LAS VEGAS – Air Force football released its preseason depth chart in conjunction with Mountain West Media Days this week.

The main surprise was the extent of the information revealed, as most positions were listed as four-deep. The same depth chart released a year earlier included two players at each position.

As for the information itself, it affirmed much of what was assumed. At the skill positions, quarterback Liam Szarka, fullback Owen Allen, tailback Rocco Conti, slot receiver Matt Long and wide receiver Jonah Dawson are listed in bold, as would have been expected coming out of the 2025 season.

There is more uncertainty on the offensive line and within a defense, which threw a slew of young players into action at times last year and now has a roster full of returning players.

Suffice to say, optimism is high within the team. Asked about the ceiling of this squad on Wednesday, outside linebacker Isaac Hubert did not hold back.

“We’re going to have a great, great team,” Hubert told The Gazette at the Circa Resort Casino. “If we put it all together, like, we’re going to be awesome, generational. So we just got to put it together.”

Here are some of the pieces the team will be putting together, with thoughts gained from on- and off-the-record conversations and observations.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Szarka is the given, as his play last year was as good as the team has seen at the position. Full stop. Behind him, it was interesting to see sophomore Evan Medders elevated to even footing with experienced senior Josh Johnson as the backup. Former fullback Kemper Hodges, at 245 pounds, remains at the position a year and could again be a weapon in various positions, particularly in short-yardage spots.

Skill positions

Allen was a Preseason All-Mountain West pick, and a season of 1,400-plus yards is not out of the question for one of the most prolific players to ever come from Texas. Conti seems to be the leading contender to fill the jack-of-all-trades roll vacated by Cade Harris. Matt Long has the early lead at the slot position, but senior Owen Chambers’ name was mentioned in several conversations and coach Troy Calhoun alluded to the potential of an incoming freshman finding his way into the mix.

Tight end

Bruin Fleishmann caught 21 passes for 370 yards and six touchdowns last year, one of the most productive lines at the position for Air Force in decades. He’ll play this year as a graduate transfer for Montana State, as returning for another season at the academy was not an option following his four-year time as a cadet. Simon Kibbee, with a massive catch radius at 6-foot-6, is the leader to take the position. Kibbee was Szarka’s teammates in high school in Aurora. Calhoun noted the blocking ability of 290-pound tight end Griffin Stalfort and said he was “really fired up” about Tulsa, Okla., native Sam Rhoades V. Rhoades played some outside linebacker but is now “at home” at tight end, as Calhoun put it.

Offensive line

There’s an interesting amount of size and depth here for a team that loses three starters up front. Brandon Nazworth and Nathan Elwood are each listed in bold as potential starters at left tackle and TJ Tarascio is listed as the starter at left guard ahead of returning starter Alec Falk. The right side features the massive right guard Jon Ashford (listed at 320, though one teammate suggested he might be more than 350) and Luke Vonderhaar, who started two of the final three games of 2025 at right tackle. Four returning linemen made starts last season.

DEFENSE

Defensive line

The position group brings the most question marks, but it also seems to have the most players with a high ceiling. A source called Chaz Barnett a potential “all-decade great” following a breakout spring. The Highlands Ranch native is listed as the starter at defensive tackle. Bennett Williams is a surprise to be listed as the starter at nose ahead of seniors Lukia Rawls Jr. and Jayden Oquendo. Calhoun said Williams has emerged from an ACL injury by making “remarkable gains” in the weight room and “has a chance to be a good player for us.” The line positions will rotate, with all three likely to play a factor at the position with the same being true for Andrew Tillet behind Barnett. On the edges, Isaac Hubert, the cadet wing’s heavyweight boxing champion, is expected to have a big year on one end and Jaylin Reese is the same on the other. Antonio Menard, who made a lot of plays in spring, and Charlie Gleason have also generated buzz. Behind Hubert, Jake Kepler was a common name mentioned when Falcons players were asked for a potential surprise breakout player. One teammate called Kepler a “freak athlete” with power and speed off the edge. Don’t be surprised if twins DeShaun and Jalen Davis work their way into contributing roles.

Linebacker

The inside spots belong to Blake Fletcher, who had the team’s most prolific tackling season in more than 10 years, and Dallas Daley. Luke Fisher, Jonah Bowman and Vinnie Canosa bring experience and depth and sophomores Seth McFarland and Andrew Jrasek both popped onto the depth chart.

Secondary

This was where Air Force struggled through the early part of the season last year, but the young players who were thrust early into action now return with playing experience and the position battles figure to be the highlight of fall camp. Kyle Chen (away on an injury turnback last year), Roger Jones Jr., Max Mustell and Cade Paterson will compete for two safety spots, with Nick Beckwith being the fifth player in that mix. Paterson is the surprise addition to this competition, but Calhoun is impressed with his skill set and background. Mikhail Seiken, Korey Johnson, RJ Reedus and Jordan Elie-Stuart each started games at cornerback as underclassmen last year, and Ehimen Oyamendan also saw action at the position. At the SPUR/nickel position, Alexander Perez returns after seizing the position last year as a freshman. Among those pushing him will be Jax Gates, whose coverage skills were noted by Calhoun, and Ethan Stannard, an Atlanta native whose high school highlights drew rave reviews from Calhoun. “You watch his film and it’s like, this guy made some plays, and it’s against really, really good competition.”

