No player to suit up in a Navy football uniform will ever wear the number 19 again. The number, most recently worn by Keenan Reynolds, was officially retired by the Naval Academy Sunday during the program’s annual football banquet.
Reynolds joins an elite group in Navy football history. Only three other players in program history have had their uniform number retired. They are Roger Staubach (No. 12), Joe Bellino (No. 27) and Napoleon McCallum (No. 30).
“This is quite an honor and something that I never dreamed would happen,” said Reynolds. “I give all the credit to my teammates. This is a group honor and without my teammates over the past four years none of this would have been possible. I would like to thank Vice Admiral Carter, Mr. Gladchuk and Coach Niumatalolo for this unbelievable honor that I will never forget.”
Reynolds set the NCAA career touchdown record (88 touchdowns) and set the record for most rushing touchdowns in Division 1 last season, Navy’s first in a conference home. He also ended his Navy career with a remarkable 7-1 record against service academies, Army and Air Force. In that record is the first 4-0 record by a starting quarterback in Army-Navy Game history.
In addition to having his number retired, Reynolds also received the E.E. “Rip” Miller Award, a season MVP award voted on by his Navy teammates. Reynolds also won the Roger Staubach Award for his outstanding leadership and attitude and the Napoleon McCallum Award for having the most all-purpose yards in his career in his graduating class. Perhaps someday Navy will hand out a Keenan Reynolds Award.
They totally should.
