Navy football was wiped out of offensive tackles following the 2024 season.
Starters Connor McMahon and Javan Bouton, along with third stringer Michael Whitehouse were seniors set to graduate. Meanwhile, sophomore Caden Hooper, who was the backup at both spots, left the program.
Offensive line coach Jay Guillermo had to completely rebuild the depth chart during spring camp. When all was said and done, a pair of sophomores with zero varsity game experience had earned the starting spots.
Sean Crowley and Connor Heater have continued to set the pace during August training camp and are set to start the season opener against Virginia Military Institute. Crowley is atop the depth chart at left tackle, while Heater is No. 1 on the right side.
“I feel comfortable putting those two guys out there against VMI. I think they have both improved tremendously and are doing a good job,” Guillermo said. “I feel good about their knowledge of the offense. They have shown they can retain what we’re teaching and execute it in real time.”
Offensive coordinator Drew Cronic echoed those sentiments, saying Crowley and Heater don’t “look or act like rookies.” Cronic added that the two sophomores “know what they are doing and look comfortable.”
Despite those votes of confidence, offensive tackle remains a question mark going into the 2025 campaign. Guillermo agrees that Crowley and Heater need to prove themselves in the heat of battle against American Conference competition.
“It has been a question ever since we came out for the first practice of the spring. Those guys aren’t going to get real experience until they play in games,” Guillermo said. “I coach them hard in practice so they can get as much of a game-like feel as possible — so the first time they get into a game it’s not the first time they’ve had pressure put on them and been asked to make quick decisions.”
Crowley was an All-MIAA B Conference and first team Private Schools All-State selection as a senior at Boys’ Latin. The Glen Arm resident was a three-sport athlete for the Lakers, also excelling in baseball and wrestling.
Crowley held almost 30 combined Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision scholarship offers, choosing Navy over service academy rivals Army and Air Force among others. He was a direct-entry recruit and served on the scout team as a plebe.
Guillermo was pleased to see Crowley “come out of his shell” and show a more nasty, aggressive mindset during spring practice. He drove defenders off the ball the way one would expect of someone 6-foot-4 and 293 pounds.
“Sean is a big, strong dude who plays with great physicality. He wants to finish blocks,” Guillermo said. “Sean figured out how to use his size as an advantage, which was encouraging.”
Heater was a two-time Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division VI All-State selection at Brookfield High. He was also a three-year varsity letterman in baseball and attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2023-24 academic year.
Heater is the nephew of Eric Wolford, who was a four-year starter at offensive guard for Kansas State and college coach since 1995. He currently oversees the offensive line at Kentucky after spending the previous two seasons at Alabama.
“Connor has a broad base of knowledge that most sophomores don’t. He comes from a strong football background and just sees the game like an older guy,” Guillermo said. “Connor is eager to learn and wants to know the reasons behind what we’re doing so he can see the whole picture and go play fast.”
Heater acknowledged that he and Crowley are making a huge jump by going from the scout team to starters, but believes they will be prepared to do so by the time the opener rolls around. Working daily against a strong defense that is aggressive has helped.
“We’ve been through a whole spring playing against our defense, which we believe is one of the best in the conference. Now we’re seeing all their different looks during fall camp,” Heater said. “It’s a confusing defense. They’re moving around and stunting. It’s a great test and gets us ready for anything we might see during the season.”
Guillermo and fellow offensive line coach Tommy Laurendine worked overtime during spring camp teaching the two sophomores the offense, while also drilling the fundamentals and techniques expected of tackles in Cronic’s millennial Wing-T. Crowley and Heater were fortunate that McMahon and Bouton were around during spring camp to help with the instruction.
“It’s a complicated offense. We have a huge playbook and it’s our responsibility to learn it,” Crowley said. “Running play after play, practice after practice, you just get used to it. The more live reps you get the more comfortable you are.”
Crowley and Heater have made their share of mistakes, sometimes missing blocking assignments or going the wrong way. Guillermo has been impressed that they don’t tend to make the same mistakes twice.
Navy has started sophomores along the offensive line many times in the past with McMahon and current left guard Ben Purvis prime examples. Purvis is now the unquestioned leader of the unit and likes what he has seen from Crowley and Heater.
“I do believe those guys can get the job done. They’ve worked extremely hard and improved immensely since January,” Purvis said. “There is pressure, but they’ve played football their entire lives. They just have to go out and relax, knowing that we trust them to execute their assignments.’
While Navy fans may be concerned about the two sophomore offensive tackles, the players in question believe themselves to the doubters.
“I don’t think we’re question marks. I think Sean and I have earned the right to compete at a high level. I think we’ll do just fine,” Heater said.
“Me and Connor have worked our tails off and feel ready to do the job,” Crowley added.
Guillermo said junior Zarian Simms is the backup at right tackle, while sophomore Mack Taylor is working with the twos on the left side. Sophomore Jake Polito is cross-training at center, guard and tackle in hopes of filling a utility role.
Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.
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