AFA linebacker Lamendola still not close to a return

As the rest of Air Force’s players practiced Saturday, Ken Lamendola ran the steps at Falcon Stadium.

Lamendola is coming back from a left knee injury, and coach Troy Calhoun said he is weeks away from practicing. Lamendola had 118 tackles as a sophomore, just the sixth sophomore in Air Force history to pass 100 tackles in a season. He played just five games as a junior, and probably won’t be ready for the start of his senior season.

Lamendola is in good shape, coach Troy Calhoun said, able to ride exercise bicycles and run on the treadmill, but still needs time before he returns to practice.

“Is he within four weeks? I think that would be a stretch,” Calhoun said.

Once Lamendola, who is not allowed to talk to the media under Air Force’s policy for injured players, can practice, he will still need a little more time to get into football shape. Although Calhoun said he didn’t anticipate Lamendola being back to practice for another month or so – which probably means he won’t be back before October at the earliest - he can’t rule anything out because of Lamendola’s competitiveness.

“He is a guy that wants to get back out there,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun said it is possible, if Lamendola misses most of the season, for him to ask for a ninth semester and another season of eligibility. Calhoun said that is only possible if Lamendola can’t partake in a leadership opportunity at the academy because of the injury. The team hasn’t yet looked into the possibility of a ninth semester, according to Calhoun.

The Falcons had other injury issues on Saturday. Fullback Mike DeWitt hurt his knee, perhaps the medial collateral ligament, which could cost him some time. Receiver Kevin Fogler also has a banged-up knee, but might only miss a few days. Running back Asher Clark (hamstring), safety Brian Lindsay (quadriceps) and cornerback Anthony Wright Jr. (virus) were also limited.

The healthy players went through a scrimmage Saturday. Camp is about halfway done, and the team is pleased with the progress it has made.

“We’re progressing quite a bit,” receiver Jonathan Warzeka said. “But obviously, we have a little more work to do. I think by our first game, Sept. 4, we’ll be good to go”