We are inching closer to the start of the 2026 College Football season. The Air Force Falcons have returned to the practice field for their last period of refinement before their opener against Duquesne— “fall” practice. The last time we saw Air Force in action, they were handing in state rivals, Colorado State, a pretty good beating as a departing gift as they exit the Mountain West Conference. A pretty good ending to an otherwise forgettable four win campaign for the Falcons.
A lot has happened
since that cool November night that saw them once again secure the Ram-Falcon Trophy. While this seasons team is coming to form, we are going to take a look at some noteworthy items in Colorado Springs over the past eight months.
Hitting the Portal
Unlike most teams, including the Air Force teams of past, the transfer portal had virtually no impact on how the 2026 team has shaped up. The only loss to the portal was in fact a significant contributor from last years team— Tight End, Bruin Fleischmann. Now with the Montana Bobcats of the FCS, Fleischmann was one of the bright spots on last years team.
If all of this is true, then why say the portal had no impact on the 2026 team? Well, it’s because Fleischmann was out of eligibility with the Falcons, and is playing as a Grad Transfer for Montana State, deferring his active duty. There have been multiple players recent years exercise this path— Kyle Johnson, Isaiah Sanders, Caleb Rillos and Mason Carlan to name a few.
Coaching Staff Changes
After a challenging 2025 season, Defensive Coordinator Brian Knorr left Air Force and joined the University of Michigan, where he now serves as an analyst on the Wolverines’ staff. His move came after Air Force restructured its defensive coaching responsibilities in a season that saw historically bad defensive play at times. With the departure of Knorr, Troy Calhoun brought back a familiar face in Steve Russ as defensive coordinator. Russ was with UAB in the same role last season.
Knorr’s departure was part of the broader defensive reshuffling that also included Nick Toth leaving for Kansas State and Air Force hiring Larry Hart to coach defensive tackles. Changes like this can be expected some of the challenges the defense faced last year.
Falcons in NFL Camps
With recent stumbles Air Force experienced the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget just how good of a run they had for quite a few seasons prior. An excellent reminder is some of the peak talent that was on those rosters, which still has them delaying their military service due to a conflict of interest; otherwise known as their NFL careers.
Jordan Jackson has been with the Denver Broncos a few years now, and sees playing time regularly after being drafted by the New Orleans Saints back in 2022. Meanwhile in Minnesota, Bo Richter has made a name for himself primarily on special teams, but is in rotation on the edge in a room with some of the most effective pass rushers in the NFL. It should be noted just how well the Vikings think of Bo, not only does he appear to factor into their future on defense, but he’s a captain on special teams.
Unlike Jackson and Richter who have earned places on prior NFL rosters for multiple years now, Payton Zdroik is in his first training camp, battling for a spot with the Los Angeles Rams. A member of last years Air Force defense, Zdroik had a really good career with the Falcons as a multi-year starter. Were it not for injuries, he may have heard his name called on draft day as well. Signing as a free-agent with the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl is not a bad consolation.
Lastly, don’t count out former Thorpe award winner, Trey Taylor. Since being drafted by the Raiders a couple of years ago, Taylor was invited to camp with the Dolphins earlier this year. Falcon fans everywhere eagerly await his opportunity to make an impact when the opportunity is afforded.
Change in AD
Unless you were close to the program, it probably came as a surprise to see Air Force parting ways with their Athletic director, Nathan Pine. It’s unfortunate considering the success he oversaw in Colorado Springs. His exit marks the end of a tenure defined by competitive achievement, facility upgrades, and national visibility across multiple sports.
Pine arrived at Air Force in 2019 and quickly became a central figure in elevating the Falcons’ athletic profile. Under his leadership, Air Force football posted multiple double‑digit win seasons and earned national rankings while maintaining the academy’s academic and service standards. His tenure also included major investments in facilities, expanded support for Olympic sports, and strengthened fundraising initiatives that modernized the department’s long‑term infrastructure.
Beyond football, Pine oversaw championship success in men’s and women’s cross country, continued national prominence in Air Force’s hallmark sports like men’s ice hockey. Somehow these things weren’t enough to resolve whatever tension appeared between him the outbound Lt. General Tony Bauernfeind.
Distinguished Cadets
Air Force enters the 2026 college football season with three standout Falcons earning places on prestigious national preseason award watch lists: Liam Szarka, Ronald Jones Jr., and Blake Fletcher. Their selections highlight both individual excellence and the growing national respect for Air Force’s program — and they place each player in the company of notable Falcons who have earned similar honors in past seasons.
Liam Szarka – Maxwell Award Watch List
Szarka, a junior quarterback, was named to the Maxwell Award watch list, given annually to the top player in college football. His 2025 breakout season — 922 rushing yards, 1,294 passing yards, and a historic run of three straight games with 200 passing and 100 rushing yards — made him one of the most dynamic dual‑threat quarterbacks in the nation.
Blake Fletcher – Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
Senior linebacker Blake Fletcher earned a spot on the Nagurski Trophy watch list, awarded to the nation’s top defensive player. Fletcher posted 108 tackles in 2025 — the most by a Falcon since 2014 — and enters 2026 as one of the Mountain West’s most productive returning defenders.
Roger Jones Jr. – Thorpe Award Watch List
Junior safety Roger Jones Jr. was named to the Thorp Award Watch list, which recognizes the nations top defensive back. . Jones recorded 76 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 2025, earning honorable‑mention All‑MW honors. If this award rings a bell, that’s probably because we are just a few years removed from former Falcon great Trey Taylor winning the award back in 2023.
Prior to Taylor if you go back a decade, Air Force actually placed two defensive backs on the Thorpe watch list that year, in Weston Steelhammer and Roland Ladipo. Steelhammer is still the all-time interceptions leader at Air Force (18), Ladipo was an All-Conference selection while Trey Taylor was a rare selection by the Las Vegas Raiders in 6th round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Closing
There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about this years Air Force team. Not the least of which being star power like Szarka, Fletcher and Jones Jr., which in my opinion is just scratching the surface. Then again, everyone is undefeated in the pre-season, so kickoff against Duquesne in early December can’t come soon enough.
