[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]

---

Basic Training

---

Bolstering the Depth Chart and Talent Pipeline

---

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

We started this series focusing on the 2020 Air Force roster by evaluating the Seniors to be. As documented, the senior class is not void of talent, and the team can expect to have a lot of critical contributors out of that year-four group of cadets. If you missed this piece, you can read it here.  For a review of this years junior class, look no further. Last week we took a closer look at the sophomores, you can find that here.

We are going to conclude this class by class series review with the 2020 incoming freshman. Air Force recruiting classes will never be mistaken for an Alabama or Ohio State haul. At least, not by conventional prospect rating standards they won’t.

However, it is in the results the Falcon football program has had on and off the field that should more properly demonstrate the quality of their recruits. Air Force doesn’t have the luxury of redshirting, and well before the craze that is the present day transfer portal existed, their players could transfer out of the program up to their junior year without having to sit out a season.

I bring all of this to light to emphasize what a great job these young men do developing and competing at the highest level of division I football. And probably more remarkable is the how Ken Hatfield, Fisher DeBerry and now Troy Calhoun’s coaching staffs have been able to take the highest character student athletes, and use that attribute as a cornerstone for success over more conventional or measurable athletic prowess.

As I mentioned before, by probably the most recognizable prospect rating platform 247sports.com, Air Force isn’t going to garner much national attention. That doesn’t mean they do not have any touted prospects, especially by Mountain West Conference standards presently. But at times it is difficult to assess the success of a given class because team brings on so many prospects due to not having pure athletic scholarships, like most schools.

Sometimes this means some of the more distinguished recruits of a given class can get lost in the wash, because a prospect rating is not a right to passage for playing time in Colorado Springs. This also sets up the opportunity for some pretty great narratives, like under-recruited players who end up being distinguished all conference performer. Look no further than the volume of Air Force players on the Mountain West’s 2019 All-Conference team.

With such a large influx of players, we will not be able to give every one of their proper dues. But I am going to take a look at some of the incoming freshman from varying perspectives, and see if we are possibly identifying the future Falcon stars, today.

What’s understood doesn’t need to be explained. #LetsFly ⚡️✈️ pic.twitter.com/FrMWpNsexB

— Blake Burris (@bdb_33) July 29, 2019

Not so Typical Recruiting Class

If you want to view the 2020 commits on the 247sports site, you can do so here.

Air Force has had a lot more successful seasons over the last three coaching tenures than let downs. This has been despite regularly finishing outside of the top 100 in the country, and near the bottom of the conference as well in class rankings.

All of that to say, the 2020 recruiting class saw Air Force gain commitments from six of the fifteen most highly rated prospects since 247sports has tracked prospect ratings. The prize of the class being Blake Burris on the defensive line, from Dallas, Texas. Burris is a 3-star prospect, and the second most highly rated recruit since such statistics were recorded.

Even beyond Burris, the Falcon defensive line got a serious injection of talent another four 3-star prospects in Ryan Ives, Jayden Thiergood, Matthew Aribisala and Sam Petersen. This is very encouraging considering how well the defensive line has performed in recent years.

Most recently, Jordan Jackson played regularly as a freshman three years ago on the D-Line. He has since proven himself an All-Conference standout. Perhaps the next freshman to gain regular playing time on the defensive line is among this class?

The QB Room

The Falcons are undoubtedly looking to see who will succeed D.J. Hammond after this year. Commonly, the succession plan entails an experienced upperclassmen. The last time a freshman played regularly at quarterback for Air Force was Nate Romine in the disastrous 2013 season. The team had injuries that went four deep to get to the point which a freshman was thrust into battle.

There is not wealth of experience behind Hammond on the 2020 roster. Its anyone’s guess who will secure the backup or even third string spot on the depth chart. The reason this is important of note, the Falcons played three different quarterbacks in as seasons.

So while there may be a ton of promise in the 2020 crop of freshman QB’s, I don’t think coach Thiessen or Calhoun want to find out in situations of any consequence. Unless of course the next Tim Jefferson is on the roster.

The feature name of this years prospects would be Jameson Wang out of California. As a 3-star prospect, he is the most highly rated recruit of the bunch. A couple other names to consider would be Cannon Turner, Asher Link and Mason Bugg.

