After quietly ending 2021 with a 10-3 document, the Air Drive Falcons are loaded for a run on the Mountain West in 2022. With a heavy dose of working again Brad Roberts anticipated, we rely down our prime 10 returning gamers at Air Drive for the 2022 college football season.
For every Mountain West crew’s prime returning gamers: Air Force | Boise State | Colorado State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Nevada | New Mexico | San Diego State | San Jose State | UNLV | Utah State | Wyoming
Prime 10 Air Drive returning gamers in 2022
Because the countdown to the common season continues, as does our prime 10 returning gamers collection. We’re counting down all the highest 10 gamers returning to motion on each crew — we’ll cope with transfers later — from Air Drive to Wyoming, from Miami to Hawaii, and all in between. Listed here are the highest returning gamers to Air Force in 2022.
10) DeAndre Hughes, RB/WR
The Air Drive speeding assault runs by Brad Roberts however don’t rely out DeAndre Hughes. The speedy vast receiver — if we will even name him that — toted the rock 61 instances a season in the past for 497 yards and three touchdowns. Hughes predominantly traces up at wingback because the third possibility by design however not in nature of expertise. His 8.15 yards-per-carry common is indicative of his pace and elusiveness, as he was a former letterer in monitor throughout his highschool days.
9) Kaleb Holcomb, OT
The Air Drive offensive line should cope with turnover from a season in the past, however one returning rising star is junior Kaleb Holcomb. A former highschool standout at Dublin Coffman Excessive College in Ohio, Holcomb shared snaps a season in the past alongside the appropriate aspect of the offensive line. When he was in, nonetheless, this offense appeared extra dynamic. With a fast first step, the previous tight finish is almost good for working the appropriate deal with position within the Air Drive offense. He will get in entrance of run performs brilliantly whereas presenting no lapse in move safety.
8) Alec Mock, LB
A tackling machine, Alec Mock will look to have an excellent greater affect on the Air Drive protection this fall. Mock has nice measurement for the center at 6’3″, 230 kilos, but additionally possesses terrific pace for a person his measurement. His instincts are nice in addition to his capability to run the alley in run pursuit. Mock can blitz properly, and if he improves his protection within the brief space of the sphere, he might blossom into one of many Mountain West’s prime linebackers.
7) Camby Goff, S
Standing out from his robust security spot, Camby Goff had a breakout season in 2021. Beginning eight of the crew’s remaining 9 video games, Goff got here on robust because the 12 months progressed. He has wonderful protection capability on all varieties of receivers in his jurisdiction, in addition to a eager capability to pursue run performs from the entrance or bottom of pursuit. Goff additionally presents a problem together with his pace when he blitzes off the sting.
6) Trey Taylor, S
Roaming the sphere, Trey Taylor excelled at free security in 2021. Taylor is likely one of the extra heady gamers within the recreation at any time when he takes the sphere, as his smarts and instincts are obvious from the primary snap. He additionally has even higher athleticism to go together with his smarts. Taylor, a cousin of NFL Corridor of Famer Ed Reed, flies to the soccer in each protection and in opposition to the run.
5) Christopher Herrera, DL
Second on the crew with eight quarterback hurries final 12 months, Christopher Herrera will get after it within the pass-rushing recreation. Herrera additionally is aware of tips on how to end as he recorded 3.5 sacks and a bevy of QB hits within the course of. He additionally makes use of his basketball background to get his palms in passing lanes if he can’t attain the quarterback whereas clogging speeding lanes like he’s set to take a cost in the important thing. Herrera is a dominant specimen within the center for Air Drive.
4) TD Blackmon, LB
Regardless of taking part in in simply 9 video games and solely 4 with full-time snaps, TD Blackmon was nonetheless in a position to showcase what made him Mr. Soccer within the state of Tennessee throughout his highschool days. He’s an elite-level athlete with nice measurement and pace. Blackmon flies to the ball within the run recreation and might cowl quite a lot of move catchers all the identical. With a clear invoice of well being anticipated for 2022, the sky is the restrict for the rising senior.
3) Vince Sanford, EDGE
A season after recording a team-high 9.5 sacks, Vince Sanford is again to trigger havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Not solely was Sanford a menace together with his pass-rushing abilities, his capability to interrupt include and beat the offensive lineman in entrance of him was on show within the run recreation. Sanford led the crew with 17 tackles for loss and chipped in with one other three move breakups.
2) Haaziq Daniels, QB
After battling to take the reigns a season in the past, the offense runs by Haaziq Daniels with out query in 2022. One of many extra dynamic gamers in school soccer, Daniels ripped off 18 carries of no less than 10 yards whereas showcasing a capability within the open subject like no current Air Drive QB has. When he does take to the air, Daniels proved to be correct with the soccer, particularly over the center of the sphere. His bread and butter definitely is his speeding capability, however he’s by no stretch only a one-dimensional quarterback.
1) Brad Roberts, FB/RB
There aren’t many extra integral items to an FBS offense than Brad Roberts in 2022. The Falcons’ main man within the backfield returns for one remaining season after reaching 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns a 12 months in the past. As reliable as any working again within the nation, Roberts has not fumbled in his profession and dominates the purpose of assault. Roberts isn’t the flashiest, however his profession common of 5.0 yards per carry is greater than sufficient to get the job achieved when he’s given the ball. Certainly not, nonetheless, is he not in a position to create on his personal.
Honorable point out gamers returning to Air Drive in 2022
- Everett Smalley, OT
- Ayden McCollough, G
- Michael Mack II, CB
- Jonathan Youngblood, LB
- Bo Richter, LB
- Isaac Cochran, G
