Approaching the U.S. Navy base near Naples, the football field stands out from the surrounding streets. Behind security gates and far from the rough roads of Italy, this base, home to more than 500 families, is where Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty first discovered football.
Now a standout junior running back for 15th-ranked Boise State and a unanimous AP Midseason All-America selection, Jeanty’s athletic potential first caught the eye of Naples High School coach Jim Davis. In seventh grade, Jeanty caught Davis’ eye, not on the football field, since tackle football was not available to middle schoolers, but during lunch on the basketball court.
“He came up for a layup with so much height that I thought he was going to dunk it,” recalls Davis, who also teaches physical education at Naples High. “When he was in seventh grade, he was maybe 5’3 or 5’5, but his power at that age was impressive.”
Davis waited two years to add Jeanty to the Naples football team as a high school freshman. Jeanty initially played quarterback, but two games into the season, Davis realized he was better suited to running back.
“I knew he had to be a running back. I could get anyone to pass him the ball,” Davis said. In just four games after the trade, Jeanty rushed for more than 1,200 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
Although Davis didn’t envision Jeanty becoming a Heisman contender, he recognized his potential and encouraged him to return to the United States for more exposure. Jeanty did just that, enrolling at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, for his final three years. Now leading the nation with 1,376 yards in seven games for Boise State, he’s the top running back prospect in the NFL draft.
A unique high school football experience in Europe
Jeanty’s one year of football in Italy was unlike the typical American high school experience. Naples’ closest competition was a nine-hour bus ride away in Vicenza, in northern Italy, with other games in Germany, Belgium and Spain. One trip to Germany involved an 18-hour bus ride. Current Naples quarterback Camden Kasparek fondly remembers those trips, describing them as great opportunities for team bonding.
Life on the Navy Support Site
The Navy base offers a glimpse of American life abroad, complete with a movie theater, bowling alley and a supermarket stocked with American products. “We have Popeyes, Wendy’s and Subway. The kids can get American clothes, Skippy peanut butter and Halloween candy,” Davis said. “It’s very American.”
Playing soccer inside a dormant volcano
Because the Navy site’s field lacks lighting, some games are held at Carney Park, a military recreational facility inside a dormant volcano in nearby Pozzuoli, symbolizing the deep ties between the US military and Naples dating back to WWII.
Reflecting on Jeanty’s play style, Davis recalls, “He wouldn’t go down on the first hit. You were always on the edge of your seat, waiting for his next touchdown. We were lucky to have him on our side.”
As Jeanty’s journey continues, it’s a testament to how far determination and talent can take an athlete—even from the football fields of an Italian Navy base to the national spotlight.