Dylan Carson’s right hand trembled as it supported him in a three-point stance early last September. The Air Force fullback awaited his first carry, awash in nerves.
When Carson flipped the ball to an official moments later and 29 yards downfield, everything had changed.
“It was honestly the flip of a switch,” Carson said of the impact of that run in last year’s season opener with the Falcons leading Robert Morris 35-0 late in the third quarter. “From there on out I was like, 'I think I can play here and I think I can contribute.'”
And thus began a whirlwind.
Carson finished his sophomore season with 493 yards on 68 carries. He ran for 236 of those yards in key games against UNLV and Boise State as the Falcons desperately tried to stay in the Mountain West race in the season's final two weeks.
The aeronautical engineering major also earned All-Academic Mountain West honors and during the summer was able to log a pair of backseat rides in F-16s from Luke Air Force base in Arizona.
“It kind of clicked that I really want to do that,” Carson said, noting the “brotherhood" and "camaraderie” in fighter squadrons that reminded him of a football team. “That’s something I really want to do in my career.”
As he enters his junior year the talk centering around the 6-foot, 215-pound Carson is not whether he’ll start at fullback – the position that the Falcons have morphed into one of the most prolific in the nation – but just how extreme his workload might be.
“Dylan, his body will be just fine,” offensive coordinator Mike Thiessen said. “I’m not worried about the number of carries he had last year compared to what he’s about to get. And we’ll space that out, too, if we can.”
It’s remarkable to think Carson isn’t yet a calendar year removed from being that sophomore shaking with nerves. But it’s also understandable that he felt that way at the time, considering what had preceded that moment.
In high school, Carson led the state of Washington with 2,671 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns as a senior. But no school swept in with an offer. As he played his final game, he feared his football career might be over.
Central Washington, an NCAA Division II program, made an offer in December. Finally, as signing day approached, Air Force took note as it was recruiting Carson’s teammate Nathan Elwood – now a sophomore offensive lineman with the Falcons.
It was Thiessen who paid a visit to the small school in Marysville, Wash., where Carson’s father, Brandon, was the football coach.
“I walked into the weight room and he’s over in the corner – and he’s kind of a quiet, no-nonsense kid – and he’s over there with 405 pounds on the squat rack,” Thiessen said. “I’m like, ‘You squatting today?’ He’s like, ‘Nah, I’m just warming up, coach.’”
Across the board, he proved to be a fit. Carson graduated as class salutatorian with a 3.95 GPA (4.9 weighted). He earned letters in football, track, basketball and golf. He was his school's scholar-athlete of the year recipient. In track, he participated in the shot put, long jump and sprints.
Carson received an offer from Air Force a week before signing day. He visited two weeks later and committed on the spot.
"We took a shot at a coach’s kid who was really tough," Thiessen said. "It’s worked out well. There’s a lot of stories like that around Air Force - the guy who didn’t get recruited very much and all the sudden he turns into something."
Carson had less than six months from the time Air Force first popped onto his radar until he was reporting for basic training.
“When you first get to the academy, boy, your eyes are really wide open,” said coach Troy Calhoun, who doubles as Carson’s position coach. “They were for him, I think he’ll tell you that. Those first few weeks he was here, he was like, 'Am I in the right spot?' And yet it didn’t take too long before you realized (he was) academically exceptionally strong. The maturity, the focus, the determination ... he’s a pretty dialed-in guy.”
The quiet nature has remained, even as Carson has grown comfortable as a cadet and into a leader on the football team.
“He’s like a silent warrior,” tailback Aiden Calvert said. “He kind of just gets that ball and puts it to ‘em.”
Air Force’s fullbacks – also called “Superbacks” – have put up massive numbers in recent years. Brad Roberts ran for 1,356 in 2021, a national-best 1,728 yards in 2022 and Emmanuel Michel went for 950 yards last year despite missing a pair of games.
Carson said 1,000 yards was a “respectful” and “obtainable” goal this season, but he mentioned that only after naming the team objectives and noting that he “wants to be the best person” he can be.
“I want us to win as many games as possible and put our seniors in the White House,” said Carson, noting the destination for the service academy team that captures the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy. “That’s the main thing.”
Carson hasn’t forgotten the mindset he had when he first put his hand on the Falcon Stadium turf in a game situation. Instead, he continues to use it to his advantage.
He won’t soon forget the self-confidence issues that came from feeling unwanted despite prolific numbers in high school. He carries that as a chip on his shoulder and a motivator.
That, more than a particular 29-yard run or his lone career start at Boise State, is what has turned him into the steady hand that the Falcons figure to lean on in a season that kicks off on Aug. 31.
“I’ve had that since Day 1,” he said. “In the classroom and (in football) – just me getting after it, outworking everyone else. That has been what has developed me.”
Ten returnees to watch
In a year in which Air Force lost 40 graduating seniors and returns just five starters on offensive and defense, much of the attention has been given to the players who will fill those voids.
Here’s a look at the experienced players who are returning (listed alphabetically):
Jamari Bellamy, sr., cornerback
Lone Falcon named to the Senior Bowl watch list. Owns 17 career starts with two interceptions.
Aiden Calvert, sr., tailback
Has 27 career carries for 222 yards (8.2 yards per carry) and one touchdown.
Dylan Carson, jr., fullback
Tops returning players with 493 rushing yards. Averaged 7.3 yards per rush last year without being thrown for a loss.
Matthew Dapore, sr., place kicker
On the Lou Groza Award watch list for third time. Is 39-of-50 on field goal attempts in his career.
Jerome Gaillard Jr., sr., cornerback
Converted from safety prior to last season and started the first eight games – all victories – before missing final five games with an injury.
Camby Goff, sr., safety
A starter in 2021 and 2022 before missing last season following an injury in the opener, he owns 100 career tackles and three interceptions.
Cade Harris, jr., slot receiver
A contributor since 2022, Harris has seven career catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed 12 times for 83 yards and two scores.
Jared Roznos, sr., wide receiver
Caught 12 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns as the team’s deep threat last season before an injury kept him out of the final three games.
Trey Williams, sr., cornerback
Started the final five games at cornerback in 2023, recording 35 tackles.
Payton Zdroik, jr., nose guard
Disruptive force who has 14 tackles for loss (nine sacks) over the past two seasons. Had seven straight games with a tackle for loss during sophomore season.
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