It would have been hard to imagine Peter Lusk one day becoming a Division I starter when he was cut from his middle school’s football team in seventh grade.

Heck, even now, take a look at the 6-foot-3 guy who weighs just 249 pounds, and it’s difficult to believe he could be a starter on a Division I offensive line, often facing players who outweigh him by 50 or more pounds.

But not only has Lusk started 28 games for Air Force over the last two-plus seasons at right guard, the senior also has become a vital cog in one of the nation’s best ground attacks.

The Falcons rolled up 273.6 rushing yards per game in the regular season, the third-best mark in the nation. And many of the yards came right up the middle behind Lusk, who was named to the All-Mountain West Conference second team and will finish his career on Dec. 31 when Air Force faces Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl.

“He’s a warrior,” said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, who added Lusk “absolutely” should have been a first-team All-MWC selection. “Just a phenomenal competitor, great intensity. He’s not a rah-rah guy at all, but you can tell it burns inside the guy.”

That fire was ignited in seventh grade. Lusk decided to try playing football, but he was “a big, chubby kid,” he said, attempting to play receiver and “wasn’t very good.”

“It was really eye opening,” Lusk said. “I got cut, and I said, ‘You know, I can quit right here and say I’m not a football player or go play Pop Warner football, learn what I’m actually doing and come back next year.’”

Lusk played Pop Warner and was moved to the offensive line. A year later he made the middle school team.

After playing three years of varsity football at Enloe High in Raleigh, N.C., Lusk came straight to the academy. He was overmatched his freshman season and doubted he’d ever get on the field. But classmate (and current starting right tackle) Chris Campbell encouraged Lusk to keep playing, and the following spring Lusk made strides and earned a backup role.

As a sophomore he kept improving and started the final three games of the regular season. He’s become leaner in the two seasons since and used his quickness, flexibility, football savvy and low pad level – “I don’t think I’ve ever seen an offensive lineman that lines up lower than he does,” Calhoun said – to make up for his lack of size.

“Is he a guy that absolutely is every bit Air Force football? You better believe it,” Calhoun said. “Great worker, incredibly unselfish, tough, driven and just a leader through and through. … He is one special young man.”

Air Force right guard Peter Lusk showed his disappointment after losing to Navy 16-13 in overtime on Oct. 3. