Wallerstein has quietly become one of Air Force's best players

When senior A.J. Wallerstein is mingling with his fellow Air Force Academy cadets, odds are he’ll be identified as a football player.

“I think I’m the biggest guy in the school,” Wallerstein said. “It’s hard to miss me.”

Wallerstein is somewhere between 285 and 295 pounds, depending on who you ask. So people can tell he’s on the football team, but most of them probably have no idea he is one of Air Force’s best players, and one of the best offensive linemen in the Mountain West Conference.

Players like Tim Jefferson, Jonathan Warzeka, Anthony Wright and Jon Davis might be more recognizable names, but Wallerstein is every bit their equal. He is the only Falcons player to be named first- or second-team all-conference last season (he was second team) and be named to the preseason first-team all-conference squad this year.

“People know me because they might say, ‘Oh, that’s a big football player,’ it’s never, ‘There’s that all-conference (player),’” Wallerstein said.

He doesn’t really want the attention or to be recognized. Wallerstein is a pretty typical offensive lineman that way.

“I like that,” Wallerstein said. “I know my position. I’m a guard. We don’t need the press, and we don’t get any.”

His teammates know his value to the offense. He is an excellent athlete for his size, making him a key part of Air Force’s run game and its pass protection as well. He is also one of Air Force’s smartest players.

“A.J. Wallerstein is a heck of a ballplayer,” left tackle Jason Kons said. “When it comes to little things, his assignments, you’ll never see him get a mental bust. He knows the game, he does the little things well, understands what needs to happen, and does a very good job at it.”

Wallerstein showed his versatility when he moved from right guard to left guard during training camp when some injuries hit the Falcons’ offensive line. The coaches knew there wouldn’t be any problem when he switched sides.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a guy, and I’ve had some good ones, to be the quality player he is, and he might be the smartest football player I’ve had,” offensive line coach Clay Hendrix said. “It’s amazing the stuff he asks me. He has a great mind for the game. He’s about as total package of a guy as you’ve ever seen.”

Wallerstein has worked to get better. He has improved his footwork tremendously, Hendrix said. He trained hard this offseason to be in great shape. Wallerstein said he is proud that he has improved as a football player, but the all-conference nod last month wasn’t a big deal for him.

“It’s a nice honor, it’s nice to be recognized, it doesn’t really mean anything,” Wallerstein said. “Talk to me at the end of the season, we’ll see then.”