Air Force Opens Up Quarterback Competition

Coach Troy Calhoun has officially opened up the quarterback position at Air Force. During spring practices the 2008 starter Tim Jefferson only made five of the fifteen practices, because Jefferson needed to concentrate on grades so that he would be eligible for the 2009 season.

Then freshman tailback Asher Clark was moved to quarterback to provide a challenge to Jefferson. Clark went through only about the first third of the practices before undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee.

These incidents actually could help Air Force in the long run with quarterbacks Ben Cochran and freshman Connor Dietz, who took the majority of the spring snaps.

“I like what they’ve done,” Calhoun said. “The part that you take notice of is their execution’s been pretty good. You just see the command of the offense, you can tell they’re comfortable. They weren’t initially, the first four practices, but you don’t expect them to be at that time.”

Jefferson will be listed as the opening day starter in fall camp, but he should not be too comfortable because Cochran and Dietz played quite well in spring camp, and the two will be in contention to start in 2009.