And even though Weston Steelhammer already lays claim to the title of greatest football name, Cannon is quite apropos for a quarterback. And speaking of great names, if Mason Bugg sounds familiar, his brother Milton (Tre) is a returning starting defensive back, and a darn good one! Stay tuned for more on Mason.

Elsewhere on Offense

The Falcons sported one of the best offensive lines in the country last year, and shouldn’t expect much dropoff this year. They have seen talent depart to graduation as they do every year, but the 2020 recruiting class provides some youth for the talent pipeline.

At the front of that talent stream would have to be Wesley Ndago and Adam Karas, both 3-star recruits. Also rounding out the room are 2-star prospects Jack Parker, Matthew Heitmann, Holden Brosnan and Costen Cooley.

While playing as a freshman at Air Force is certainly an anomaly, and not the norm, first year players have seen the field at wide-receiver each of the last two seasons. Could Seth Meador or Cameron Everts, both by way of Texas be this years Dane Kinamon or Brandon Lewis? Or maybe there is even a Jalen Robinette (Rowell) lurking in the group?

🐺… pic.twitter.com/if0vHYCgoH

— Nolan Carey || (@ncarey32) March 28, 2020

Air Force is always looking to bolster their stable of running backs as well. With the offense they run, there are a lot of opportunities for carries to be had. Thankfully they have two studs in Kade Remsberg and Tim Jackson returning, but who will succeed them in the coming years?

Owen Burke is the most highly graded prospect of the 2020 class out of Allendale, Michigan. Just call it a hunch, but I think Nolan Carey Jr is going to be a name that Falcon fans become familiar with in the coming years. A powerful runner with high-end speed, he will fit very nicely in their triple-option attack.

Defense, Defense, Defense (and special teams)

I mentioned previously that there should be a lot of excitement around the defensive line commits coming into the Academy. However, there should be a lot of enthusiasm in the secondary as well, especially with the exodus of safeties from last season.

Coming in at safety with the 2020 class are Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner, Halatoa Tai, Jalen Hodo and Kaiser Cambra-Cho, who are all graded out as 3-star prospects. Not to be outdone are incoming linebackers Alec Mock and Osaro Aihie who also earned 3-star ratings.

I would be remiss if we didn’t put a spotlight on Fabrizio Pinton, who is the 11th ranked kicking prospect in the country. Air Force returns virtually no experience in the kicking game this year, so all bets are off. Its unlikely to see a freshman start at a Military School, this also holds true at kicker. The rigors that freshman face at the Academy make being a full-time starter a very tall ask.

Spotlight: Mason Bugg

I wanted to make sure to focus in on a prospect who may be a bit off the radar to most, but to me embodies the prototype for an Air Force player. It would be easy to zero in on one of this years 3-Star prospects, but I wanted to go a different direction.

Lets talk a little bit about Mason Bugg. His brother Tre has already charted a nice path as a Falcon, and maybe Mason can too. He may not be a 5-star recruit, but what he is;

State Champion. State Championship Game MVP. #1 in QBR for the State of Arizona. Single Season Yardage and Touchdown Record Holder at his high school. Team Captain.

Mason Bugg is a winner.

This is a player that stands out to me for multiple reasons, one of which being his playing style reminds me of Isaiah Sanders. Many forget that Sanders was an accomplished engineer of the spread offense before coming to Air Force. Sanders also had a lot of success when he had the opportunity to play. Just ask Colorado State about that. They are still trying to track him down from that 2017 shellacking.

Another similarity I see is that Bugg enters a crowded quarterback room, and a majority of the teammates he’ll be competing with were more highly recruited, or rated as prospects.

But I also saw a similar scenario when then Elite 11 quarterback Ryan Brand committed to the Air Force Academy in 2015. Arguably the most decorated arm to sign at the Academy, by 2017 he was across the country in College Park, at the University of Maryland as a transfer.

At Air Force, Brand found himself buried down the depth chart behind younger players like Isaiah Sanders, fellow junior Arion Worthman, and then senior Nate Romine. This is not an indictment on Ryan Brand. He saw action as a starting quarterback in the Big Ten Conference. It is however, a referendum on how things are different at Air Force.

So when a Kale Pearson, Isaiah Sanders, D.J. Hammond or maybe next a Mason Bugg take the reins under center over more decorated prospects, don’t be surprised.

