November 2022 — MHCE Newsletter

WWW.MHCE.US Monthly Newsletter | 23
Perry alternated between quarterback and
slotback as a sophomore and junior, rushing
for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns over
those two seasons. It was all a prelude to one
of the greatest individual seasons in Navy
football history.
Head coach Ken Niumatalolo and offensive
coordinator Ivin Jasper tailored the offense
to suit Perry’s skill set and he literally ran
wild as a senior. The 5-foot-9 speedster set
the Football Bowl Subdivision single-season
record for rushing yards by a quarterback
with 2,017 and scored 21 touchdowns as
Navy went 9-2, captured the Commander-in-
Chief’s Trophy and upset Kansas State in the
Liberty Bowl.
Perry was simply spectacular and the NFL
scouts took notice. He was selected in the
seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by
the Miami Dolphins as a wide receiver. It
was the same scenario faced by another
record-setting Navy quarterback and fellow
Tennessee native — Keenan Reynolds.
Reynolds was a sixth round pick of the
Baltimore Ravens in 2016 and made the
transition to slot receiver well enough to
spend three seasons in the NFL. He played
in one regular season game with the Seattle
Seahawks.
Reynolds holds the Navy career record
with 4,559 rushing yards — 200 more than
Perry, who sits in second place. Reynolds
also holds the FBS career record for rushing
touchdowns with 88.
Perry played in nine games with the Dolphins
as a rookie, recording nine receptions for 92
yards and a touchdown. Miami waived Perry
prior to the start of the 2021 season and he
was claimed by New England.
Perry made the Patriots’ opening day roster,
but was inactive due to a foot injury. He
landed on injured reserve and was eventually
released. New Orleans signed Perry to the
practice squad for the remainder of the
season, but he chose to rejoin the Patriots on
a futures contract.
Perry participated in New England’s rookiefree
agent mini camp in June and that would
be the last time he suited up in an NFL
uniform. While continuing to work out daily
at the team facility in Foxborough, Perry
found himself thinking more and more about
the mandatory five-year commitment that
he was allowed to put on hold to pursue pro
football.
“This whole offseason was mentally different
than any other offseason I’ve had in my whole
football career,” Perry told New England
Patriots radio play-by-play announcer Bob
Socci. “Just the passion to get out on the field
and become better at what I do, it wasn’t
necessarily there. It wasn’t hard to go to
work, but it was hard to dial in.
Desire to serve.
Perry grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee, and
starred at Kenwood High, earning All-State
honors as a junior and senior. Both parents,
Malcolm and Bonny Perry both served in the
United States Army and were stationed at
nearby Fort Campbell.
As an athlete, young Malcolm dreamed of
playing in the NFL. As a career choice, he
longed to one day wear the uniform and
follow in the footsteps of his service member
parents.
After significant reflection and much soulsearching,
Perry realized his heart and
head were all-in for serving the military
commitment without further delay. Once the
decision was made, the hardest part for Perry
was informing Belichick, who had believed
in his abilities and provided two separate
opportunities to make the Patriots roster.
“It was an easy decision, but it was a hard
process. Going to talk to Coach Belichick
about it and letting him know what I wanted
to do was tough,” Perry said. “Ultimately,
I’m happy with my decision and looking
forward to what the future holds.”
Perry was worried Belichick might be
disappointed that the slot receiver was giving
up pro football and might try to persuade
him to at least go through training camp. It
was the complete opposite as the future Hall
of Famer was proud of Perry and offered
encouragement.
“Obviously, a big life decision for
Malcolm and one that you know I and, as
an organization, we have total respect and
appreciation for,” Belichick told the media
last week. “That’s real-life football. There’s
real bullets out there, you know? We coach
and play a great game, but that game — that’s
for all the marbles. Anybody that’s in that
arena we have the ultimate respect for.”
Belichick has a long history of helping
former Navy players make the giant leap
from serving to playing in the NFL. It began
with standout safety Chet Moeller, who
was discharged from the Navy after being
diagnosed with diabetes. Moeller signed with
the New York Giants in 1980 while Belichick
was an assistant, but wound up getting cut.
Wide receiver and returner Phil McConkey
also used his connection with Belichick to
sign with the Giants after fulfilling his fiveyear
commitment as a Navy helicopter pilot.
McConkey wound up playing six seasons in
the NFL and he played a pivotal role in New
York’s 39-20 defeat of the Denver Broncos in
Super Bowl XXI.
Belichick later signed former fullbacks
Kyle Eckel and Eric Kettani to free agent
contracts with the Patriots. By far the most
successful Naval Academy graduate to play
for Belichick is Joe Cardona, who is in his
eighth season as the starting long snapper for
the Patriots.
Belichick has always given former
Midshipmen the benefit of the doubt, a
byproduct of knowing how special academy
graduates are.
Belichick grew up in Annapolis and was
totally immersed in Navy football through
his father. Steve Belichick, who died in
November 2005 at the age of 86, is the
longest-serving assistant in Navy football
history — working as an advance scout and
special teams coordinator from 1956 to 1989
under seven different head coaches.
Having built a relationship with Belichick
is one of many aspects Perry will appreciate
about his pro football experience. The
25-year-old is honored to be on the short
list of Naval Academy graduates taken in
the NFL Draft and will always remember
catching his first career touchdown.
“Coming from the Naval Academy, it’s very
rare to make it in the NFL. Just getting a shot
in the first place is amazing and I’m truly
thankful,” Perry said. “I enjoyed every single
second of my NFL experience. Just being
out on the field competing each day and
getting to know so many great teammates ...
it’s definitely something I’ll remember and
cherish the rest of my life.”
Perry is currently back home in Clarksville
waiting for paperwork to be processed and
command decisions to be made enabling him
to be recommissioned as an officer. When
that happens, he will report to Marine Corps
Basic Quantico for The Basic School.