32 OCT. 17, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED
GAME PREVIEW: NAVY
BY TYLER JAMES
L
inebacker MarcAnthony Parker
didn't sign up to play college
football at the Naval Academy to
put a ceiling on his athletic ca-
reer. If he continues to play at the high
level he established early in his junior
season this fall, Parker might be inch-
ing closer to turning that dream into a
reality.
The number of active NFL players
from Navy doubled this year with a pair
of rookies: running back Eli Heidenreich
and defensive tackle Landon Robinson.
They joined 12th-year long snapper Joe
Cardona and second-year safety Ra-
yuan Lane III as former Midshipmen
earning NFL paychecks in 2026.
"If they can make it, Navy football is
on the map," Parker said in September.
"The NFL is looking at Navy football.
That's my goal, honestly. That's my
number one goal is to make it to the NFL.
"Seeing them make it to the NFL, I'm
so happy for them. For me, it's just I got
to keep improving. Just keep improving
game by game, day by day. I just take a
day at a time."
The 6-foot, 218-pound Parker, who
led the Midshipmen in tackles (97)
last season, entered the fall focused
on becoming an even more disruptive
defender.
"Just doing that and just continue to
be a four-dimensional player," Parker
MR. CONSISTENCY
MarcAnthony Parker provides stability
and playmaking for Navy defense
Parker, who led the Midshipmen in tack-
les (97) last year, compiled 33 stops, 6
tackles for loss and 4 sacks in the first
four games of the 2026 season.
PHOTO COURTESY NAVY ATHLETICS