In Closing

I don’t know if there is ever going to be a time where freshman recruits are regularly brought in to compete as starters right away. “Service Before Self…” is part of the moniker at the Air Force Academy. These young men are great athletes, but they are fulfilling an even greater puprpose in their commitment to country first.

And the reality is, many of the young men who begin at the Academy simply will not be there next year. That is life at a Military Institution. But it doesn’t mean we can’t observe, and wait for that unicorn to show up. The next Tim Jefferson or Jalen Robinette (Rowell).

Best of luck to this incoming class of freshman, thank you for your commitment to serve,  and May God Bless and Protect You.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997067]

[protected-iframe id=”a91365fa8364d5918c7afbfd61fa3801-97672683-123448869″ info=”cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/horizontal-slim-10_7.css” ]

[protected-iframe id=”a4765d451d4d2134c802175f6a037fca-97672683-123448869″ info=”//percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=671539″ width=”100%” height=”550px” frameborder=”0″]

[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]

---

Early Bloomers

---

Freshman no more- its time to Compete!

---

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

We started this series focusing on the 2020 Air Force roster by evaluating the Seniors to be. As documented, the senior class is not void of talent, and the team can expect to have a lot of critical contributors out of that year-four group of cadets. If you missed this piece, you can read it here.  For a review of this years junior class, look no further.

In today’s edition we are going to focus in on this seasons sophomores. By the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl Game versus Wazzu, five sophomores on last years team populated the two-deep on depth chart, and all of which played meaningful snaps during the season. There were an additional two that cracked the three-deep. Most notable though, would be the two who became starters through the season, and Timothy Jackson in particular was a major contributor.

I hearken back to last years sophomores because that is not the norm historically at Air Force. That’s not to say that a second year player never starts or contributes, but if you look at the composition of an Air Force roster as it turns over each year, a vast majority of the experience sits with juniors and senior. But we are starting to see a shift. And in recent cases where a sophomore becomes a regular starter for the Falcons, they become a name to remember.

Jeremy Fejedelem, Jordan Jackson, Donald Hammond, Garrett Kaupilla, Tre Bugg III, Kade Remsberg, Nolan Laufenberg, Parker Ferguson, Christopher Herrera, Lakota Wills and the aforementioned Duval (Timothy) Jackson were all starters for last years 11-win team. They share something else in common; they were starters in their various sophomore seasons as well. All starters, and all significant contributors.

The 2020 crop of sophomores may yield some starters of its own. And the depth chart will certainly get fortified with some support from this cast also.

@kpatts3 get freaky🥶 https://t.co/vhDk1FWJ0I

— Tyler Brown2️⃣2️⃣ (@TylerBrownw8) March 11, 2020

Potential Starters

The exodus of talented starters from last years team, leaving starting positions up for grabs has been well documented. Of all the vacancies on depth chart, I don’t think there are any more likely to be filled with a second year cadet than at tight end. This is a position group that graduated its top three from last seasons depth chart.

Enter Kyle Patterson.

With prototypical size as a true freshman, Patterson was the prize of the 2019 recruiting class. Grading out as a 3-star recruit by 247sports, he held offers from a lot of major programs, including that school in Tuscaloosa. Though he didn’t start as a freshman, he did get a jersey for a few games, which is saying something. The starting job isn’t going to be handed to him, but this is not a position group with returning known commodities.

Speaking how impressive it was to see a freshman earn a jersey, how about wide receiver Dane Kinamon? His rise up the depth chart reminded me of Brandon Lewis in his freshman season. Kinamon saw the field at various times throughout the 2019 campaign, and could very well factor in to the division of labor at the wide receiver position in 2020.

Another sophomore to watch for is Trey Taylor. Like Patterson, Taylor came in as a 3-star prospect, and similarly he finds himself competing at a position that appears wide open. Air Force enjoyed nice depth at the safety spot last year, but three of the regulars at the last line of defense have graduated.

Kinamon certainly has the steepest hill to climb of these three to become a starter, as the receiver position has more returning production and proven talent. The fact that he earned playing as a true freshman cannot be overlooked though.

Not only are Taylor and Patterson vying for time and what appear to be positions up for grabs, but by all accounts they have acquitted themselves very well in this years spring camp.

Spring football, a luxury most programs didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy this year thanks to the current pandemic that is COVID-19.

