While Proctor is making strides in passing accuracy and efficiency, the search continues for a game-breaking wide receiver to replace Greg Jones, whose 20.8-yard average per catch ranks third all-time at Navy. Jones had 662 yards and five touchdowns last season, including a career-long 85-yard scoring reception in a 35-19 victory over Arkansas State during his final home game.
The offense also is working in a replacement at left tackle, where Jeff Battipaglia started for three straight seasons. Initially, senior David Sumrall appeared to be the leading contender to take over, but the competition among Sumrall, sophomore Graham Vickers and junior Andrew Barker appears too close to call. Niumatalolo may not make the final decision until game day.
Regardless of who’s around him, Proctor is among the undisputed front men in the offense simply because of his position and track record in executing the triple option. Over the past two seasons, he has amassed 527 yards and nine touchdowns on 85 carries. His 6.2-yard average per rush is more than two yards ahead of Dobbs, who finished as the fifth-leading rusher in program history.
“Just because [Proctor] was behind Ricky is not a knock against him because Ricky was that good,” senior guard John Dowd said. “Hopefully Kriss’s development will make Kriss be even better than Ricky.”
There’s that comparison again, and Navy hasn’t even played its first game. Niumatalolo and his staff, though, aren’t necessarily insulating Proctor from that distraction. They know it will be there perhaps indefinitely, or at least until Proctor’s body of work stands on its own.
“This is his team now,” Jasper said. “Ricky had a great career here, and I’m pretty sure there’s some hangover from it. Hopefully we can erase the memory. Ricky’s gone. He’s history. He’s not here anymore, so we have to move on. It’s [Proctor’s] show now. He needs to step up, and again, I’m confident in him. I’m happy for him that his time has come, and hopefully he can live up to expectation that we have for him.”
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