Air Force Academy – Aaron Shanor is made of the right stuff.
Two years ago as a sophomore, he was a promising linebacker with credentials that could help the Air Force defense. He played in half a dozen games and started against Navy, collecting seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
However, a class in engineering mechanics proved tougher than the Midshipmen. He failed the class and used his junior year to get back on the good side of two academic review boards and academy superintendent Lt. Gen. John Regni. Now, Shanor is back on the field for his senior season.
Shanor could have gone home to an uncertain future, but his commitments to the academy, football and his teammates were too strong.
“I knew I had to play football again,” Shanor said. “I’ve played since I was so little that I couldn’t … I couldn’t accept not playing again. Now that I have my grades in order, I felt comfortable that I could come back.”
Brian Knorr, Air Force’s assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach, couldn’t be happier about having Shanor back. Knorr, a holdover from the Fisher DeBerry regime, said the 6-foot-1, 235- pound Shanor could have been a missing link last season in a defense that allowed the opposition an average of 25.2 points.
Knorr said having Shanor will provide even more of the right stuff for Drew Fowler, who led the Mountain West Conference in tackles, as well as senior Austin Randle. Randle can backup either Fowler or Shanor.
“Aaron’s bigger and a real physical-type player,” Knorr said. “His return gave us an opportunity to move Fowler to a position in our defense that is more of a runner who can make plays in the open space. He moves as well as any backer I’ve ever coached. It would have been nice to have both of them last year.”
Shanor stayed away from the program during his junior year but did attend some games.
He’s returning to a new staff – headed by Troy Calhoun – and a new defensive system under coordinator Tim DeRuyter.
“In a way, I’m retaking football,” Shanor said. “I see it as an opportunity. I’m excited about the new defense. It’s more aggressive, and as a linebacker, what else could you want? I look at it as a fresh start. I knew all of the seniors and juniors, and I wanted to show them I was back and back for good.”
Randle believes the three inside linebackers will adapt well to a new 3-4 defensive concept. With three down linemen in the alignment, it allows for an extra linebacker in front of four defensive backs. But it can leave an opponent’s offensive linemen uncovered, with a clear shot at a linebacker.
“They don’t know what we’re doing or where we’re coming from,” Randle said. “Aaron adds another starter in the mix. I don’t care if I come off the bench. I can play either spots. That will keep me plenty busy.”
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
