Navy SEAL in the making? N.J. native, WR Brendan Dudeck hopes so

Wide receiver Brendan Dudeck pushed his mind and his body to new limits this summer – and then he reported to training camp for Navy's football season.

In addition to being a key blocker for the nation's leading rushing attack, Dudeck, a senior from Hamilton Township, is in the middle of the screening process to earn the right to try out to become a Navy SEAL, the sea, air and land special operations unit that undergoes what is considered the toughest United States military training.

"The brotherhood that they possess and the family that they keep within that group is something that's completely drawn me to it," Dudeck told Gannett New Jersey. "It reminds me a lot of Navy football."

Navy, which will host Rutgers at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on campus in Annapolis, Maryland, is one of the most upperclassmen-laden teams in the nation, with 18 junior and senior starters. But only one member of the team is among the approximately 60 students at the academy – whittled down from about 200 at the start of training – in contention to be selected for the 28 positions in Basic Underwater Demolition School.

"It was a little over 24-hour event where they screened every individual," said Dudeck of the first round of eliminations, "and put you through some of the most physically, mentally and morally demanding things of your life."

The call to serve the country came late but strong to Dudeck, who wanted to play FBS-level football coming out of Hun School. He drew a scholarship offer to Tulane and interest from Boston College and Penn State but visited Army, which prompted a visit to Navy and an immediate sense of belonging.

"I didn't have any family in the military but I guess in a way I've always been training to do that by trying to be at the top of my game and excel in whatever I'm doing, whether it's football or academically," Dudeck said. "If you are not trying to be the best then you shouldn't be doing it. Once I got here, it seemed like those (SEALs) were the best guys. I'm in the early process. I'm competing for a spot to compete some more."

Competing is maybe the thing that Dudeck does best.

"Here is how it is with Brendan: I have to tell him to stop or else he is going to overwork himself," Navy graduate and wide receivers coach Mitch Yokitis said. "You have to throw him out of the weight room. There will be times where myself, the strength coach, the head coach will say get off the field. There are not too many kids out there in the world that you have to tell to stop working, and that's him to a tee."

Dudeck was rewarded for his efforts last week when he scored his first career touchdown on a six-yard pass – one of just 19 attempted by Navy through three games. Not that he needed the reward – or that he wants teammates to treat him differently because of his chosen path.

"The whole mentality of a SEAL is no matter what you are never better than anybody else," Dudeck said. "There can't be much recognition. You've got to do it because that's the right thing to do. All my friends support me in trying to do this. That's all that matters."

The 6-foot, 202-pound former special teams standout earned a starting position for the season-opener against then-No. 5 Ohio State after not starting any of the first 18 games played during his career.

"Brendan is almost exactly what we're looking for," Yokitis said. "A guy that is going to be a tone-setter from the get-go. He has everybody's ultimate respect on the team. And not just the players – the coaches look at him differently. Like, man, this guy puts out every day."

Dudeck survived the second phase of SEAL candidacy tryouts – a two-week screening process in Coronado, California over the summer – and is awaiting his service assignment in late November. If he is selected for BUD/S, he will begin a six-month training course consisting of three phases – eight weeks of physical conditioning, including hell week, eight weeks of diving, and nine weeks of land warfare.

"This really makes you truly appreciate what your country has to offer you and that you're lucky to be here," said Dudeck of being at Navy. "There are men and women every day that are sacrificing their lives to keep it that way and I want to be a part of that. Being one of those 28 would be an honor, but it doesn't mean anything. You've got to go after it. That's only scratching the surface."

No exaggeration. Only about 25 to 33 percent of a SEAL training class makes it through BUD/S on average, and yet those who know Dudeck best seem willing to bet against the odds.

"I don't know if he'll get a Navy SEAL (spot)," Yokitis said, "because they're really hard to come by – I think he's got a really good shot at it – but I'll feel really good sleeping at night if I know that he is a Navy SEAL."

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleav@gannett.com