United States Naval Academy’s Coleman Cauley
6’ 1” 227 lbs., Macon, GA
Athletic Bio & Honors
– 2025 Associated Press All-Bowl Team
– Has played in 34 consecutive games dating back to his Sophomore year
– Has earned 3 Varsity letters
2025: Saw action in every game, earning the start in each of the last 7 contests … stood 3rd on the team in tackles with 79, while recording 2.5 tackles for loss … also forced a team-high 3 fumbles and was 1 of just 2 players with multiple interceptions (2) … member of Navy’s defense that held each of its final 3 opponents to under 300 yards of total offense (288 yds by Memphis, 202 yds by Army, 239 yds by Cincinnati) … named Navy’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the Liberty Bowl and was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team after leading the Mids with 10 tackles, a QB hurry and an interception … his 5-yard interception returned for a touchdown marked the 1st time in school history Navy has returned an interception for a touchdown in a bowl game … it was the 1st interception returned for a touchdown in the Liberty Bowl since 2004 when Andy Aballos of #10 Boise State returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown against #7 Louisville … Navy’s defense held Army to just 47 total yards and a field goal in the second half of the Mids’ win … led the Mids with 10 tackles against the Black Knights … part of a defensive unit that held Memphis to just 58 total yards and scoreless over the final 30 minutes in the come-from-behind win … pitched in 7 tackles against the Tigers … led the Mids with a career-high 11 tackles in the win over #25 South Florida … paced Navy at Notre Dame with 8 tackles … along with Giuseppe Sessi, led Navy with 10 tackles, including a half a tackle for loss at North Texas … made his 1st-collegiate start in the Mids’ win over Florida Atlantic where he recorded 9 tackles, a career-high 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception … he was named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against FAU … chipped in a pair of tackles, including half a tackle for loss at Temple … pitched in a career-high 4 tackles in the win over Air Force … contributed a pair of tackles at Tulsa … part of a defense that held UAB scoreless in the second half of the game and forced 3 tournaments over the final two quarters … contributed 2 tackles, including half a tackle for loss against the Blazers, while also forcing a fumble … part of a defensive unit that held VMI to 212 yards of total offense, including just 15 yards on the ground … the 15 yards rushing were the 7th fewest since 1995 and the fewest since 2022 when Navy gave up 13 yards rushing against Delaware … turned in a pair of tackles, including a half a tackle for loss, and forced a fumble in the opener against VMI.
2024: Saw action in every game, primarily as a member of special teams … turned in his first-collegiate tackle in the Mids’ win over Bucknell in the opener.
2023: Appeared in each of the Mids’ last 8 contests primarily as a member of special teams … made his collegiate debut in Navy’s victory over North Texas.
High School / Personal: A 2022 graduate of First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Ga., Cauley attended the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2022-23 academic year … two-sport athlete who earned letters in baseball (4) and football (4) … two-time (Jr, Sr) All-State (Ga.) and All-Region football selection who was named the Georgia High School Association Class A Private School Defensive Player of the Year and the GHSA Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year … also named the OrthoGeorgia / Bill Turner Lineman of the Year … closed out his career with 499 tackles, including 210 his senior year … Max Preps ranked him the #1 tackler in the state of Georgia his senior season and the ninth-ranked tackler in the country … his football team won region titles his junior and senior years, while as a senior he led the team to the GHSA Elite 8 for the first time in program history … also a two-time All-State and All-Region baseball player who was named the Region 1A Player of the Year his senior year … led baseball team to the region crown his senior year … son of Scot and Becky Cauley … majoring in political science.
Brian Newberry, Head Football Coach: “Coleman Cauley is the epitome of what we want a Navy football player to be. He is a tremendous competitor and leader who brings toughness, discipline and a selfless attitude to everything he does. What stands out most about Coleman is the way he leads by example and the respect he has earned from his teammates. He understands that being a Midshipman and playing football at the Naval Academy is about something bigger than himself. He represents the values of honor, integrity and service every day, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of consideration for the Defender of the Nation Award.”
The recipient of the Defender of the Nation Award will be announced on October 22nd from one of the Nation’s (15) military academies and ROTC programs including Air Force Academy, Appalachian State University, Auburn University, The Citadel, Coast Guard Academy, Naval Academy, Norwich University, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Syracuse University, Texas A&M University, Villanova, Virginia Tech, VMI, and West Point and is based on exceptional leadership qualities on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The recipient must also exhibit a high standard of integrity by leading through example.
In conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet will be held on Monday, December 7th, at the Charlotte Convention Center. In addition to honoring the Defender of the Nation Award winner, the banquet will celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Legends Award. University of Oklahoma’s Tony Casillas will be honored as the 2026 Legends Award recipient, and Mack Brown, Former Head Coach of UNC and Texas, is slated as the keynote speaker.
ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (80) companies. The Club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club’s scholarship efforts. |
