Navy quarterback Zach Abey spent hours during the summer doing homework assigned by offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper.
Abey is hoping the extra work will enable him to take full control of the Midshipmen’s triple-option offense this fall.
“Coach Jasper, with all of the tests, forced me to look back into film to pick out all of the minor details,” Abey said. “It gave me a chance to look inside Coach Jasper’s mind. I think that’s a big thing with this offense, and that’s knowing what coach Jasper wants and just knowing what he’s thinking when he is giving me a play. Having the homework and all of the tests helped.”
Abey, a junior from Archbishop Spalding, made his first career start last season against Army, replacing injured starter Will Worth in one of college football’s greatest rivalries. Abey had some early nerves that led to a shaky first half marred by a pair of interceptions, but he settled down during the final two quarters and ran for a pair of touchdowns to keep the Midshipmen within striking distance before falling, 21-17.
It was an admirable showing for a young player thrown into the national spotlight. Almost two weeks later in the Armed Forces Bowl against Louisiana Tech, Abey ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 159 yards and another score before leaving with a rib injury during a 48-45 loss.
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