Notes: Calhoun getting closer to a more experienced squad

Air Force coach Troy Calhoun’s goal is to have less than 10 sophomores and freshmen on his depth chart, and he is getting there.

Air Force has 13 sophomores and freshmen on the first- and second-team offense and defense heading into its season opener.

“As soon as we can get that number down to single digits, that’s more in line with what we want to be as a program,” Calhoun said. “Next year I think we’ll be fairly close to that.”

The good news about having young players like freshman cornerback Chris Miller, freshman safety Anthony Wooding Jr. or freshman outside linebacker Jamil Cooks on the depth chart is it gives the program a good foundation for the future. But Calhoun places a high priority on making sure his players improve and peak as seniors, so he wants teams that are heavy on upperclassmen every year.

“If you’re a freshman and have broken in the two deep, you’ve shown some signs you have a chance to be a good football player,” Calhoun said. “Yet, as coaches and players, we can’t assume automatically that happens. At this place, you better be so vigilant and training and development that they have a chance to improve.”

Northwestern State in early

Northwestern State will come to Colorado on Thursday, a day earlier than usual, for its game at Air Force on Saturday. Demons coach Bradley Dale Peveto said he wants his team to get used to the altitude. Peveto told his players they could do some sightseeing Friday, and offered a tour of the U.S. Olympic Training Center or a trip to the mountains.

“A couple of them said ‘I’ve never seen a mountain before,’” said Peveto, who added the field trip would be to the mountains. “It’s a unique experience for us.”

Injury update

Calhoun wanted to see how his team came through Tuesday’s practice before making decisions on some injured players and whether they would play Saturday. The two biggest questions are cornerback Anthony Wright Jr. (ribs) and Josh Hall (ankle), who did some things in practice Monday.

Wright and Hall participated in practice on Tuesday.