AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Only the results have exceeded the anticipation of Jon Davis beginning his football career at Air Force.
It meant something when coach Troy Calhoun provided a preview to Davis’ sophomore season in 2009. Calhoun said he couldn’t wait to see how Davis was going to play free safety.
Saturday in Fort Collins against Colorado State, Davis plays his final regular-season game, and Calhoun has his answer.
“He has been superb,” Calhoun said this week. “He’s played through injuries, he’s been terrific against the pass and he’s a good tackler. He’s a darn good football player, and there’s no reason why he couldn’t play in the NFL just because he went to the Air Force Academy.”
Davis refuses to focus on his football future past Saturday. The Falcons (6-5) need a victory to clinch a fifth straight winning season and become bowl- eligible.
“I can’t think about anything else but Saturday’s game right now,” Davis said when asked about his college career coming to an end. “I know I can’t believe it’s about over. It’s sad for me to think I’m about finished with football.”
Davis’ favorite comment about playing safety is that he usually is busy in a game. The game against the Rams will be his 46th, and he is hoping to add to his 233 tackles and nine interceptions, which ties for eighth in school history.
Calhoun’s comment about the NFL triggers memories for Davis, a Cincinnati native. While in high school he said he learned that only 2 percent of high school players make it past the college level.
“I was one of those guys who thought he’d be in the 2 percent,” Davis said. “The NFL was where I was planning on going. It was one of the biggest dreams of my life since I was 9 years old.”
A high school friend who went to Army helped convince Davis that football wasn’t everything.
“I started thinking that a good education and having a stable foundation were priorities,” he said. “I knew if I came here (AFA) and got through it, I’d have a job.”
Davis is considering going to pilot’s school or graduate school.
Charlton Warren, Air Force’s defensive secondary coach, noted that Davis has grown — from 180 pounds to 210 — but, more important, he has grown as a leader.
“(Davis) has the skill set to play at the next level,” Warren said. “He has gotten better every year. He works great with our younger players. It’s tough losing players like him. He has a special place in my heart.”
Pro teams still could show interest in Davis, but he would have to work around his military commitment.
“I think I would be looked at as a leader,” Davis said. “I usually say a few words before each game. It’s whatever flows out of my mouth. I think I give some energy.”
Senior leadership probably is the biggest factor for the Falcons salvaging the season after losing consecutive games to Notre Dame, San Diego State and Boise State.
“I think all the seniors had a hand in it,” Davis said. “Our locker room had gotten down. We talked to the younger players about the need to play hard every down and about getting it done personally.”
He considers the 24-14 victory over Army on Nov. 5 as the highlight of his Air Force football career. The victory kept the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in the Falcons’ possession, meaning the team’s seniors go to Washington, where President Barack Obama will present them with the trophy.
Davis left his mark in the Army game. His 12 tackles, a forced fumble, recovered fumble and interception helped the Falcons come back from a 14-0 deficit.
It was senior leadership, and for Air Force’s sake it has to show up again Saturday.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Three questions for Air Force
1. It has come down to one game. Can Air Force prevail and win its seventh game to become bowl-eligible? The Falcons (6-5) need seven victories this season because of playing South Dakota and Tennessee State, two FCS teams. The Falcons have won five in a row against Colorado State, which has struggled this season and is on a six-game losing streak.
2. Will preparing for the different styles of CSU quarterbacks Pete Thomas and Garrett Grayson be too big of a task for Air Force’s defense? Grayson, a freshman who got his first career start last week, is mobile and can test the defense on the perimeters. Thomas, a sophomore, is a drop-back, pocket passer but continues to recover from a sprained knee.
3. Will Air Force quarterback Tim Jefferson throw his 10th touchdown pass of the season, equaling last year’s mark that stands as his best season? Jefferson has thrown 29 touchdown passes in four seasons. Last year against the Rams, Jefferson was 5-of-9 passing for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks third on the school’s career TD passing list behind Shaun Carney (39 from 2004-07) and Rich Haynie (34 from 1971-73).
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
