As expected, junior John Busha will enter the season as the frontrunner to start at quarterback for Air Force.

The Falcons released their first depth chart of the 2024 season this week at Mountain West Football Media Days in Las Vegas, and the junior quarterback is the lone player listed in bold at his position.

Last year the Falcons began the season with three potential starters (Ben Brittain, Jensen Jones and Zac Larrier) on their initial depth chart, but all three have since graduated. Busha emerged at the position late in the season, entering late in the fourth quarter against UNLV and playing extensively at Boise State.

“He’s a super confident player,” said senior wide receiver Brandon Engel, who along with Camby Goff represented Air Force at the media event. “The team looks up to him. Coming into this year I’m expecting him to do big things.

“He’s really strong. He’s quick, a little bit underrated speed for sure. He can do anything you need him to, and he’s durable, too.”

Quentin Hayes and Josh Johnson, both sophomores, are also listed on the depth chart at quarterback. No other position goes three deep.

Maguire Martin is the only other quarterback on the roster, though the roster does not include any of the freshmen who remain in basic training.

The depth chart includes three local players. Free safety Jake Martin, a Lewis-Palmer graduate, is listed as a starter. Guard Alec Falk (Palmer Ridge) and inside linebacker Are’an Burr (Air Academy) are listed as backups.

The Falcons, 9-4 last year, must replace 17 starters on offense and defense.

“Coming back, seeing a new group of guys – a bright group of guys – is really exciting,” said Goff, a two-year starter on defense who missed most of last season after an injury in the opener.

A depth chart released this early is bound to see multiple changes by the Aug. 31 opener against Merrimack. But one surprise was the listing of two-year starter Payton Zdroik as a backup to Aidan Swartz at nose guard.

Air Force preseason depth chart

OFFENSE

Tackle

78 Trevor Tate (6-2, 270, jr.) Waxhaw, N.C.

77 Cameron Collins (6-3, 270, jr.) Lebanon, Ohio

Guard

71 Michael McAninch (6-3, 300, sr.) Toledo, Ohio

75 Alec Falk (6-5, 285, so.) Monument

Center

67 Costen Cooley (6-4, 370, jr.) Mesa, Ariz.

57 Gabriel Averitt (6-3, 270, jr.) Lakeland, Fla.

Guard

54 Jackson Kohal (6-4, 305, sr.) Coer d’Alene, Idaho

66 Jace Sutulovich (6-3, 285, jr.) Siloam Springs, Ark.

Tackle

76 Alex Moore (6-3, 270, sr.) Louisville

65 Samuel Floysand (6-3, 275, jr.) Cottage Grove, Minn.

Tight end

88 Bruin Fleischmann (6-5, 330, jr.) Pocatello, Idaho

87 Parker Menefee (6-6, 240, jr.) Missouri City, Texas

Quarterback

3 John Busha (6-2, 205, jr.) Port Charlotte, Fla.

10 Quintin Hayes (6-0, 195, so.) Enterprise, Ala.

11 Josh Johnson (6-1, 185, so.) New Orleans

Fullback

5 Dylan Carson (6-0, 210, jr.) Marysville, Wash.

12 Terrence Gist (6-0, 215, jr.) Taylors, S.C.

Tailback

28 Aiden Calvert (5-10, 210, sr.) Chula Vista, Calif.

8 Kade Frew (5-9, 190, jr.) Green Cove Springs, Fla.

Wide receiver (slot)

21 Cade Harris (5-8, 180, jr.) South Weber, Utah

6 Cameron Breier (6-2, 195, sr.) Pasco, Wash.

Wide receiver

13 Jared Roznos (6-0, 190, sr.) Sacramento -OR-

2 Brandon Engle (6-2, 210, sr.) Dallas

DEFENSE

Defensive end

10 Jack Curtis (6-5, 245, jr.) Dallas

47 Luke Meyer (6-4, 220, so.) Centennial

Nose guard

99 Aidan Swartz (6-4, 270, jr.) Sylvania, Ohio

96 Payton Zdroik (6-0, 275, jr.) Brentwood, Calif.

Tackle

95 Daniel Grobe (6-7, 270, jr.) Tomball, Texas

62 James Tomasi (6-0, 320, sr.) Provo, Utah

Outside linebacker

58 Jackson Adams (6-4, 240, jr.) Centennial

18 Elijah Sanders (6-3, 240, sr.) Clayton, N.C.

Inside linebacker

8 Osaro Aihie (6-1, 225, sr.) San Leandro, Calif.

54 Are’an Burr (6-3, 220, jr.) Colorado Springs

Inside linebacker

46 Zach Juckel (6-2, 210, jr.) Lakeville, Minn.

44 Grant Uyl (5-11, 225, sr.) Grand Rapids, Mich.

Spur

11 Camby Goff (6-1, 215, sr.) Reynoldsburg, Ohio

23 Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner (5-11, 210, so.) Las Vegas

Cornerback

3 Jamari Bellamy (6-2, 185, sr.) Atlanta

5 K.C. Beard (6-1, 200, sr.) Antioch, Tenn.

Strong safety

9 Levi Brown (6-1, 175, jr.) Kennesaw, Ga.

20 Kyle Chen (6-1, 190, so.) Vancouver, Wash.

Free safety

7 Jake Martin (6-2, 200, sr.) Monument

42 Jakobi McGowen (6-1, 205, sr.) Indianapolis

Cornerback

22 Jerome Gaillard Jr. (6-4, 200, sr.) Kempner, Texas -OR-

0 Trey Williams (5-10, 175, sr.) Atlanta

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker

43 Matthew Dapore (6-0, 190, sr.) Springboro, Ohio

96 Reagan Tubbs (6-0, 175, jr.) Flower Mound, Texas

Punter

95 Carson Bay (5-11, 160, sr.) Tampa, Fla.

97 Luke Freer (6-4, 220, jr.) Fairhope, Ala.

Long snapper

49 Kurt Chesney (6-0, 195, so.) Aliso Viejo, Calif.

48 Anthony DeBarardino (6-1, 220, sr.) Apex, N.C.

Holder

95 Carson Bay (5-11, 160, sr.) Tampa, Fla.

97 Luke Freer (6-4, 220, jr.) Fairhope, Ala.