AFA's Gonzales doing well after move to offense

Air Force junior Ryan Gonzales received good marks from co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Clay Hendrix after the Falcons' first practice on Thursday.

Gonzales, who played on the defensive line during his first two years at the academy, recently was moved to the offensive line.

"I was really pleased," Hendrix said. "He told me he hadn't played (offensive line) since middle school. I tell you what, (junior guard) Nick Charles and a couple of those older kids have done a good job just kind of crash-coursing him."

Hendrix said he's wanted Gonzales on the offensive line for a while, "and they finally let us have him."

"He can move and he can bend and he's aggressive," Hendrix said of Gonzales. "He's got all those things we're looking for."

McAngus to receiver

Air Force sophomore Will McAngus has been moved to receiver. McAngus played quarterback last season and at times was the Falcons' No. 3 signal caller.

"It gives him a little bit better chance to play," Head coach Troy Calhoun said.

"I just don't think you can have a bunch of quarterbacks. I think you've got to pick who your top two or three are, and those are the guys you need."

Junior Eric Herbort and senior Shea Smith are the top two candidates for the starting quarterback job, and sophomore Ben Cochran is working with the third team. Calhoun also said he is "really excited about the freshmen we have at quarterback." Freshmen will join practices next week.

Injury update

As expected, senior Z receiver Ty Paffett and senior nose guard Jared Marvin both did not practice Thursday. Paffett is recovering from a pair of back surgeries, while Marvin is rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee.

In addition, Charles, junior tailback Devon Ford Jr. and junior outside linebacker Myles Morales all wore red jerseys and did not participate in Thursday's session. Charles and Ford both have hamstring pulls, while Morales has an injured right arm. He is wearing a cast on the arm and was slated to have it X-rayed Thursday "to see what kind of break there is," Calhoun said.