Air Force begins spring football practice Tuesday, and what a productive session this ought to be.

The Falcons started a slew of young players on defense and every one of them is back. (Yes, all of them, as All-Mountain West honorable mention safety Roger Jones Jr. pulled his name out of the transfer portal.)

With that much experience, some from freshmen starters like safety Max Mustell and nickel Alexander Perez, the eyes ought to be extra wide with awareness this spring.

Offensively, quarterback Liam Szarka is back after a breakout sophomore season. Back also is fullback Owen Allen.

There are some roster questions and changes in the coaching staff as the Falcons turn the page following a 4-8 season, their second consecutive sub-.500 season.

Here’s some of what to watch this spring.

Liam Szarka – how much can he go, grow?

The quarterback unlocked Air Force’s full offense in ways rarely seen when he broke into the lineup early in the season.

The Aurora product became the first Falcon to amass 2,000-plus yards of total offense since Karson Roberts in 2015. He led the team in rushing (922 yards) and passing (1,294), became the first player in college football with three consecutive games of 200-yards passing, 100-yards rushing since Lamar Jackson and set a program and Mountain West record among quarterbacks with five consecutive games of 100-yards on the ground.

But Szarka’s season ended with a broken arm in a loss at UConn on Nov. 15. He is expected to be back for spring drills, but he will be limited and obviously off limits to the defense. Still, there can be value in reps of lining up the offense, adjusting calls based on defense and finding some rhythm with a host of new playmakers.

New faces at the offensive skill positions

Szarka and Allen return, giving the Falcons two key players and their top two rushers. Pretty much everyone else who touched the ball with regularity is gone.

The list of departing seniors includes longtime fullback Dylan Carson, do-everything slot receiver Cade Harris and tailback Kade Frew. The top three receivers – Harris, standout tight end Bruin Fleischmann and wide receiver Quin Smith – are gone.

Wide receiver Jonah Dawson and slot receiver Matt Long saw action last year as sophomores, each drawing at least one start. They’ll enter as the front runners at their spots. Tailback Rocco Conti also saw action as a junior, impressing as a blocker.

At tight end, Simon Kibbee – Szarka’s former high school teammate – figures to start with the lead on the depth chart.

Plugging holes up front on both sides

While as many as eight spots on defense figure to return a player who made at least five starts last season, the three down linemen positions will feature a combined total of one player – Andrew Tillett – who made one start.

Twin brothers DeSean and Jalen Davis could make an impact entering their junior season. Lukia Rawls returns at the nose, where he spelled Payton Zdroik last season. At defensive tackle Tillett and Jayden Oquendo were depth chart mainstays.

Offensively, the line loses starters Trevor Tate (left tackle), Costen Cooley (center) and Jack Burnett (right guard). There’s plenty of size (by Air Force’s standards) waiting in the wings with the lines of TJ Tarascio (6-foot-4, 310-pound rising senior) and Jon Ashford (6-3, 350 rising junior) are among the players who will contend for starting spots.

Coaching changes on defense

The return of defensive coordinator Steve Russ, who last held that role with the Falcons in 2017, highlights the coaching changes.

Former defensive coordinator Brian Knorr is now on staff at Michigan, while Nick Toth – who took over calling the defense midway through the season – is at Kansas State.

A hire or two figures to be coming in the next few weeks as the position coaching roles are settled.

Offensively, it looks like the full staff returns intact.