Nelson Smith opened last season as the starting fullback for Navy football and performed capably, rushing for 349 yards through six games. He ran for 96 yards in the opener versus Holy Cross and churned out a workmanlike 82 yards in a huge victory over Air Force.
Navy’s coaching staff discovered Jamale Carothers during practice midway through the season and, like Smith, burst onto the scene by making several key plays against Tulsa. One week later, Carothers broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown run versus South Florida.
Smith started the next game against Tulane, but it was Carothers who stole the show — exploding for 158 yards rushing on the strength of three long touchdown runs — and the starting job.