From the Recruiting Class of 2019

I’ve mentioned it many times now, a prospect rating is not a right to passage at the Air Force Academy. The bottom line is the talent that they are gaining commitments from is continually getting better. This is not a school that historically gathered 3-star prospects with any kind of regularity. We are starting to see a shift.

The 2019 recruiting class landed commitments from ten prospects that earned a 3-star grade. The most highly rated prospect of the class was Nate Polk, a safety out of Scottsdale. In fact, Polk earned the highest prospect rating of any player to commit to the academy according to 247sports. With the safety position seemingly open for competition, Polk could be competing with Trey Taylor and others for a spot.

One of the more highly rated prospects of the class, Joe Quillin has left the Academy and transferred to Oregon State. Nathan Peterson (OL), Kaymen St. Junious (DB), Malik Scurlock (DL), Collin Sutton (QB), Desmond (DL) and Demetris Dorceus (DL) round out the 3-star prospects from this class.

If you want to take a look at the 2019 class, you can do so at 247sports right here. .

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997067]

[protected-iframe id=”a91365fa8364d5918c7afbfd61fa3801-97672683-123448869″ info=”cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/horizontal-slim-10_7.css” ]

[protected-iframe id=”a4765d451d4d2134c802175f6a037fca-97672683-123448869″ info=”//percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=671539″ width=”100%” height=”550px” frameborder=”0″]

[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]

---

Now Upperclassmen

---

Sophomore to Junior Class is Always a Critical Transition at Air Force

---

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

We started this series focusing on the 2020 Air Force roster by evaluating the Seniors to be. As documented, the senior class is not void of talent, and the team can expect to have a lot of critical contributors out of that year-four group of cadets. If you missed this piece, you can read it here. 

In today’s edition we are going to focus in on this seasons juniors. The jump from sophomore to junior is typically where you will see the largest migration of reserve players starting to populate the depth chart. With so many holes left on the 2020 depth chart, look for a lot of the recruits from the 2018 class to start showing up. There are also some familiar faces that saw the field last year, looking to take on bigger roles this fall.

Flying into spring scrimmage week 🚀 pic.twitter.com/p6koOYprg2

— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) March 2, 2020

Returning on the Two-Deep

Of the incoming junior class, there is one name that stands above all others as an impact player, and that has to be Timothy (Duval) Jackson at Fullback. Jackson brings back over 700 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games. These are impressive numbers considering he missed games with injury, and when healthy he shared carries regularly with three other ball carriers. Look for big things from Duval in 2020.

Even though Brandon Lewis and David Cormier would be the odds on favorites to have an immediate impact, not just at receiver, but as juniors, I’m reluctant to dive too far down that rabbit hole until ‘official’ word on their standing as players is made by the Academy. That communication may not come until much closer to fall camp, but it doesn’t change the fact that Brandon Lewis has been seen cutting through the secondary.

Of the remaining junior-to-be contributors, Christopher Herrera on the defensive line brings the most game experience, starting the final five games of last season, including the bowl game. Nakoa Pauole is another name that could surface on the defensive line, bringing experience from five games last season, one of which he got the start.

Corvan Taylor is another defender to keep an eye out for on the depth chart. While he didn’t start any games last year, he saw plenty of action as a depth player, and with a completely depleted secondary, especially at safety, he very well could earn a starting spot.

Taking the Next Step

Vince Sanford, Isaac Cochran and Jake Speiwak all showed up on the stat sheet at one point or another last season, getting credit for field action. They were also listed on the three-deep in the final depth chart for the Falcon’s Bowl Game against Washington State.

Offensively, players like Omar Fattah, Deandre Hughes and Jacob Miller could all surface on the depth chart with strong showings at Spring and Fall camps. Fattah in particular should get a lot of opportunities to contribute, considering the depth required at the fullback position in their triple-option offense, and the need to fortify that stable.

Speaking of needed depth, the QB room is empty of backup experience, so enter Warren Bryan and Chance Stevenson. Bryan did take a couple of snaps in cleanup duty last year, and Stevenson is moving back under center after a soiree at running back in 2019.

It should be noted that the only player besides Donald Hammond with a completed pass on the roster is Stevenson, and he did so as a running back. This is an important stat considering the well documented history of depth at this position being tested. Last year saw three different quarterbacks again, play significant minutes of consequence.

