2012 MW Football Preview Show with Head Coach Troy Calhoun
2012 MW Football Preview Show with Jordan Eason (Sr., OL) and Parker Herrington (Sr., K)
Key Additions
Key Losses
Players to Watch
• LB Kola Alli
• DE Reggie Barnes
• DE Steven Cornellier
• QB Je'rod Evans
• CB Desmond Lewis
• CB Gavin McHenry
• CB Cody Ray
• QB Tim Jefferson
• WR Jonathan Warzeka
• WR Zack Kauth
• OL Jeff Benson
• OL A.J. Wallerstein
• OL Kevin Whitt
• RB Asher Clark
• QB Connor Dietz
• RB Wes Cobb
• WR Ty MacArthur
• FB Mike DeWitt
• LB Alex Means
• DL Nick Fitzgerald
• S Anthony Wooding
• S Brian Lindsay
• PK Parker Herrington
Keys to Success
Air Force is coming off a record-setting season, after the Falcons appeared in their fifth consecutive postseason for the first time in program history. AFA returns seven starters in 2012, but will again rely on its multi-back option offense that annually ranks among the nation's top rushing attacks. Senior Wes Cobb, who collected 425 yards and four touchdowns on 100 carries as a tailback last year, will likely return to the fullback position where he began his career at the Academy. Meanwhile, senior Mike DeWitt, who ranked second on the squad with 567 rushing yards a year ago, moves over to the starting fullback role. DeWitt, who also led the team with 12 rushing TDs, averaged 4.8 yards per carry and did not lose yardage on any of his 117 attempts last season. Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Dietz, who has seen time in 21 career games, including three starts, will start for Air Force in its season opener vs. Idaho State, and will be protected by a line that returns two senior starters on the left side (tackle Jason Kons and guard Jordan Eason).
While Air Force lost nine defensive starters to graduation, co-defensive coordinators Charlton Warren and Steve Russ are looking for more blitzing, press coverage and aggressiveness from a unit that allowed opponents a third-down conversion rate of 50.3 percent last season. The Falcons will be led defensively by outside linebacker Alex Means, who tallied 77 tackles in his junior season, 20 more than any other returning player for Air Force. He also had six of the Falcons' 18 sacks on the year.
By the Numbers
0 - No other college or professional athletic team has visited the White House as often as the Air Force football team. Since 1982, the Falcons have earned 18 Commander-in-Chief's trophies, therefore making 18 trips to Washington, D.C.
5 - Under head coach Troy Calhoun, AFA has made a program-record five consecutive bowl appearances.
7 - Air Force posted seven victories in 2011 to mark the first time in Academy history that the Falcons have recorded seven or more wins in five consecutive seasons.
13 - The Falcons have paced the Mountain West in team rushing yards in each of the first 13 years of the league.
90 - All-MW placekicker Parker Herrington scored 90 points in 2011, connecting on 15-of-18 field goal attempts and 45-of-48 PATs.
All dates and times are local to site and are subject to change.
The broadcast outlets for those games listed as TBD are still being determined.
As part of its College Colors Day Celebration, the Mountain West is giving away copies of the Lindy's 2012 Preview to its Facebook fans! Click HERE to "like" the College Colors logo of your favorite MW institution for your chance to win! Winners will be selected at random until 5 p.m. MT on Friday, August 31. Get your friends involved and don't forget to wear your favorite MW gear on Friday, August 31!
