The greatest and longest rivalry in college football will continue on Saturday in Philadelphia, when service academy football teams from Annapolis and West Point meet for the 118th time.
It’s cliché, but when Army and Navy battle on the gridiron, you can throw the records out. No other two teams in college football know each other as well as the Midshipmen and Black Knights. That proved to be true last year, when Army upset Navy, and snapped a 14-year winning streak in the game for the Mids.
For some Army and Navy players, they’ll look across the line Saturday and see familiar faces, guys they’ve known since high school or before.
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Coaches from West Point and Annapolis recruit across the country, but each team carries a handful of talented players from metro Atlanta. Combined between the two squads, a total of 21 players from Atlanta and surrounding counties have suited up for Army or Navy this year.
The Army-Navy game is the most important college football game played this weekend. On Saturday, as you watch the game, see if you recognize any of these players from metro Atlanta:
Navy Midshipmen
- Khaylan Williams: Junior, Cornerback – Lithonia, LithoniaWilliams has nine tackles this season.
- John Gillis: Junior, Safety – Lawrenceville, Archer
- Josh Brown: Senior, Slotback – Lilburn, Brookwood Brown has 17 carries this season for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
- Tyreek King-El: Freshman, Slotback – Atlanta, Pebblebrook
- Ahmir Lee: Freshman, Fullback – Atlanta, Mount Vernon Presbyterian
- Paul Carothers: Sophomore, Linebacker – Flowery Branch, Greater Atlanta Christian
- Ben Everett: Freshman, Guard – Johns Creek, Northview
- Ford Higgins: Sophomore, Tackle – Norcross, Greater Atlanta Christian
- Kendel Wright: Sophomore, Tackle – Buford, Mountain View
- Jacob Gregory: Freshman, Linebacker – Suwanee, Centennial
- Michael Raiford: Senior, Tackle – Stockbridge, Heritage
- Danny O'Rourke: Navy's special teams coordinator and slotback's coach, is a native of Snellville. He played football at West Georgia and has a master's degree from Temple.
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Army Black Knights
- Marcus Hyatt: Junior, Defensive Back – Lilburn, Woodward Academy
- Kell Walker: Sophomore, Running Back – Decatur, LakesideWalker has returned 24 kicks this year for 501 yards, and rushed 76 times for 553 yards and six touchdowns.
- Rhyan England: Senior, Defensive Back – Suwanee, Collins Hill England has tallied 29 tackles this year, defended three passes and recovered a fumble.
- Alex Rowe II: Freshman, Defensive Back – Stone Mountain, Greater Atlanta Christian
- J.D. Mote: Junior, Punter – Loganville (home schooled)
- Chris Skyers: Freshman, Defensive Back – Loganville, South Gwinnett
- Kenneth Brinson: Junior, Linebacker – Kennesaw, MaristBrinson has 34 tackles, four sacks, four pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble this season.
- Mackay Phillips: Freshman, Defensive Line – Loganville, South Gwinnett
- Cooper Simpson: Sophomore, Offensive Line – Buford, Buford
- Emmanuel Aka: Junior, Defensive Line – Norcross, Norcross
The AJC’s Steve Hummer has written several stories about this year’s Army-Navy game. Follow his coverage:
Army-Navy rightfully gets stage all to itself this weekend
Army-Navy players close ranks on anthem issue
Brookwood grad Josh Brown at Navy, wants to fly high
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