On the defensive side of the ball, there are not only places of depth to be had, but starting positions up for grab. Linebacker is an area in particular that could see some new faces, and players like T.D. Blackmon, Brandon Gooding and Noah Bush could all be in the mix for a spot on the inside or outside.

There is probably no position more wide open than on special teams. Air Force doesn’t return a kicker or a punter, and the only player on the roster who has recorded an extra-point is Tevye Schuettpelz-Rohl.

No shortcuts ⚒ pic.twitter.com/DgwirwjgEt

— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) March 6, 2020

From the Recruiting Class of 2018

There are a lot of names that we covered in this junior class, and there will inevitably be others that rise to the challenge. And while recruiting prospect ratings aren’t a right to passage for success or even playing time at Air Force, it doesn’t mean they are to be ignored.

The most highly rated player from the 2018 recruiting class according to 247sports was David Eure, earning a 3-star prospect rating. With the well documented vacancies throughout the Falcon secondary, it stands to reason that Mr. Eure could secure a spot. Even though he didn’t record a start early in his Air Force career, he has seen the field.

On the offensive side of the ball, Tight End Chris Kane was the most highly rated recruit according to 247sports, also as a 3-star prospect. Much like Eure, Chris Kane is also in a position group which saw much of its depth depart to graduation, and leaves very little experience on the roster. In spite of his prospect rating, Kane hasn’t played for Air Force beyond the prep squad. That doesn’t mean his time won’t come, but with a clear vacancies atop the depth chart, one would think now is the time for his talent to showcase.

I am really intrigued by both of these players as part of a really interesting junior class. There is a little bit of experience and plenty of opportunity in front of this group, and Saturday’s spring game should help lend some clarity as to where these guys fit on the roster.

Next time we will look at what sophomores could make a name for themselves in 2020.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997067]

[protected-iframe id=”a91365fa8364d5918c7afbfd61fa3801-97672683-123448869″ info=”cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/horizontal-slim-10_7.css” ]

[protected-iframe id=”a4765d451d4d2134c802175f6a037fca-97672683-123448869″ info=”//percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=671539″ width=”100%” height=”550px” frameborder=”0″]

[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]

---

The 2020 Schedule is out

---

The Road Ahead for Air Force

---

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

The ground hasn’t thawed quite yet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t substantive topics in the world of Air Force Football. As the team winds down spring camp this week, it will commence with an open to the public scrimmage on Saturday, March 7th.

If that wasn’t enough to whet your pallet, the 2020 season schedule was just released! Yes, there are always going to be the usual suspects on the docket, but there is equal parts intrigue for sure. From an early clash with the class of the conference, Boise State, to going back into middle-America to duel with the Big Ten. This schedule should have your attention.

🚨 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🚨

Dust off your VCR.

The ②⓪②⓪ schedule is ready for play 📺 pic.twitter.com/nF34p2hmIo

— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) February 27, 2020

The Usual Suspects

As long as the Falcons remain in the Mountain Division, they will always be locked into match-ups with Colorado State, New Mexico, Wyoming, Boise State and Utah State. That may change if Troy Calhoun had his druthers, but that’s another topic for another day.

Another staple to the Air Force scheduling diet is a season opener against an FCS opponent. 2020 is no different, as they kickoff the season against the Duquesne Dukes, who are located less than an hour down the road from me in (not so) sunny Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Why couldn’t this be an away game!? Selfish, I know.

All jest aside, the division slate alone lays the foundation for a great slate of games, year after year. One game alone stands above all others from this group though, and that is the week 2 match-up against the Boise State Broncos.

Not only is Blue Turf State the class of the conference, but they loom early on the schedule. Combine the early season match-up, with the fact that the Broncos are playing a team that runs a variety of the Triple-Option offense in Georgia Southern a week prior to open the season, Air Force will not have the element of surprise.

Crossing Over

The conference crossover games this year will see the Falcons take on Hawai’i, San Jose State and Fresno State. All three of these teams appeared on the calendar in 2019, and they shared the same fate at the hands of Air Force. A thorough beatdown.

