AIR FORCE ACADEMY — A.J. Wallerstein’s presence has been noted the past two years among Air Force’s offensive linemen.
Even though he was a freshman and sophomore, he stood out at 6-feet-4 and 285 pounds. Now, as he looks forward to his junior season with the Falcons, he not only stands out in height and weight, but in experience as well.
Wallerstein is the leader of the offensive line’s rebuilding job that coach Troy Calhoun identified as one of the Falcons’ priorities this spring.
“You could say this is my chance to get to start and to be a leader,” Wallerstein said Tuesday as Air Force completed its spring camp. “We can be just as good if not better than last year’s group. I think we’re quicker across the line than last year.”
The rebuilding job includes all five positions on the offensive line, as well as tight end.
Wallerstein wasn’t the only player to solidify his chance of being well up on the depth chart when Calhoun brings the team together in August.
Brian Lindsey and Darius Jones at running back are newcomers who raised their stock during spring camp. They will be sophomores.
“I feel I put my name in the coach’s mind, but I still have a long way to go,” said Jones, who came to Air Force from Atlanta. “I’ve been in the program a year now and this is just a continuation of getting better.”
Jones began play last fall at 5-6 and 160. “Playing undersized most of my life, I’ve learned that taking on the big guys isn’t a smart thing to do,” he said. “I try not to let anyone get a full hit on me.”
Calhoun said Jones made good strides, especially in the first 13 practice sessions.
“He’s more accustomed to what he has to do and because of that he’s playing more aggressively and with more confidence,” Calhoun said.
Quarterback Tim Jefferson, looking forward to his third season as a starter, was limited during spring camp because of surgery on his right knee. But he was at every practice and able to participate some.
“I saw a lot of athletes on the field,” Jefferson said. “We could be a really talented group in the fall.”
Jefferson expects to be at 100 percent when preseason practices begin in August.
“We got in our whole packages offensively and defensively,” Calhoun said. “We’re going to have to be a really healthy squad when August rolls around. We had a ton of contact this spring. We probably ran as many scrimmage snaps this spring as we have at any time since I’ve been here.”
Calhoun said that over the next four to five months his whole team will have to make strides in physical development. He said he will be looking for players who are durable and dependable when the Falcons return in August.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverrpost.com
