CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – On Thursday, Oct. 10, Clarksville native and Navy Midshipmen quarterback Malcolm Perry was selected as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week in the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Facebook contest. He also earned Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA) Athlete of the Week honors for his performance in a 34-25 win over the Air Force.
In its first 15 years, the Manning Award has recognized some of the top names in college football. 10 finalists for the honor will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 28, and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
After falling to the Falcons last season 35-7, Perry went for 144 yards through the air and 120 more on the ground with two touchdowns, including the game-winning score which came with less than a minute left to play in the fourth quarter. Perry discussed the significance of that particular victory for the Naval Academy.
“It definitely means a lot,” Perry said. “It means more to the team of course. That’s one of our main goals going into the season is to get the Commander-In-Chief’s (CIC) trophy back. That was just the first step. I’m just proud of how the guys fought the whole time and never gave up. We didn’t play our best game, but at the end of the day, we found a way to win and that’s all that matters.”
Perry received a bevy of awards and nominations for his performance against Air Force. The accolades are humbling for the Clarksville native, but he doesn’t let them get in the way of the primary task at hand.
“My family is much bigger on those things than I am,” Perry said. “I like to focus on stuff like that after the season. During the season, I keep my mind on the main things. It is an honor to be recognized for my play and the team’s play though, so it felt good.”
When Perry reflects back on his time in Clarksville and playing days at Kenwood, it’s the unbreakable bonds he made along the way that stick out to him the most.
“Just the relationships I have with all my boys and all my friends,” Perry said. “Even at other schools, I worked out and trained with guys who all had the same goal of playing at the next level. Maleek Hall was one of my biggest influences going through high school. Bryce Robinson from Clarksville Academy, Jamaria Patterson, Antwuan Branch just to name a few people I played and worked out with come to mind.”
In 2017, Perry set the Navy single-game sophomore rushing record with 282 yards, marking the third-highest total in Midshipmen history.
“To be honest, I don’t remember much,” Perry said about the record-setting performance. “I do remember that we won, which is the best part about it to me. It was pretty much a blur.”
Last year, Perry’s junior campaign didn’t go as he would’ve hoped or as many expected. By facing the adversity head on, Perry said it allowed him to bounce back this season in a big way.
“I think I learned a lot,” Perry said. “I became a ton more familiar with the offense. There wasn’t much that I didn’t see that year. Taking that into the off-season, working on what I wasn’t good at and working on what we needed to do better as a team, I think that helped me be successful as a senior and throughout the rest of the season.”
In the Navy’s last contest against Tulsa, Perry toted the rock 20 times for 220 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-17 blowout win. The 5-foot-9 quarterback seems primed and ready to lead the Midshipmen back to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) championship.
To cap off his senior season, there is one specific milestone that Perry hopes to surpass alongside his teammates and coaches.
“I definitely want to beat Army,” Perry said. “That’s definitely the main goal. It’s something we haven’t done here in a while.”
The 22-year-old is still unsure exactly what the future will hold after this season, but whatever direction that life takes him, Perry will continue to give his best effort on and off the gridiron.
“I’m not too sure,” Perry said in regards to playing professional football. “If the opportunity presents itself, I’m right on it. If not, then I plan on joining the Marine Corps and making a career out of that. That’s as far as I can see right now, but I’m also not too sure.”
Navy (4-1, 2-1) hosts South Florida (3-3, 1-1) Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2:30 p.m.