Both Fresno and Hawai’i feature new coaching staffs, so it should be interesting to see how they progress from last year. In spite of a lopsided loss to Air Force last season, Hawai’i put together a really nice campaign. It will be interesting to see if Todd Graham is able to get them to take another step forward, or if they suffer from regression as the Bulldogs did in 2019.

The Rest

I could probably list the other Military Academies, Navy and Army under the first heading as regulars on the Falcons schedule. But irrespective of their conference (or independence in the case of Army), these are going to be games circled on all three’s schedules.

The real wildcard of the schedule is going to be Purdue. They will feature one of the countries most electric players in Rondale Moore, so expect whoever winds up under center to find ways to get him the ball. He is a problem for any defense. Ask Urban Meyer if you don’t believe me.

The Boilers have began recruiting at a high level, and their roster looks to be improved year after year on paper. But the talent didn’t manifest in Win’s last year for Brian Brohm, last year. And Purdue’s uniforms are eerily similar in color pattern to Colorado, and we all know what happened to them last year. And they too, had an all world receiver featured. I’m not saying, I’m just sayin’.

Seanstradamus

I think its pretty obvious how this schedule should shakedown by seasons end. Air Force is going to coast through the regular season to a 12-0 record, en-route to capturing the MWC Championship. They probably won’t quick crack the playoffs, but they’ll also have their way with whatever P5 team lands opposite their New Years Six Bowl game.

I’m only joking, there is a lot to sort out, and a lot of clarity that needs settled before a confident win-loss record could be levied. Or am I?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997067]

[protected-iframe id=”a91365fa8364d5918c7afbfd61fa3801-97672683-123448869″ info=”cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/horizontal-slim-10_7.css” ]

[protected-iframe id=”a4765d451d4d2134c802175f6a037fca-97672683-123448869″ info=”//percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=671539″ width=”100%” height=”550px” frameborder=”0″]

[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]

---

Super Seniors

---

One last season to wear the Bolt

---

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

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.

[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]

---

Hope Springs Eternal

---

What will the Falcons do for an Encore?

---

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs is literally covered in ice, but that has no bearing on the Air Force Football team as they make preparations for a run at the Mountain West title. So while the Academy got to showcase their facilities in the NHL’s Stadium series game between Colorado and Los Angeles, their cadets of the gridiron kicked off spring practice last week.

Lets not forget about the encore of the stadium series, featuring Air Force versus Colorado College tonight. Puck drops at  5 p.m. local time.

Speaking of encores, spring practice is the primer for an Air Force team that should be full of confidence after the success they enjoyed last season. But that was last season. There is a lot to be sorted out if they want this year to resemble last seasons campaign.

One of the reasons they were able to win 11 games last year was due to a roster that proved to be filled with talent across the board. A significant chunk of that talent graduates in a couple of months. Who will step up and what can we expect from the 2020 Falcons?

Here are five narratives to consider as we enter spring camp.

Day 1 ✅ pic.twitter.com/pUDw8xeTmC

— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) February 14, 2020

Depth Under Center

Air Force may feature the most dangerous quarterback in the conference this year. Donald Hammond will never get the recognition that other signal callers do for his ability to hurt a defense through the air, but it doesn’t change the fact that he can spin the bean.

Irrespective of the Mountain West’s failure to acknowledge him on the All-Conference team, Hammond returns as one of the country’s top dual threat quarterbacks. But what about the rest of the QB room?

As confident as you should be in Hammond’s ability to deliver under center, we also have to acknowledge the reality that depth at the position is critical. The Falcons enjoyed unrivaled depth that ran three deep last season, thanks to Mike Schmidt and Isaiah Sanders.

So who will round out the depth chart behind Hammond in 2020? It looks like that will be both open to debate and competition.

Chance Stevenson looks to be moving back to his originally recruited position at quarterback, after spending last year as a running back. Also returning is junior-to-be Warren Bryan. These are the only other returning players who saw the field in 2019.

After that, its anyone’s guess. Second year player, Jake Smith is expected to compete for reps and a place on the active roster. Joining the mix from the 2020 recruiting class is Jameson Wang, a 3-star prospect as graded by 247sports, and Canon Turner who graded out as a 2-star player.

Pass Catchers and Edge Blockers (one in the same)

Wide receivers and tight ends alike are expected to be equally adept at blocking as they are at catching passes. The Falcons will be replacing starters and primary depth at both positions this year.

