AFA reserve QBs Cochran, Dietz benefit most from spring

When Air Force coach Troy Calhoun moved freshman tailback Asher Clark to quarterback, it seemed to set up a spring practice showdown between Clark and freshman Tim Jefferson, the incumbent starter.

The showdown never really materialized.

Jefferson missed all but a handful of the first 12 practices to concentrate on academics. And Clark went through only about the first third of the practices before undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee.

With Jefferson and Clark mostly out of the mix, plenty of snaps were left for sophomore Ben Cochran and freshman Connor Dietz.

Both made strides.

"I like what they've done," Calhoun said. "The part that you take notice of is their execution's been pretty good. You just see the command of the offense, you can tell they're comfortable. They weren't initially, the first four practices, but you don't expect them to be at that time."

The 6-foot, 185-pound Cochran was the third-string quarterback much of last season. He improved his passing in the spring and said last week he has more confidence throwing.

Cochran said he takes pride in being a coach on the field, and Calhoun said Cochran has "great leadership ability" and that "you just want him to be a contributor to your football team."

Dietz, also listed at 6-0 and 185 pounds, was particularly impressive and took snaps with the second team the last three practices. An athletic player - coaches had him practicing returning kickoffs during drills - Dietz is a dual threat.

"Connor has really come on," quarterbacks coach Blane Morgan said of Dietz, who led Hilliard Davidson High School (Columbus, Ohio) to a 15-0 record and the state title as a junior. "I'm really pleased with his progression."

Dietz, who came to the academy directly from high school, began last season on the junior varsity. Just when Calhoun was considering bringing him up, he injured an ankle. He returned in time to travel to the Armed Forces Bowl, but the work he's done in spring has been critical in his development.

"I've come a long way, I think," Dietz said.

Asked if Dietz had a legitimate chance to win the starting quarterback spot next fall, Morgan said: "We'll just have to see. You never say never about anything. But the way he's played and the way he's executed and moved the offense, hopefully we'll get to the point by the end of summer practice that we feel very comfortable with him running our offense."

Jefferson, who participated in the final three spring practices, is likely to be listed as the starter when preseason camp begins. But Dietz and Cochran are on his heels.

"I've watched film, and you can see them getting better every day," Jefferson said prior to the academy's spring break. "So I can't sit back and say, ‘Oh, I have a job.' I have to get better just as they have to. No jobs are already given out. Everything's up for grabs."