As a defensive end, he helped lead the 1965 Tennessee team to an 8–1–2 record, a #7 ranking in the final AP Poll, and a victory over Tulsa in the 1965 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Naumoff made a "jolting tackle" of Larry Csonka late in the game to preserve Tennessee's 18-12 victory over Syracuse.
[6] At the end of the 1966 season, Naumoff was selected as a consensus first-team linebacker on the 1966 College Football All-America Team.
In July 1979, at age 33, Naumoff announced his retirement as a player, citing a foot injury that had required two surgeries and posed the risk of permanent damage.
[9] At the time of his retirement, Naumoff had appeared in 168 games for the Lions, more than any other players in franchise history other than Wayne Walker and Dick LeBeau.