Air Force saw five of its players named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Mountain West football team, as announced today by the publication. Junior defensive lineman Payton Zdroik earned first-team honors, while senior safety Camby Goff was recognized on the second team. Junior fullback Dylan Carson and senior defensive back Jamari Bellamy secured spots on the third team, and senior receiver Jared Roznos was named to the fourth team. In a separate feature, Head Coach Troy Calhoun was named the conference’s top coach by the magazine.
Zdroik, who amassed 32 total tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season, leads Air Force in returning statistics for tackles for loss and sacks. Goff, a preseason all-Mountain West selection last year, suffered an injury in the season opener but still managed 42 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions in 2022, earning honorable mention all-conference accolades.
Bellamy emerges as the team’s leading returning tackler this year, boasting 35 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a team-high five pass breakups from the previous season. Carson assumes the role of Air Force’s top returning rusher, having accumulated 493 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. Roznos, meanwhile, led the Falcons in receiving last season with 12 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns.
Coach Calhoun, entering his 18th season at the helm, boasts an overall record of 130-82 and has guided Air Force to 13 bowl appearances, including an 11-win season, four seasons with 10 wins, and three seasons with nine wins. The Falcons concluded the 2023 campaign with a 9-4 record overall, including a 5-3 mark in Mountain West conference play. They capped off the season with a 31-21 triumph over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl, securing their fifth consecutive bowl victory.