AIR FORCE PRESEASON DEPTH CHART

OFFENSE

Left tackle

Brandon Nazworth (6-3, 290, jr.)

-OR- Nathan Elwood (6-3, 290, sr.)

Alex Boyd (6-4, 280, so.)

Left guard

TJ Tarascio (6-3, 310, sr.)

Alec Falk (6-5, 315, sr.)

Henry Rickels (6-3, 300, sr.)

Center

Rudy Varela (6-3, 295, sr.)

Johnique Thomas (6-0, 295, jr.)

Gary Lassley (6-4, 300, so.)

Peyton Knoebel (6-4, 300, jr.)

Right guard

Jon Ashford (6-2, 320, jr.)

Brody Smith (6-3, 290, jr.)

Cole Anderson (6-3, 315, so.)

Right tackle

Luke Vonderhaar (6-4, 285, sr.)

Marcus Roser (6-2, 280, jr.)

Jake Sulzberger (6-4, 275, so.)

Tight end

Simon Kibbee (6-6, 250, sr.)

Griffin Stalford (6-2, 290, sr.)

Samuel Rhoades V (6-3, 240 jr.)

Mitchell Blakeslee (6-4, 260, sr.)

Quarterback

Liam Szarka (5-11, 190, jr.)

Josh Johnson (6-1, 190, sr.)

-OR- Evan Medders (5-10, 210, so.)

Kember Hodges (6-0, 245, sr.)

Fullback

Owen Allen (5-11, 215, sr.)

Gage LaDue (5-10, 215, jr.)

Travis Wood (5-10, 225, jr.)

Luke Rauh (6-0, 210, jr.)

Tailback

Rocco Conti (5-8, 190, sr.)

Jalen Rashad Turner (5-10, 185, sr.)

Keegan Sack (5-10, 210, so.)

Mason Lowe (5-10, 185, jr.)

Slot receiver (WR-Z)

Matt Long (5-10, 205, jr.)

Mason Hayes (5-11, 210, jr.)

Owen Chambers (5-10, 195, sr.)

Sylas Maiva-Alaimalo (5-8, 195, so.)

Wide receiver (WR-X)

Jonah Dawson (5-9, 170, jr.)

Adam Hrynciw (6-2, 180, sr.)

Grant Wayne (6-1, 185, sr.)

Jet Wiley (6-2, 185, jr.)

DEFENSE

Defensive end

Jaylin Reese (5-11, 235, jr.)

Antonio Menard (6-1, 230, jr.)

Grady Forsythe (6-4, 235, jr.)

DeSean Davis (6-2, 225, jr.)

Nose guard

Bennett Williams (6-2, 285, jr.)

Lukia Rawls Jr. (5-11, 280, sr.)

Jayden Oquendo (6-2, 285, sr.)

Christian Krietzer (6-2, 240, so.)

Defensive tackle

Chaz Barnett (6-5, 260, jr.)

Andrew Tillet (6-3, 290, sr.)

Charlie Gleason (6-4, 235, sr.)

Noah Daniels (6-3, 260, so.)

Outside linebacker

Isaac Hubert (6-1, 225, sr.)

Jake Kepler (6-2, 230, jr.)

Jalen Davis (6-3, 220, jr.)

Connor Vasek (6-2, 255, so.)

Inside linebacker

Blake Fletcher (6-1, 230, sr.)

Luke Fisher (6-0, 225, sr.)

Jonah Bowman (6-0, 235, jr.)

Seth McFarland (6-0, 235, so.)

Inside linebacker

Dallas Daley (6-1, 215, sr.)

Vinnie Canosa (6-1, 230, jr.)

Brody Mitchell (6-1, 205, jr.)

Andrew Jurasek (5-11, 235, so.)

SPUR (Nickel)

Alexander Perez (5-10, 190, so.)

Jayden Malbranche (5-11, 180, so.)

Ethan Stannard (5-11, 195, so.)

Jax Gates (5-11, 190, so.)

Cornerback

Korey Johnson (6-0, 195, jr.)

Ehimen Oyamendan (5-10, 190, so.)

RJ Reedus (5-10, 185, so.)

Jerome Drain (6-3, 190, so.)

Free safety

Max Mustell (5-10, 175, so.)

Cade Paterson (5-11, 195, so.)

Joseph Kramlich (5-10, 175, so.)

JT Tomescko (6-0, 190, jr.)

Strong safety

Kyle Chen (6-0, 200, jr.)

-OR- Roger Jones Jr. (5-10, 184, jr.)

Nick Beckwith (6-0, 205, jr.)

Houston Hendrix (6-0, 205, sr.)

Cornerback

Mikhail Seiken (5-11, 190, jr.)

Jaris McIntosh (6-0, 190, sr.)

Jordan Elie-Stuart (5-11, 170, so.)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Placekicker

Jacob Medina (5-10, 170, jr.)

Carter Cremascoli (5-11, 210, so.)

Punter

Will Duncan (6-0, 220, jr.)

Rip Perez (6-2, 200, sr.)

Long snapper

Jake Helms (6-0, 210, jr.)

Griffin Stalfort (6-2, 290, sr.)

Holder

Rip Perez (6-2, 200, sr.)

Will Duncan (6-0, 220, jr.)