Air Force Falcons 2024 Preview and Predictions

(QB Zac Larrier – USA Today Sports)

Key Players Returning:

FB Dylan Carson, WR Brandon Engel, WR Jared Roznos, NT Payton Zdroik, CB Jamari Bellamy, CB Trey Williams, FS Jayden Goodwin, PK Matthew Dapore, PT Carson Bay, and PT Luke Freer.

Key Players Departing:

QB Zac Larrier, RB Emmanuel Michel, RB John Lee Eldridge III, FB Owen Burk, TE Caleb Rillos (Florida transfer), OC Thor Paglialong, OG Ethan Jackman, OG Wesley Ndago, OT Kaleb Holcomb, OT Adam Karas, DE PJ Ramsey, LB Alec Mock, LB Bo Richter, LB Jonathan Youngblood, FS Jalen Mergerson, SS Trey Taylor (Raiders R7), and KR/PR Dane Kinamon.

(RB Jordan Triplett – Derrick Davis Photo)

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
EDGE Jalen Davis (Weatherford, Texas), WR Jonah Dawson (Rancho Cucamonga, California), ATH Harry Caskey (Ogallala, Nebraska), RB Jordan Triplett (St. Simon’s Island, Georgia), WR Reign Broadway (Mansfield, Texas), LB Jack Matranga (Mission Viejo, California), ATH Richard Munoz (La Puente, California), ATH Matt Long (Folsom, California), WR Noah McNair (Sunnyside, Washington), and OL Tanner Stokes (Snoqualmie, Washington).

2023 Results:

G01  ROBERT MORRIS  W  42-7
G02  vs. Sam Houston  W  13-3
G03  UTAH STATE  W  39-21
G04  @ San Jose State  W  45-20
G05  SAN DIEGO STATE  W  49-10
G06  WYOMING  W  34-27
G07  @ Navy  W  17-6
G08  @ Colorado State  W  30-13
G09  vs. Army  L  3-23
G10  @ Hawaii  L  13-27
G11  UNLV  L  27-31
G12  @ Boise State  L  19-27
BOWL  vs. James Madison  W  31-21

Team Info:

2023 Overall:  9-4 (4th in MWC)

Home:  5-2
Away:  4-2
Neutral:  0-0
MWC:  5-3
Non-MWC:  4-1

Head Coach:  Troy Calhoun

Air Force:  130-82
Career:  130-82
Bowls:  8-5

(WR Jared Roznos – USA Today Sports)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
John Busha (9-19, 152 yards, 47.4%, 8.0 avg., 0 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: 
Dylan Carson (68 car., 493 yards, 7.3 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: 
Jared Roznos (12 rec., 374 yards, 31.2 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Cade Harris/Jared Roznos (3)
Sacks: 
Payton Zdroik (4.5)
Tackles: 
Trey Williams (35)
Interceptions: 
Jamari Bellamy (1)
Pass Deflections: 
Jamari Bellamy (5)
Tackles For Loss: 
Payton Zdroik (6.5)
Forced Fumbles: 
None
Kick Returns: 
Aidan Calvart (1 ret., 18 yards, 19.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Cade Harris (3 ret., 1 yard, 0.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
Matthew Dapore (15-19 fg/fga., 79%, 34-35 xp/xpa., 79 pts.)
Punting: 
Carson Bay (25 punts, 985 yards, 39.4 avg., 8 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  3 John Busha (JR)
RB:  28 Aiden Calvert (SR)
FB:  5 Dylan Carson (JR)
WR:  13  Jared Roznos  (SR)
WR:  21 Cade Harris (SR)
TE:  88 Bruin Fleischmann (JR)
LT:  78 Trevor Tate (JR)
LG:  71 Michael McAninch (SR)
OC:  67 Costen Cooley (JR)
RG:  54 Jackson Kohal (SR)
RT:  76 Alex Moore (SR)
KR:  21 Cade Harris (SR)
PK:  43  Matthew Dapore  (SR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  10 Jack Curtis (JR)
NT:  99 Aidan Swartz (JR)
DE:  95 Daniel Grobe (R)
LB:  58 Jackson Adams (JR)
LB:  8 Osaro Aihie (SR)
LB:  46 Zach Juckel (JR)
NB:  11 Camby Goff (SR)
CB:  22  Jerome Gallard Jr.  (SR)
CB:  3  Jamari Bellamy  (SR)
FS:  7 Jake Martin (SR)
SS:  9 Levi Brown (JR)
PR:  2  Brandon Engel  (SR)
PT:  95 Carson Bay (SR)

(LB Bo Richter – Getty Images)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  A
Punters:  B

Schedule:

08/31 
MERRIMACK WARRIORS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/07  SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS  |  Air Force leads the series 5-2.  The Falcons are 4-1 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (6-17) was in 2020.

09/14  @ Baylor Bears  |  Air Force trails the series 1-3.  The Falcons won (3015) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

09/28  @ Wyoming Cowboys  |  Air Force leads the series 31-27-3.  The Falcons are 4-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (14-17) was in 2022.

10/05  NAVY MIDSHIPMEN  |  Air Force leads the series 34-22.  The Falcons are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (25-34) was in 2019.

10/12  @ New Mexico Lobos  |  Air Force leads the series 5-2.  The Falcons won (35-3) the last meeting between schools in 2022

11/02  @ Army Black Knights  |  Air Force leads the series 38-19-1.  The Falcons are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series win (13-7) was in 2022.

11/02  COLORADO STATE RAMS  |  Air Force leads the series 37-21-1.  The Falcons are 8-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (23-28) was in 2015.

11/09  FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS  |  Air Force leads the series 7-3.  The Falcons won (43-24) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

11/16  OREGON STATE BEAVERS  |  First meeting between schools.

11/23  @ Nevada Wolf Pack  |  Air Force leads the series 5-2.  The Falcons lost (48-20) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

11/30  @ San Diego State Aztecs  |  Air Force leads the series 21-18.  The Falcons are 2-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (14-20) was in 2021.

Predictions:

Home:  2-4
Away:  2-4
Neutral:  0-0
MWC:  3-5
Non-MWC:  1-3

Overall:  4-8 (10th in MWC)