Tasked with replacing one of the most lethal pass catching duos in the conference, and that the Air Force has ever seen is also on the offseason ‘to do’ list. Geraud Sanders and Ben Waters tormented secondaries last year. We’re talking tops in the country type torment in some critical categories.

Still, as crazy as it sounds, the Falcons may have the depth to reload at wide out. Because of how well Sanders and Waters performed, its easy to forget that they weren’t necessarily locked starters this time last year. Suspensions to up-and-comers David Cormier and Brandon Lewis cleared the runway.

While its unclear if Cormier and Lewis will have their standing restored on the football team, it has not been ruled out. Combine that with an experienced senior in Ben Peterson, and Dane Kinamon, who showed promise seeing action as a freshman last year, and the passing game should not suffer. Senior to be, Daniel Morris also saw playing time last year, particularly as a rangy run-blocker on the edge.

Admittedly, tight end is an area where I am very intrigued. This is a position that lost a two-year starter, and two depth players to graduation. That is a host of experience gone from the locker room.

But it is in the promise of potential that I am eager to see how things progress. Air Force landed a touted recruit in Kyle Patterson last year, and he got a jersey for a few games as a freshman. In the 2018 class, a year prior, the Falcons got Chris Kane, another promising 3-star talent.

If neither Patterson or Kane work their way up the depth chart, look for seniors to be, Rhett Harms and Luke Miller to round out the depth. Harms was a reserve for the most part last year, but with injuries to the position he did climb the depth chart. Miller on the other hand showed well last spring, but never really surfaced as the season progressed.

[jwplayer IknYeGBa-sNi3MVSU]

---

The Top Memory from 2019

---

Eight in a row (and counting)

---

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

Were still counting down the five most memorable moments of the Falcon’s 2019 football season. In case you missed our first three installments of this five part series, check them out here  Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 and Part 4.

COMING IN AT #1

2019 Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force 31 vs. Washington State 21

To close out our countdown of the Best Memories from the 2019, we head back to Chase Field in Arizona. While Air Force’s season was filled with a lot of highs, capping things off during Bowl Week by going 2-0 against the PAC12 reigns supreme.

The Cheez-It Bowl was full of build up, featuring two teams that were some of the best at what they do. Completely contrasting styles, the Falcons bring the dreaded triple option offense in to establish a dominant ground game, while the Cougs’ put up video-game-like passing numbers year after year.

It wasn’t very surprising to see Wazzu put up 350+ pass yards, and Air Force to nearly match that production on the ground. So with regard to the offenses, these teams similarly established production that you would expect.

Goodnight, Falcon Nation! ⚡️

We’re coming home with a lot of new hardware 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MUfqqBNB3B

— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) December 28, 2019

This is where the similarities end. Statistics can be deceiving, and if you look at the stat line alone, you wouldn’t get the real story of this game. The Air Force running game could not be stopped. Not at the goal-line. Not between the 20’s.

Washington State on the other hand, found themselves in fist fight the closer to the endzone that their offense got. And unfortunately for the Cougs’, they wound up on the mat. The Air Force defense stiffening on 4th down is not a new narrative. And in fitting fashion, the Falcon Offense hung points on the board, while the defense ultimately forced the tap out.

Winning against a 6-6 team may not jump of the screen when you are looking for the Best Stories in a full season. But the win against Washington State symbolized so many things for this years team.

Air Force has never won 11 games under Troy Calhoun (or ever- though they have won 12). They won a combined 10 games the previous two seasons. They featured one of the worst pass defenses statistically in 2018. They had not won a Bowl Game against a P5 School since 2010.

What better way to validate a complete turnaround, stake your claim as one of the top G5 and frankly a top 25 team nationally, than to win this game. They claimed victory against one of the greatest offensive minds in the game today. A maligned defense halted a historically successful passing offense.

Being crowned champions of the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl symbolized so much more than a bowl victory. It validated greatness.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997067]

[protected-iframe id=”a91365fa8364d5918c7afbfd61fa3801-97672683-123448869″ info=”cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/horizontal-slim-10_7.css” ]

[protected-iframe id=”a4765d451d4d2134c802175f6a037fca-97672683-123448869″ info=”//percolate.blogtalkradio.com/offsiteplayer?hostId=671539″ width=”100%” height=”550px” frameborder=”0″]