris shared game repetitions with Spelios, who was bigger (6-foot-4 and 225 pounds) and stronger last season and a bit more sturdier against the run. Meanwhile, Pirris proved more effective rushing the passer or dropping into coverage.
“We’re a perfect one-two punch. Dylan’s more of the defensive end type of raider while I’m more of the outside linebacker type of raider,” Pirris said. “It’s good having two opposite sides of the spectrum.”
Pirris only weighed around 190 pounds when he became the starter as a sophomore and missed valuable development during the 2024 offseason due to a foot injury, sitting out spring camp as a result.
This past offseason, the full focus has been on getting bigger and stronger under the watchful eye of Navy strength and conditioning coordinator Jim Kiritsy. A detailed nutrition plan has also been part of the process of adding muscle mass and becoming more powerful. Pirris now weighs 225 pounds and has increased his weightlifting numbers across the board.
“What you saw from Luke this past offseason, from January through March, was hitting the weight room hard,” Brown said. “The biggest thing with Luke was getting bigger and stronger to give himself a better base as he goes against some of these tackles in this league.”
Brown described Spelios as a thicker, more powerful player who is a “a big-time block destruction and really violent type of guy.” The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Georgia native missed most of spring camp with a nagging back injury.
Both Brown and defensive coordinator P.J. Volker raved about the potential of Campbell going into last season. The converted safety performed well early and wound up posting solid statistics with 58 tackles (34 solo, 5 for loss) and 2 ½ sacks.
Brown said Campbell excels in pass coverage and is probably better at operating out in space than McShan. However, the reality is that Campbell was overtaken atop the depth chart by McShan, who started the final five games.
“Kenny played his tail off toward the end of the season. I thought Jaxson was also playing well,” Brown said. “I think there is some fantastic, healthy competition between those two. I kind of look at those guys as 1A and 1B right now.”
McShan, who was beset by injuries as a freshman and sophomore, was shifted from inside linebacker to striker. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Alabama native gives Navy a more physical presence at the position.
“Kenny is kind of a throwback type of player who is fantastic when it comes to block destruction and setting the edge,” Brown said. “He’s definitely got a lot of the opponent’s colors on his helmet.”
McShan switched positions during the 2024 spring camp and said having a full year at striker has made him much more comfortable with the responsibilities. He is finally fully healthy and it shows out on the field.
“I think the biggest thing was my eyes. As a striker, you have a lot more to look at and you have to know your keys, know your visuals and read them every play,” McShan said. “I’ve been able to make strides and grow my game, which has increased my confidence.”
Rising senior Adam Klenk, rising junior Gavin Woods and rising sophomore Daveon Jones are also in the mix at raider. Rising juniors Jasean McLean and Connor Lessane along with rising sophomore Justin Coles are battling for the final spot on the depth chart at striker.
Brown tells those less experienced players to watch how Pirris, Spelios, McShan and Campbell go about their business on a daily basis.
“You’ve got four dudes sitting in the front of the room that have played a lot of meaningful snaps. You need to be a wet sponge as far as asking them questions about what they see, why did they attack this particular play a certain way,” Brown said.
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