[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]
Super Seniors
One last season to wear the Bolt
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The calendar has turned to March, and even though Air Force is in the middle of their spring camp, it’s not just the players looking for consistency. The coaching staff has seen quite a bit of turnover this year, but they do have their head coach still intact. That was not a given a short while ago.
As for the folks who are wearing the pads, they are still in Genesis stage as the 2020 Falcons use spring camp to begin sorting out their roster. Air Force has the least returning production in the conference, turning over a lot key contributors from last seasons 11-win squad.
Changing the nameplates is nothing new for the Falcons. Unlike every other non-Military school, they do not have the advantage of conventional redshirting for the purposes of development for an extra season. Even more to their detriment, players at Air Force have always been allowed to transfer without restriction or missing a season, anytime up to their junior year.
So the Falcons are not in uncharted waters here. But it would be foolish to not acknowledge there are a lot of vacancies in key areas of the roster. Last year saw players that weren’t necessarily expected to, not only step in, but in some positions really excel.
So who will be this seasons Ben Waters or Duval Jackson? Lets take a look at the roster, class by class. We are going to look at only members of the Falcons senior class in this edition.
All Conference Potential Players
https://twitter.com/CoachLobotzke/status/1233604265450430464
Even though Air Force is replacing a lot of talent and experience from last years team, the cupboards are by no means bare. They will enter this season with arguably the most dangerous backfield in the conference, and it all starts at quarterback.
Jordan Love may get drafted in the first round of the NFL draft next month, but he wasn’t even the best quarterback in the Mountain Division in 2019- that would be Donald Hammond. The Falcons signal caller returns as one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the country in 2020.
Hammond will be joined in the backfield by one of the most electric runners in the conference, in fellow senior Kade Remsberg. An honorable mention for the All-Conference team, the 1,000 yard rusher makes the most of every carry. Look for Remsberg to earn more of the always divided carries this year, and cash in as the first back with consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, since Jacobi Owens.
Unlike Hammond and Remsberg, Nolan Laufenberg and Parker Ferguson were recognized as part of the Mountain West’s all conference team in 2019. And rightfully so. The duo was part of one of the best offensive lines in all of college football.
On the defensive side of the ball, Demonte Meeks is the only returner that was all conference last season. I wouldn’t expect that to change this year. Meeks consistent play, and knack for being around the ball was no fluke.
Don’t be surprised if Tre Bugg III earns a spot alongside Meeks in 2020, he drew consideration last year, but didn’t quite make the cut. And I fully expect Jordan Jackson to be a menace on the defensive line, and find his way back to the All-Conference team.
Air Force was well represented on the All- Conference team in 2019, and I would expect much of the same this year.