AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun is taking a cautious approach on the eligibility of quarterback Tim Jefferson for his sophomore season. Calhoun said last week that, in his estimation, none of his freshmen from last season are assured of playing this season.
Jefferson took over the starting role at quarterback last fall in the sixth game and led the Falcons (8-5) to an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl. However, Jefferson’s status for 2009 became a question mark when he was held out of most of spring practice to concentrate on his academic work.
“If we started today, I don’t have a single freshman from last season who has earned the point where on Aug. 1 they’re ready to begin practice to begin their sophomore year academically,” Calhoun said. “There are a lot of factors. Every one of our players has to do an enormous amount over the next six weeks to be able to play football. They have to be healthy militarily, academically, physically.”
Calhoun noted that all of his freshman players from last year are taking classes this summer.
“Just because they might have some athletic ability, they’re not exempt from the academy’s curriculum track,” Calhoun said.
Looking toward his third season at Air Force, Calhoun wants to build his program to where freshman players aren’t prominent on the varsity roster.
“Whenever you play freshmen at the academy, there are going to be some bumps,” Calhoun said. “We have to get out of that business. That goes for every sport here. We have to build where we’re playing mostly juniors and seniors.”
Looking ahead to the start of preseason practice Aug. 3, Calhoun placed Jefferson and sophomore Asher Clark on his depth chart at quarterback. Clark is coming off knee surgery during spring practice, but Calhoun believes he will be near 100 percent.
The Air Force coach hinted he could consider a two-quarterback system in some cases, although he would prefer that the player at the top of the depth chart take most of the snaps.
“We have ideas on players who will play more than others,” Calhoun said. “We are going to be a team that needs to have a ton of contributions from a bunch of players.
“I’m open to the possibility of a two-quarterback system, and we’d have roles for both of them. We have to be flexible in our thinking and have players who are willing to move around.”
Meanwhile, the status of junior cornerback Reggie Rembert also is in doubt. Rembert is on suspension for breaking unspecified academy rules.
Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh anticipates Rembert being reinstated in time for “most of the season.”
“I don’t know how many games he’ll miss, but he won’t miss them all,” Mueh said. “It has to run its course.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
