AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has the Falcons back on the practice field and working on fundamentals during their bye week.
The first order of business was patching up the defensive unit that lost outside linebacker Patrick Hennessey (hand) and nose guard Ryan Gardner (knee) in Saturday’s 35-19 loss to TCU. They’re sidelined indefinitely.
Sophomore Jamil Cooks of Colorado Springs is getting the call at outside linebacker and juniors Cody Miller and Nick DeJulio will share time at nose guard. Cooks had Air Force’s only sack of TCU’s Casey Pachall last Saturday, forcing and recovering a fumble on the play.
Miller was credited with two tackles and DeJulio one against the Horned Frogs.
“Gardner gave us a bigger body at 260 pounds,” Calhoun said. “But DeJulio and Miller have good quickness, and they use their hands pretty well.”
Senior quarterback Tim Jefferson, who left the game at the end of the third quarter with a bruised right forearm is expected to start the next game, Sept. 24 against Tennessee State.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
