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College football was buzzing today with the signings of Letter of Intents around the country. Class rankings were being announced and stars were being discussed everywhere in the nation. For followers of the Air Force Falcons however, today was just another typical day. Nowhere did you see some national superstar pull out an Air Force blue and silver hat and announce I am taking my talents to the Air Force Academy. Instead, there were announcements at local schools that would see players interested in playing for the Falcons signing Certificates of Intent.
What is the difference? A certificate of intent is a non-binding pledge to begin the process to be admitted to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. You don't qualify academically or get the endorsement of a United State Congressman to be admitted to the Academy and you can take your talents to another school without punishment or consequences of losing a year by having to sit out for your first season. Also, you won't see any finalized list from the Academy until players are cleared and admitted to the school this summer.
Current Air Force Certificates of Intent List (provided by 247 Sports and local media stories)
|
Ryan Brand |
*** |
5'10 |
192 |
Detroit, MI (Univ. of Det. Jesuit) |
QB |
|
*** |
6'5 |
276 |
Ventura, CA (St. Bonaventure) |
T |
|
|
Matt Gaiter |
** |
6'4 |
255 |
Littleton, CO (Chatfield) |
DE |
|
Corey Taylor |
** |
5'10 |
200 |
Tulsa, OK (Holland Hall) |
RB |
|
Ryan DeLung |
** |
6'3 |
275 |
Glendale, AZ (Mountain Ridge) |
G |
|
Tyler Vaught |
** |
6'1 |
170 |
Maryville, TN (Maryville) |
QB |
|
Jaylen Burgess |
** |
5'11 |
210 |
Maryville, TN (Maryville) |
RB |
|
Nick Searcy |
** |
6'2 |
280 |
Woodstock, GA (Etowah) |
C |
|
Dominieke Jones |
** |
6'1 |
165 |
South Jordan, UT (Bingham) |
CB |
|
Sam Barry |
** |
6'2 |
185 |
Grapevine, TX (Grapevine) |
QB |
|
Ronald Cleveland |
** |
5'10 |
170 |
Franklin, TN (Battle Ground Academy) |
APB |
|
Jeffrey Maycock |
** |
6'2 |
290 |
Gilbert, AZ (Williams Field) |
DT |
|
Dailen Sutton |
** |
6' |
165 |
Dallas, TX (Bishop Dunne Catholic) |
CB |
|
Stone Miller |
** |
6'4 |
245 |
Mason, MI (Mason) |
DE |
|
Daniel Zivney |
** |
5'11 |
190 |
College Station, TX (A&M Consolidated) |
K |
|
Tristyn Hanson |
** |
6'2 |
215 |
Lakeville, MN (Lakeville North) |
OLB |
|
Parker Hammond |
** |
6'4 |
240 |
Colorado Springs, CO (Pine Creek) |
TE |
|
Campbell Clarkson |
** |
6'3 |
245 |
Houston, TX (St. Thomas) |
T |
|
Lesley Dalger |
** |
6'5 |
205 |
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Westminster Academy) |
WR |
|
** |
6'1 |
200 |
Austin, TX (Anderson) |
S |
|
|
Noah Hoxie |
** |
6'2 |
205 |
Knoxville, TN (Knoxville West) |
OLB |
|
5'10 |
203 |
Clermont, FL (East Ridge) |
S |
||
|
Lorenzo Thomas |
6'2 |
220 |
Tulsa, OK (Union) |
RB |
|
|
6'2 |
285 |
Cumming, GA (South Forsyth) |
G |
||
|
Kobey Eaton |
6'3 |
185 |
Seattle, WA (Evergreen) |
WR |
|
|
Justin Agner |
6'1 |
200 |
Woodstock, GA (Woodstock) |
QB |
|
|
Josh Rice |
6'1 |
290 |
Orlando, FL (Lake Nona) |
C |
|
|
Malik Miller |
5'10 |
200 |
Griffin, GA (Griffin) |
RB |
|
|
6' |
215 |
Oviedo, FL (Oviedo) |
FB |
||
|
5'11 |
200 |
Normal, IL (Normal Community) |
Ath |
||
|
6'1 |
205 |
San Mateo, CA (Aragon) |
RB/LB |
As far as the class goes, it appears on paper to be a strong class for the Falcons if the athletes all qualify for the school. Starting with two 3-star athletes in quarterback Ryan Brand and offensive tackle Nick Capella, this class has some potential. The defensive backs are more of your average sized players with height and speed. Gavin Graham, who is the brother of Air Force Falcons basketball player Hayden Graham, leads the group that all average over 6' in height. That is size the Falcons have started to get more in the defensive backfield.
The Falcons have also committed to more size on the offensive and defensive lines. Capella is as highly ranked a player as the Falcons have had on the line in recent history. Players with the size like Griffin Landrum (285 lbs.), Josh Rice (290 lbs.) and Jeffrey Maycock (290 lbs.) were never recruited to the Academy before, but it is becoming a regular occurrence under Head Coach Troy Calhoun.