Life as a service academy in the modern era of college football isn’t very fun, especially when the team loses 16 starters from a senior-laden team the year before. The Air Force Falcons return the least amount of production int he FBS, according the ESPN writer Bill Connelly’s returning production numbers, so who are Air Force’s top returning players in 2024?
Air Force Falcons Top Returning Players
10) Jerome Gaillard Jr., CB
Jerome Gaillard Jr. has a lot of the physical tools to be a high-level corner, but he hasn’t yet put it all together in his first two seasons. He has elite length and height and has the speed to match receivers.
The Falcons will hope this is the year Gaillard can put it all together and become the type of cover corner to work across from Jamari Bellamy.
9) Camby Goff, S
Camby Goff had a promising first three years at Air Force, but got hurt in the first game of the season last year, missing the rest of the year.
It’s harder to receive a redshirt at the service academies than at other schools, but Goff was able to get a medical turnback and retain his eligibility. That’s huge for an Air Force defense that is lacking senior leadership in 2024.
8) Aiden Calvert, RB
After the Falcons lost several of their top backs, Aiden Calvert will likely take over at one of the wingback positions. He only had 119 snaps last season, but did get 23 carries, averaging almost seven yards a carry.
He’s not your typical wingback in that he plays at a healthy 205 pounds and can rely on his vision and strength over pure speed.
7) Josh Busha, QB
Josh Busha got limited action in four games last season, but had an awesome offseason and enters 2024 as the clear starter at the position.
It might be an interesting scheme this year for the Falcons, as the normally run-happy team has more experience at receiver, and Busha isn’t the biggest run threat. Still, those within the program think he can be a quality starter and can elevate their passing game.
6) Brandon Engel, WR
Brandon Engel is a tight end-wide receiver hybrid who offers a big-bodied target for Busha. There’s plenty to improve on from last season, including the fact that he had no touchdowns.
Still, Engel has good hands and is part of the most experienced position group on the team.
5) Cade Harris, WR
It shouldn’t be shocking that Cade Harris was a big play threat, given Air Force’s offensive system and how it utilizes its receivers out wide. He only caught five passes, but he made those all count, averaging over 35 yards a reception.
Harris struggled a bit with drops, but if he can fix that, he gives Air Force some verticality on offense.
4) Jared Roznos, WR
Like Harris, Jared Roznos struggled a bit with drops, but he was by far Air Force’s most potent receiver, as he caught 12 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Falcons in all of those categories.
Given the strengths of the offensive personnel, it’s not out of the question to think that Air Force will air it out a bit more in 2024.
3) Jamari Bellamy, CB
Bellamy is a tall, long corner and one of the only returning starters on Air Force’s defense in 2024. He’ll have a ton of pressure on him to lock down his opponents’ best receivers this year, as there isn’t a lot of depth behind him.
Last season, Bellamy finished with 35 tackles and five pass breakups last season. He also picked off a pass and didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage.
2) Dylan Carson, RB
Dylan Carson was the fourth-leading rusher last season, but the Falcons lost their top three rushers, and Carson should be the leader at running back this year.
Carson missed a chunk of games in the middle of the year with an injury, but when he came back, he was electric. In his final three games of the regular season, Carson ran for over 300 yards, forcing eight missed tackles in the process.
1) Peyton Zdroik, IDL
Peyton Zdroik is an elite run-stuffer who has flashed as a pass rusher in the past, and there will be a ton of attention on him as he’s one of the only returning defensive linemen for the Falcons.
In fact, Zdroik has more sacks, tackles, hurries, and run stops than the rest of the returning defensive line combined.
Zdroik is going to need to be great, just like he’s been the last two years, for Air Force’s defense to approach the level it wants to be at.
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