| 2008 overall record: 8-5 2008 conference record: 5-3 Returning starters Offense: 6, defense: 7, punter/kicker: 0 Top returners QB Tim Jefferson, TB Asher Clark, LB Ken Lamendola, NG Ben Garland, DB Chris Thomas, OG, Nick Charles, OL Peter Lusk, DB Reggie Rembert Key losses TE Travis Dekker, FB Todd Newell, WR Ty Paffett, DE Jake Paulson, DE Ryan Kemp, OLB Hunter Altman, K Ryan Harrison 2008 statistical leaders (* returners) Rushing: Todd Newell (594 yards)
Passing: Tim Jefferson* (655 yards)
Receiving: Kyle Halderman* (266 yards)
Tackles: Ken Lamendola* (115)
Sacks: Jake Paulson (9.0)
Interceptions: Reggie Rembert* (3) Spring answers | 2009 Schedule | | Sept. 5 Nicholls State
Sept. 12 at Minnesota
Sept. 19 at New Mexico
Sept. 26 San Diego State
Oct. 3 at Navy
Oct. 10 TCU
Oct. 17 Wyoming
Oct. 24 at Utah
Oct. 31 at Colorado State
Nov. 7 Army
Nov. 14 UNLV
Nov. 21 at Brigham Young | | | 1. Depth at tailback: With Asher Clark moving to quarterback and ultimately suffering a knee injury, players such as Jared Tew, Savier Stephens, and Luke Hyder got a chance to give the Falcons depth in the backfield. 2. Secondary is the strength: Senior Chris Thomas leads a secondary that might be the best the Air Force has had in recent memory. Thomas is coming off his second-consecutive 100-tackle season. He also had nine tackles for loss and led the conference with four fumble recoveries. Sophomores Jon Davis and Anthony Wright will man the corner positions while coach Troy Calhoun awaits the status of Reggie Rembert. 3. O-line looks solid: Whoever starts in Air Force's backfield will have a solid line to work with. Guards Nick Charles and Peter Lusk and tackle Chris Campbell all return. Tackle Ryan Gonzales, who rotated in last season, and center Michael Hampton, who also played, are expected to fill out the O-line. Fall questions 1. Who's the quarterback? Calhoun opened the competition between incumbent Tim Jefferson and former tailback Asher Clark, but Jefferson didn't practice much and Clark suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss most of spring ball. The competition will go into the fall, but it should be Jefferson's job to lose. 2. Rembert returning? Rembert was suspended indefinitely in mid-April because of an unspecified violation of academy standards and there's still no word on whether he'll be eligible to play in the fall. Rembert led the Falcons in interceptions and is top kick returner. He is still allowed to practice with the team. 3. Consistency in kicking: With two-year starter Ryan Harrison gone, the Falcons are searching for a kicker with the same type of consistency and have yet to find that guy. Sophomore Zach Bell and freshmen Erik Soderberg and Garrett Jack are all competing for the starting role. | 
Watson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Missouri Tigers and the Big 12 Conference for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She also covered college football recruiting for the Dallas Morning News.
