Navy senior quarterback Kriss Proctor is playing in his first service academy game today against Air Force but has already gained a reputation with coach Troy Calhoun.
Proctor played backup to Ricky Dobbs in Navy’s triple option his first three seasons and answered, “Sparingly,” when asked how much he played before taking over this year. But nonetheless, the Air Force coach has put Proctor in an elite class.
“There’s no doubt that he (Proctor) is the quickest option quarterback we have faced in the last 25 years,” Calhoun said this week, bringing into account his association with the Air Force program as a player, assistant coach, interested observer and head coach the last five seasons. “If we can create second-and-12 or longer for him, it will make a difference.”
Proctor is making the most of his one season at the controls of the Navy offense.
The Midshipmen are 2-1 and intent on reclaiming the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy they lost to Air Force last year after it was in Annapolis, Md., for seven consecutive years.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Proctor is doing his part to make his season as a starter memorable. He leads the team in rushing with 267 yards and four touchdowns and has added 207 yards and three TDs passing.
“There’s definitely a different motivation for us this year,” Proctor said when discussing the trophy. “Sometimes you don’t know what you have until you’ve lost it. I think the trophy has great respect around the country and is a national symbol for our nation at a time of crisis.”
Proctor got to Navy in an unusual way. He was in high school in Big Bear City, Calif., and hadn’t heard from anybody at Navy. But a former player from Big Bear City took some film clips of Proctor’s high school games to the Navy coaching staff. It wasn’t long before his telephone rang and he made an official visit to Navy, and the deal was done.
While he makes football magic with his feet, Proctor makes music with his hands. He’s the organizer and drummer of a rock band made up of fellow Midshipmen.
“We’ve been told that we’re pretty good — by each other,” Proctor said.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
