Air Force has seven named preseason all-Mountain West by Phil Steele Magazine
6/11/2026 8:46:00 AM | Football
Air Force had seven players named to the Phil Steele's Magazine preseason all-Mountain West team. The Falcons had four first-team members, two second team and a third-team honoree.
Senior offensive lineman TJ Tarascio, senior linebackers Blake Fletcher and Isaac Hubert and junior safety Roger Jones, Jr., were all named to the first team. Senior fullback Owen Allen and senior offensive Luke Vonderhaar were named second team while junior quarterback Liam Szarka was third team.
Tarascio and Vonderhaar anchored an offensive line that helped Air Force lead the conference and rank third nationally in rushing with a 261.4 average. The offensive line also helped the Falcons lead the MW in passing efficiency (165.99), yards per completion (17.96) and fewest penalty yards per game (31.25). Air Force led the conference and ranked fourth in the nation in time of possession with a 33:52 mark and were second in the Mountain West and 22nd nationally in sacks allowed with a 1.33 average.
Fletcher was a second-team all-Mountain West selection in 2025. He led the team, ranked third in the Mountain West and 21st nationally in tackles with 108, a 9.0 per-game average. He had double figures in tackles in six games and led the team in tackles seven times. He recorded his career high of 11 tackles in five games. He became the first Falcon with 100-plus tackles (108) in a season since Jeremy Fejedelem in 2018. His 108 tackles are the most by a Falcon since Jordan Pierce had 177 in 2014.
Hubert led the Falcons in tackles for loss with 11.5 for 41 yards and in sacks with 5.0 for 25 yards. He had a stop behind the line of scrimmage in six games total. Hubert recorded a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss for seven yards vs. Hawaii.
Jones started all 12 games and was an honorable all-MW selection. He was second on the team in tackles with 76, while tying for the team lead in solo stops with 39. Jones was second on the team in interceptions with two and added a fumble recovery to record three total turnovers. He had a career-high 10 tackles, a TFL and an interception against Wyoming to earn MW defensive player of the week honors.
Allen was second on the team in rushing with 750 yards and five touchdowns. He was fourth in the Mountain West in yards per carry (5.68), fifth in rushing yards (750) and fifth in rushing yards per game (62.5). Allen tied for the team lead with five 100-yard rushing games, all coming in the last seven games. He rushed for a career-high 192 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries at UNLV.
Szarka was an honorable mention all-Mountain West selection after leading the team in rushing (190 carries, 922 yards, 13 touchdowns), passing (75-120-5-1,294-9) and total offense (310 plays, 2.216 yards, 221.6 avg). He became the first Falcon with 2,000-plus yards of total offense since 2105 and his 1.294 passing yards are the most by a Falcon since 2019. Szarka became the first player in Mountain West history to record three straight games of 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing, accomplishing vs. Boise State, Hawaii and Navy. He is one of just six quarterbacks nationally since 1996 to do it and first since Lamar Jackson of Louisville from 2015-16.
Air Force finished 4-8 overall and placed eighth in the Mountain West with a 3-5 mark in 2025. The Falcons won three of their final six games after a 1-5 start, posting wins over Wyoming, San Jose State and Colorado State. Air Force beat Colorado State, 42-21, in the season finale to win the Ram-Falcon Trophy for the eighth time in the last 10 years.
Full 2026 Football Schedule HERE.
To purchase or renew Air Force football season tickets, please visit www.aftickets.com or call 719-472-1895.
For information on premium seating, including the East Club presented by L3Harris at the Kucera Legacy Center and the Blue & Silver Club, please click HERE or call the Falcon Athletic Fund at 719-333-4545 to purchase.
For more information about supporting the Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment and matching gifts, please click HERE or call 719-472-0300.
Senior offensive lineman TJ Tarascio, senior linebackers Blake Fletcher and Isaac Hubert and junior safety Roger Jones, Jr., were all named to the first team. Senior fullback Owen Allen and senior offensive Luke Vonderhaar were named second team while junior quarterback Liam Szarka was third team.
Tarascio and Vonderhaar anchored an offensive line that helped Air Force lead the conference and rank third nationally in rushing with a 261.4 average. The offensive line also helped the Falcons lead the MW in passing efficiency (165.99), yards per completion (17.96) and fewest penalty yards per game (31.25). Air Force led the conference and ranked fourth in the nation in time of possession with a 33:52 mark and were second in the Mountain West and 22nd nationally in sacks allowed with a 1.33 average.
Fletcher was a second-team all-Mountain West selection in 2025. He led the team, ranked third in the Mountain West and 21st nationally in tackles with 108, a 9.0 per-game average. He had double figures in tackles in six games and led the team in tackles seven times. He recorded his career high of 11 tackles in five games. He became the first Falcon with 100-plus tackles (108) in a season since Jeremy Fejedelem in 2018. His 108 tackles are the most by a Falcon since Jordan Pierce had 177 in 2014.
Hubert led the Falcons in tackles for loss with 11.5 for 41 yards and in sacks with 5.0 for 25 yards. He had a stop behind the line of scrimmage in six games total. Hubert recorded a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss for seven yards vs. Hawaii.
Jones started all 12 games and was an honorable all-MW selection. He was second on the team in tackles with 76, while tying for the team lead in solo stops with 39. Jones was second on the team in interceptions with two and added a fumble recovery to record three total turnovers. He had a career-high 10 tackles, a TFL and an interception against Wyoming to earn MW defensive player of the week honors.
Allen was second on the team in rushing with 750 yards and five touchdowns. He was fourth in the Mountain West in yards per carry (5.68), fifth in rushing yards (750) and fifth in rushing yards per game (62.5). Allen tied for the team lead with five 100-yard rushing games, all coming in the last seven games. He rushed for a career-high 192 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries at UNLV.
Szarka was an honorable mention all-Mountain West selection after leading the team in rushing (190 carries, 922 yards, 13 touchdowns), passing (75-120-5-1,294-9) and total offense (310 plays, 2.216 yards, 221.6 avg). He became the first Falcon with 2,000-plus yards of total offense since 2105 and his 1.294 passing yards are the most by a Falcon since 2019. Szarka became the first player in Mountain West history to record three straight games of 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing, accomplishing vs. Boise State, Hawaii and Navy. He is one of just six quarterbacks nationally since 1996 to do it and first since Lamar Jackson of Louisville from 2015-16.
Air Force finished 4-8 overall and placed eighth in the Mountain West with a 3-5 mark in 2025. The Falcons won three of their final six games after a 1-5 start, posting wins over Wyoming, San Jose State and Colorado State. Air Force beat Colorado State, 42-21, in the season finale to win the Ram-Falcon Trophy for the eighth time in the last 10 years.
Full 2026 Football Schedule HERE.
To purchase or renew Air Force football season tickets, please visit www.aftickets.com or call 719-472-1895.
For information on premium seating, including the East Club presented by L3Harris at the Kucera Legacy Center and the Blue & Silver Club, please click HERE or call the Falcon Athletic Fund at 719-333-4545 to purchase.
For more information about supporting the Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment and matching gifts, please click HERE or call 719-472-0300.
Players Mentioned
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