Navy doesn't produce NFL talent the way the blue-chip programs do, but when a Midshipman makes the highlight reel, it tends to be memorable. Rayuan Lane III made sure of that in Week 9.
The Jacksonville Jaguars safety — and Naval Academy alumnus — delivered one of the defensive plays of the week on Sunday, November 1, turning a Colts possession into a 92-yard pick-six as Jacksonville routed Indianapolis 42-7. The score wasn't particularly close from early on, but Lane's interception return put any remaining drama firmly to rest and gave Jaguars fans a moment to remember.
Lane finished the game with one interception on the stat sheet, though the box score undersells the moment. A 92-yard return isn't just a stat — it's a momentum-killer, a highlight, and a statement. For a safety coming out of a service academy navigating the NFL's talent gauntlet, it's also a reminder of why he's on the roster.
Bhayshul Tuten added 159 total yards and two touchdowns to round out Jacksonville's dominant afternoon, but Lane's pick-six was the signature play of the game.
Lane also appeared in Jacksonville's Week 10 matchup, a 33-10 victory over Baltimore on Thursday, November 5, though detailed stats from that game were not available at time of publication.
Other Navy Alumni Around the League
The rest of Navy's NFL contingent had a quieter week by comparison. Joe Cardona continues his long-snapping tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, an NFL career remarkable for its length and reliability from a service academy graduate. Chelen Garnes is on the Detroit Lions' roster at free safety, Alohi Gilman holds a safety spot with the Kansas City Chiefs, and Landon Robinson is working along the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive line at DT.
No standout stat lines from that group surfaced during the November 1–7 window, but the broader picture is worth appreciating: five Navy alumni are active on NFL rosters simultaneously, spanning three defensive positions across five franchises. That's not an accident — it's a reflection of the discipline and football IQ that Annapolis tends to cultivate, even if the path to the pros from a service academy is narrower than most.
This week belonged to Lane, though. A 92-yard pick-six in a 35-point win has a way of doing that.
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