AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Air Force defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter is glad to report that head coach Troy Calhoun’s description of defensive end Rick Ricketts still applies.
Last season, when Ricketts was making 28 tackles as a backup with the Falcons, Calhoun said Ricketts’ motor never stops running.
“Absolutely that’s the case,” DeRuyter said. “That’s why he’s a good football player for us. Because of his relentlessness, he makes plays. He plays as hard as anybody on our defensive team.”
Ricketts hit the ground running at Air Force. As a freshman, he played in 11 games and made his first collegiate start against Navy.
“I was thrown in there because of an injury to one of our starters,” said Ricketts, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior from San Jose, Calif. “It was eye-opening for me because I didn’t think I would play, and all of a sudden I was starting in the biggest game of the year.”
As for this season, Ricketts believes the AFA defensive line, which includes starters Ben Garland (6-5, 275) and Myles Morales (6-3, 250), will be an area of strength.
Moving target.
Air Force junior Jared Tew has been busy.
He’s listed as a fullback, where he played last year while rushing for 328 yards and four touchdowns.
But during August camp, Tew has played fullback and tailback and also has been returning kicks.
“I’m more comfortable at fullback, but it’s more fun playing tailback,” he said.
His days of fun may be over.
“Something would have to change for him to be considered at tailback,” Calhoun said. “He looks sluggish at tailback, and unless that changes, he’s a fullback every down.”
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
CU selects captains.
Coach Dan Hawkins announced that seniors Marcus Burton, Jeff Smart and Riar Geer were selected by their teammates as team captains for 2009.
Geer is a 6-4, 250-pound tight end from Fruita Monument High School. Smart is a 6-0, 225-pound linebacker from Boulder High School, and Burton is a 6-0, 265- pound linebacker from Channelview, Texas.
The Denver Post
