Air Force Football 2025: The Offseason
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We’re just a few weeks removed from the bankrolled roster from Columbus celebrating a national championship. A bright spot for the Mountain West Conference was the participation of Boise State in the first year of the expanded 12-team playoff.
This may be of little consolation to Air Force fans, coming off of a disappointing 2024 campaign. The good news is spring practice is right around the corner and last season is contrail for the Falcon football program.
A LOOK BACK
Last years Air Force team knew there would be challenges coming into the season. The enthusiasm from throttling James Madison in 2023 Bowl matchup was met with that harsh reality by the first weekend in September in the early 2024 schedule. Outside of a less than impressive week 1 victory over Merrimack of the FCS, the first two-thirds of the season were downright disastrous.
Last year’s team was challenged in ways this program hasn’t seen since that dreadful 2013 season, which was the sole year that Air Force has ever endured double digit (10) losses in a season. There was plenty of blame to go around for the horrendous start. Most of which can be attributed to a very inexperienced team, that compounded that tribulation with injuries. When all was said and done, there were more than 40 players that made their first career start at some point in the season.
After an unprecedented run of success over the last five full seasons, 2024 finally afforded teams like New Mexico, Colorado State and Navy the chance to finally score one in the win column. After years of catching L’s at the hands of Troy Calhoun’s squad, payback finally made it’s way to Air Force.
If the bleakness of what you have read so far, hasn’t already caused you to discard what I’m writing, good for you. Because all those lumps that the Falcons took last year weren’t in vain.
After that grueling seven game losing streak which included embarrassing losses to the bitter rivals, Navy and Army, the Bolts got it together. Air Force closed out the season with four consecutive victories, including a 28-0 shutout of Oregon State.
The winning streak may have come as a bit of a surprise at the time, when you consider just how poorly the team had been playing. But to those who know how critical the play off the offensive line, and teams ability to control the clock are, you knew improvement in that area would correlate to wins. And by the way, there was drastic improvement needed in all phases of their game.
A patient trust in offensive line coach Steed Lobotzke, may have been tried, but proved warranted. After multiple personnel combinations along the O-Line, the unit gelled. At the same time, a change at quarterback, going to Sophomore Quintin Hayes had some early ups and downs, as you will have with a player seeing the field for the first time, but ultimately paid off as well. Hayes got a much better command of the offense by seasons end, and the offense was able to distribute the ball to multiple playmakers that simply weren’t getting the space earlier in the year.
The defense which has been stellar for years prior, took a major tumble back at first. New players were broken in all over the field, and it showed. Injuries to All Conference stand-outs like Payton Zdroik and Camby Goff certainly didn’t help. But just like the offense, there were multiple defenders who made the most of their opportunity and solidified themselves as mainstays on a much improved unit.
While it’s unfortunate the year did not culminate with those desperately needed extra practices that are awarded to Bowl participants, the team appears to have turned the corner. The 2025 Falcons will have some holes to fill, just as most programs will. But the uncharacteristic youth movement last year should pay dividends this coming fall.
LOOKING AHEAD
At risk of getting a little too optimistic, there are some similarities to the 2020 team, which had a lot of young players see time in the most unorthodox of seasons. That COVID shortened year saw underclassmen, get critical experience that set the team on an absolute tear for the next three years.
Then Sophomore quarterback, Haaziq Daniels ended up being one of the most successful signal callers in the teams history. Now Hayes will get the same opportunity to stack wins over the next two season as the presumed starter heading into the year.
Flanking Hayes in the backfield is a deep group of ball carriers. Dylan Carson could very well be the bell cow of the offense at fullback if he’s able to remain healthy. Supporting him in that critical position Owen Allen really developed well last year. And Kemper Hodges, the converted quarterback will also factor into the production. This should be a 1,500 yard unit.
The fullbacks could probably account for even more yardage were it not for the playmaking ability of tailback Kade Frew. Another case of hopeful health, Frew is poised for a breakout season building off of last years momentum.
Lining up all over in multiple spots will be one of the most exciting players in the Mountain West, Cade Harris. Capable of leading the team in rushing and receiving, Harris could have a monster year depending on how the ball gets distributed. Think Brandon Lewis, Tim McVay or Micah Davis.
Defensively, there is an established stud or budding star at each level. Blake Fletcher looks to be in the mold of Alec Mock anchoring the middle of the defense. Payton Zdroik has the offseason to get well, and when healthy, he’s an absolute game wrecker. He is arguably the most disruptive player in the conference. Sophomore Safety Kyle Chen was one of the most highly rated prospects the to commit to the Academy a few years back. He got invaluable game experience last year, and with that can hopefully be the next in line for what has become a position of absolute strength for years now.
Unfortunately one of the most promising players on the team by years end was Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner. The hybrid safety-linebacker provided versatility, and plugged in well at the all important spur position. Perhaps another former 3-star prospect will be able to solidify the opening he leaves, in Houston Hendrix.
The one area the Falcons returned a ton of experience last year was special teams. Now their all-time scoring leader, Matthew Dapore has concluded his fine career at kicker. Reagan Tubbs has some experience filling in for Dapore in the past and should factor in to stabilizing the kicking game.
There are a lot of players who will factor into the open starting roles up for grabs, obviously. With all the new starts we saw last year, there were plenty more key contributors who will be leaned on going forward into the new season. With all the turnover last year, they are simply too many to name. That also means there is a lot of game experience returning as a bi-product. At least for those who stuck around.
RECENT NEWS
As already noted, the Falcons were dealt a difficult blow with Lincold Tuioti-Mariner ultimately leaving to suit up for Southern Utah. A few other notable players found new homes as well. The game against New Mexico next year got a little more interesting, as offensive tackle Tyler Lawrence elected to transfer to Albuquerque. And the defensive line took a hit when David Santiago headed to East Lansing, committing to play for Michigan State.
There were other transfers, but these were the most prominent in factoring in both past and projected playing time.
Offsetting some of these departures will hopefully some of the incoming class. Covered in really great detail by Brent Briggeman of the Colorado Gazette, the Falcons welcome in over 20 commits who hold a 3-star composite rating.
In other current events, Air Force has finalized their 12th opponent on the 2025 schedule, and it is the defending back to back National Champions. Of Basketball.
Uconn and Air Force have agreed to a home and home series in football over the next two years. The Falcons will travel East to Hartford in November of this coming year. Then in 2026, the Huskies will travel to the Springs.
There is still six months until the season gets kicked off officially. But between now and then, there will be plenty happening, and we will do our best to stay on top of all things Air Force football.
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