Previewing The Air Force Wide Receivers
Cadets led by new Wide Receivers coach, Ari Confessor
Contact/Follow @MWCWire
An all new wide receiver corps
At Air Force, a single increase in the win column this season would all but guarantee a Bowl appearance for the Falcons in 2019. If you are of the optimists who see an increase in win total for the Cadets coming, the returning starters and contributors with game experience are likely reasons.
The wide receiver corps, however, would not be one of the positions that returns as a proven commodity this year. In fact, there are only two wideouts on the team’s roster that even registered a catch last season in Geraud Sanders and Brandon Lewis.
Neither of which recorded a touchdown. On top of that, they are also led by a new position coach, Ari Confessor who previously coached at the FBS level for Holy Cross.
Even with their run dominant approach, receivers are key components to the offense. A lot is required of them in the Air Force scheme, in particular blocking. They have also been counted on routinely to contribute as runners as well. Fortunately, personnel turnover is a common churn at the Academy. Perhaps the next Jalen Robinette is on this roster. Probably not, Robinette was a generational talent for the Academy. Nevertheless, that does not mean the locker room is absent potential.
Potential. Youth and Potential is how I would describe the 2019 receiving corps. We got a rare glimpse of a freshman contributing right away at Air Force last year in Brandon Lewis. As one of the two receivers on the roster to register a catch last season, he collected 100 yards on five catches. He did this while only playing in the final four games of the season.
The other returning contributor is a senior in Geraud Sanders, who hauled n 14 catches for 236 yards last season. Similar to the way Marcus Bennett stepped into the starting role vacated by Jalen Robinette, look for that to be Sanders.
Marcus Bennett did not have the career statistics that of Robinette, but he was a very effective receiver in this offense when he finally had the opportunity to shine. Sanders should have the same opportunity this year on what promises to be a more capable passing offense.
Recently the Falcons have offered a rotation of supporting receivers in their offense. This was both a product of their scheme, as well as capable personnel filling out the depth. Gone are Ronald Cleveland, Garrett Amy and Andrew Smith who occupied that capacity last year.
There is a host of promise waiting in the ranks for the opportunity to see the field. Four of them were recruited as three-star prospects in the last two recruiting classes; Deavyn Woullard and Xavier Guillroy from the 2019 class, alongside Malik Rodgers and David Cormier from the 2018 class.
Coming out of spring camp this year, there seems to be a lot of optimism around David Cormier. That optimism has been expressed directly from the newly arrived Confessor. Both Cormier and Sanders present big targets at 6 foot 3 inches.
Also putting in work and progressing at wideout are Luke Bohenek and Jake Spiewak. According to coach Confessor, they have been developing nicely.
Adding depth at slot receiver, Benjamin Waters has transitioned to the offensive side of the ball after playing defensive back last season. Garnering praise for his work also was Amari Terry. Ben Pederson closed out camp listed as a starting receiver on the 2019 prospectus. That depth chart projection won’t necessarily be reflected when the season kicks off, but it does serve as notice that repetitions were had by Pederson.
The players in the mix at slot receiver are a little more unique in the way they are used. The slot receivers in the Air Force offense are likely to get as many if not more touches running the ball as they are catching passes.
If things go the way Air Force would like on the ground, it will allow time for the receiving corps to get acclimated at a much more desirable pace. At minimum, a level of efficiency on the ground should certainly create opportunities for the passing game, and receivers specifically, to expose teams who go all in to stop the run. It will be interesting to see who will contribute from this position.
Kade Waguespack and who else?
In contrast to the wide receiver situation, Air Force returns starting experience at the tight end position. While this may not be the most glamorous position in the offense, make no mistake it is an important one. The tight end is an extension of the team’s offensive line with the emphasis that is placed on run blocking in their offense.
The last three starting tight ends of the team were all multi-year starters. Now in the NFL, Garrett Griffin was part of the very successful 2014 Falcon team before completing his military commitment upon graduation and is now catching passes from Drew Brees. After Griffin’s departure, Ryan Reffitt took over and started for the last team that made a Bowl appearance. So you see, there is some history there, even if tight end is not typically the position of emphasis at Air Force.
Holding true to the two-year cycle, returning this season is Kade Waguespack. Waguespack was a consistent fixture on the offense last season. He brings the most touchdown receptions back from last year’s team, with three. More importantly, he brings a steady presence alongside the offensive tackle to be a true extension of the running game.
Air Force does not commonly feature multi-tight end packages with their offense, but that will not relieve them from having to ensure there is depth at this position. Also returning from last year’s team is Rhett Myers who was a special team’s contributor. He may get some looks in relief of Waguespack this season.
Also vying for time on the depth chart is the 6 foot 4 inch Lesley Dalger. Dalger has spent portions of his career at the Academy as a wide receiver. He made a few appearances last season, in particular near the end zone. He closed spring camp second on the depth chart, let’s see if he remains there. Another individual who warrants mention with his touchdown catch in the spring game simulation is Luke Miller.
While I try not to get too caught up in prospect ratings for Air Force players coming out of high school, I have to admit the top offensive recruits from the last two groups of commits intrigue me.
Chris Kane was the pride of the 2018 recruiting class as a three-star prospect and the top-rated recruit on offense. He spent last season as a freshman on the Academy’s Prep team roster. In this year’s 2019 class, the Falcons landed another three-star prospect in Kyle Patterson.
While Kane did not come to the Academy with prototypical tight end frame weighing less than 220 pounds; Patterson looks the part. Listed at 6 foot 6 inches and 234 pounds, he was the top-rated offensive prospect in the 2019 class. In addition to the Falcons, he received offers from Washington, Arizona, and Alabama to name a few. Young players do not often break into the lineup at the academy, so even if you don’t see a lot of these two in 2019, they are names you should become familiar with.
