Navy football’s Eli Heidenreich has demonstrated his versatility and football IQ in a system that emphasizes misdirection and speed.
Heidenreich has emerged as a standout for the Midshipmen this season. The 6-foot, 201-pound slot back’s dynamic playmaking ability has been on full display, catching 20 passes for 449 yards and five touchdowns and running 20 times for 172 yards.
Heidenreich’s combination of size, speed and efficiency has solidified his role as a key weapon in first-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic’s Wing-T offense, something he could see coming before the season began.
“The position I’m at, the slot I play, they have us doing a lot and I was pretty excited to see [that]. We started putting on a lot more passing plays and just spreading the ball a lot more,” Heindenreich said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 8. “That’s kind of carried over the season, I’d say. You see us throwing the ball a lot more than you would in years prior, so I’m loving the way the offense has played out so far.”
The Wing-T offense has allowed different players to shine this season. The new system is designed to give Navy flexibility in both the running and passing game. Heidenreich can be used as a traditional runner, as a pass-catching option and as a blocker. It’s been somewhat of a learning curve, but Heidenreich’s adaptability allows him to perform.
“At the time [Cronic was hired], I had some mixed emotions,” Heidenreich said. “I was a little bit nervous. I had some excitement, too, but ultimately kind of going and looking at his offense and seeing some of the numbers that his past receivers and slots were putting up, I was ultimately mainly excited.”
Navy dominated Air Force at Falcon Stadium on Oct. 5, with Heidenreich playing a pivotal role in a 34-7 victory that pushed the Mids to 5-0 on the season. Heidenreich ran for 100 yards on just six carries and caught five passes for 101 yards. His big moment came with a spectacular sideline catch, turning a potential incompletion into a highlight-worthy play. This catch set up a crucial Navy touchdown, underscoring his impact on both the ground and through the air in this rivalry clash.
“On Saturday, I could kind of sense the sideline coming and I knew I really had to stretch to get that ball,” Heidenreich said. “I started dragging my toe a few yards before the sideline. Initially I didn’t think I got it. I couldn’t really tell if I got my toe in, but then they showed it on the scoreboard at the stadium and you could see the line of pellets coming to the sideline. I was like, ‘I caught that ball.'”
Heidenreich’s teammate Blake Horvath has exceeded all expectations. Horvath has thrown for 771 yards and seven touchdowns and has run for 565 yards for 10 touchdowns as well. The junior quarterback has showcased his improvement every time he takes the field.
“Obviously, he’s been unbelievable this season,” Heidenreich said. “I can’t say that I knew he was going to have some sort of like crazy breakout season like he’s had, but I always knew that he was a very talented player. He’s always been one of the faster guys on our team. In the offseason if we’re throwing together, he’s doing the same thing — throwing the ball where it needs to be thrown. I’ve always seen the potential. I’m really glad to see him settle into not only the football player he is, but he’s just an unbelievable leader at the same time. He has this presence on our offense and he’s kind of just taken over this season. It’s been awesome to see.”
There’s a new energy around Navy football this season that hasn’t been felt in a while. After struggling in recent years, the team is getting back to the high standards expected in Annapolis, and it’s exciting for both the players and the community. The excitement is noticeable to players, who will get back to work at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium against Charlotte on Oct. 19.
“Honestly, I would say since I’ve been here it’s the first time I think we’ve had a lot of excitement surrounding our team,” Heidenreich said. “The last few years obviously have not been great. It’s been below the standard of Navy football. I think we’re kind of back to where we were years prior and I think that’s really exciting not only for us as a team but you know for the Brigade of Midshipmen and the town of Annapolis. I think some people are coming with us and are really getting excited around our football team and that’s cool to see.”
For more from Heidenreich, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox