Diego Fagot on Bednarik, Nagurski watchlists: Navy - Around the Yard, 7/22/20

Diego Fagot is piling up preseason accolades.

The Navy linebacker is on the watchlist for the 2020 Chuck Bednarik award, and the watchlist for the Bronko Nagurski trophy. The Nagurski is given to the national defensive player of the year by the Football Writers Association of America, and the Bednarik is given out by the Maxwell Club. Ohio State defensive end Chase Young won both honors in 2019.

Fagot started every game for Navy last season as a sophomore, helping the unit achieve top 20 status in rush defense, third down defense and total defense. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native had 100 total tackles last season, 52 of which were solo, which led the Mids. He also had 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and a pick-six.

The junior Midshipman was also named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-American Third Team. And at CBS Sports, Tom Fornelli thinks that Fagot is one of the 10 best returning players in all of the AAC.

Indeed, if we do have a college football season in 2020, he’ll be someone we’ll be watching.

Around the Yard — Navy

• Men’s basketball player Dave Kasanganay is transferring to East Carolina, according to a report from Bill Wagner at the Capital Gazette. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, he averaged 3.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per-game last season. His best game came in a Jan. 29 home win over Holy Cross, where he had nine points, four steals and two rebounds.
• Here’s a cool story: Madeline Swegle (Manhertz) was a four-year member of the Navy women’s track & field team. Her father, Carey, was a four-year member of the Navy men’s basketball team and played on three NCAA Tournament teams including the David Robinson-led Elite Eight team in 1986. And now, Swegle is the Navy’s first known Black female tactical jet pilot. Read more, from the Navy Times.
• Second-year head men’s lacrosse coach Joe Amplo has brought in the nation’s top recruiting class, according to Inside Lacrosse.
• Athlon Sports says that Navy football has the 25^th toughest schedule in the country. The magazine is also projecting the Mids to finish seventh in the AAC.
• Women’s lacrosse player Kelly Larkin is nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Were it not for COVID-19, Larkin likely would’ve become the first player to record four straight 100-point seasons in Division I women’s lacrosse.
• Is Navy a darkhorse to win the AAC this year? Maybe. The folks at Rivals discuss.
• This story from Will Hammock at the Gwinnett Daily Post on Paul Carothers, Ford Higgins and Kendel Wright is worth your time.
• Like the SEC, ACC and Big 12, it seems like the AAC is willing to play the waiting game before finalizing a football schedule. Still, the conference has accepted that it might have to march on with fewer games, according to the Orlando Sentinel. And according to ESPN, the AAC will require COVID testing 72 hours before each football game.
• VMI has made some changes to its women’s soccer schedule. The Keydets will play at Navy on Sept. 13.
• The Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference canceled its fall 2020 season. It has proposed a January through March season for men in the event the NCAA eliminates the fall championship.