Candeto was a college quarterback at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, under head coach Paul Johnson.

[1] As the football team's quarterback, he thrived in the option offense as he was named Class 5A Player of the Year during his senior season.

[2] After high school, Candeto was recruited by Paul Johnson at Georgia Southern, but chose to attend the United States Naval Academy.

Although military service was initially not attractive for Candeto, the concept eventually appealed to him, while his uncle was also a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in the Gulf War.

[3] As Navy struggled to a winless 0–10 season, including a 70–7 defeat by Georgia Tech, he eventually spent the year as the backup quarterback behind Brian Madden.