Navy's defense has been reshaping itself over the last two seasons, moving to an aggressive style that uses more man coverage than in the past. Perhaps it's not a coincidence, then, that for the second year in a row, the first player to commit to the Navy football recruiting class plays one of the defense's more demanding positions.

Last year, Massachusetts inside linebacker Bryce Shaw was the first to give his pledge. This year, that distinction belongs to Tyler King, a defensive standout at Pennsylvania juggernaut Pine-Richland High School. King committed to the Midshipmen in April, although that wasn't initially his plan. A trip to Annapolis moved up his timetable.