National signing day: No changes of heart among Air Force recruits

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said he received no big surprises Wednesday, the first day of college football’s official signing period and often a time when coaches are blindsided by recruits’ last-minute changes of heart.

“It was like we expected,” Calhoun said.

Air Force recruits don’t sign binding letters of intent, and the academy doesn’t release the names of its recruits due to the appointment process until they arrive on campus in the summer.

But based on players who signed nonbinding certificates in ceremonies Wednesday and others who The Gazette has confirmed plan to attend the academy, it appears Calhoun and the Falcons have the makings of a talented class.

“Overall, it’s a quality group,” Calhoun said.

As of 5 p.m., recruiting Web site Scout.com, ranked the Falcons’ class 77th in the country. Another site, Rivals.com, ranked Air Force’s class tied for 101st.

Among the top talents in the class are 6-foot-2, 244-pound defensive tackle Kebin Umodu (Covina, Calif./South Hills) and 6-4, 274-pound offensive lineman A.J. Wallerstein, both of whom were ranked as three-star (out of five) players by Rivals.com.

Air Force also got a commitment from 6-4, 285-pound lineman Evan Epstein of Dallas, who was called “a dominant blocker,” by Bill Persinger, his coach at Bishop Lynch High. Epstein, who runs a 4.95-second 40-yard dash and was an all-state selection, had offers from more than 30 schools, Persinger said, and chose the academy over Georgia Tech, UCLA and Cal.

One of the quarterbacks to commit to Air Force was Nick Green (6-2, 195) of Central Catholic in Portland, Ore. Green passed for approximately 2,700 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 600, said Steve Pyne, his coach. Pyne said Green is a pro-style quarterback “but has the ability to stick his foot in the ground and make some plays with his feet.”

Two players from Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz. — tight end Austin Briehl and receiver Brandon Hirneise — committed to Air Force. Briehl chose the academy over UNLV, Arizona State, Boise State and Duke.

“I took all my (official visits), and when I got to Air Force, I had that feeling,” he said.

An official visit also helped 6-0½, 176-pound cornerback Josh Hall (Duluth, Ga./Northview) choose the academy. He also was persuaded by the “opportunities you get from an Air Force degree,” the coaching staff and the opportunity to play early. Air Force lost both its starting corners to graduation.