What Freshman Are You Expecting to Contribute This Fall?

Yes, he is a PWO this year and then next year a full scholarship player. Here's his story below.

This is why he has to get his degree before he get on a football scholarship at another higher learning institution like The University of Florida. He's basically forced to take a walk on approach in his first year.



The vast majority of players in the transfer portal join either after departing their team or as a way to evaluate options during the offseason. Rillos’ situation is different because of Air Force Academy policy. As a senior who will graduate with honors in May, he does not have the option of returning to the Falcons in the Fall of 2024. He does, however, have two years of NCAA eligibility remaining. He also, on the strength of his academic record (a GPA around 3.9 as a mechanical engineering major -- has access to one of Air Force’s competitive graduate school slots.

If he can match a graduate school – he’d like to get an MBA or master’s degree in systems engineering or mechanical engineering – with a non-athletic scholarship (Air Force requirement) at a program that would also welcome him onto the football team, he can keep playing.

By entering the transfer portal during the season, it has allowed other programs to put him on the radar and make contact. At this point he sees potential landing spots at Florida, Virginia or Rice.


Air Force tight end Caleb Rillos tries to keep transfer portal from becoming distraction

 

I'm not sure why anyone worries about "burning" redshirts anymore. If a player is very good, you're only going to get three years out of him, max. And, they will probably opt out of the bowl game in the third year, too. Combine that with the transfer portal free-agency situation we have now under the NIL high-bidder environment, and you're not guaranteed more than one year of anyone. So, play 'em if they're good enough and don't worry about their shirts.

 

Maybe with some QBs you might want to do this, but not with Lagway, IMHO... The 2025 QB, maybe you red-shirt that QB, if he's really good.

 

I'd like to see Lagway grab snaps in every single game

 

He should... and I think he will. There is no reason to pretend that he might red-shirt in 2024, so he should expect to have some plays geared for him specifically in every game we play.

 

Prediction: Baugh will go down as one of the best running backs we've had on the roster in a long time. How CBN uses him this year will be interesting, but i suspect by mid-year, if he stays healthy, he will be one of our top ball carriers.

 

That would be awesome. And unexpected. And unlikely. But if he bursts forth and becomes a difference maker alongside Wilson we'd be on a different level.

 

QB may be a slightly different situation. At least some of them. Some guys like Fields want to play right away or they bolt.

 

When i watched the orange & blue game, Baugh reminded me of a Leonard Fournette clone. I'm thrilled we have some positives going into the season that can make this upcoming year something to look forward to.

 

I'm pretty sure he won't act as immature as Fournette, though.

 

Greg Smith was seen as a really raw prospect that needed to be developed. He's one of the more likely redshirts. I'll say Baugh has the most impact next year as I expect him to end up RB2.

 

Did we need Tebow or Harvin in '06? No. They were generational athletes. McCray and Lagway might be as well. Lagway has to get on the field this season to prepare him to lead the team in '25.

 

No doubt, if our OC has that in the playbook.

 

We won't be signing someone like Fields in this next cycle. More likely in '26.