Air Force Football: Linebacker makes big impact in short time

Inside linebackers, according to Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, are "a special breed" and "hard to find."

But it didn't take long for Calhoun to recognize he had one in Ken Lamendola.

In August 2007, Lamendola was one of the first freshmen, along with Reggie Rembert, that Calhoun moved up to the varsity.

Calhoun thought Lamendola had the size to play the position (6-foot-2 and 230 pounds) and - perhaps more importantly - the instincts inherent in all great inside linebackers.

Calhoun said those instincts include "an unbelievable nose for where the football is," "a knack for being able to navigate through blockers and always get to the ball carrier" and the ability to anticipate passes and "immediately break on the ball."

"I just thought he was a natural inside linebacker," said Calhoun, whose Falcons host No. 20 Utah at 2 p.m. today.

Lamendola is showing it this season. He leads the team in tackles with 24.

Lamendola has been a linebacker since he began playing tackle football in sixth grade, and he played his high school football for prep power St. Edward in Lakewood, Ohio. He played sparingly last season but learned plenty watching senior inside linebackers Aaron Shanor and Drew Fowler, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection in 2006 and a second-team choice in 2007.

"They taught me everything," Lamendola said.

In the offseason, Lamendola added muscle and, Calhoun said, became "quicker on his feet."

"I think he moves better than I did," said Fowler, who led the Falcons in tackles in 2006 and 2007 and now serves as a graduate assistant. "He just plays fast, and he's a tough kid."

In three games, Lamendola has done a good job of replacing Fowler at weakside inside linebacker. He has made nine more tackles than Chris Thomas - who's second on the team - and in the past two games he's recorded 23 stops.

"The last couple of weeks he's played better," Calhoun said. "He's one of those guys you want to see get up the elevator in a hurry in terms of the kind of progress he's got to make."

Armstrong out indefinitely

Senior receiver Spencer Armstrong, the Falcons' top deep threat, has a fractured fibula and will be out indefinitely, sports information director Dave Toller said.

Armstrong suffered the injury late in last Saturday's victory over Houston while recovering an onside kick.

Toller spoke to head trainer Tony Peck, who told him it is too early to determine whether Armstrong will be able to return this season.

In the first three games, Armstrong caught two passes for 14 yards and gained 89 yards on five carries. His 17.8-yards-per-rush average leads the team.

TODAY
No. 20 Utah at Air Force, 2 p.m., VS, 740 AM.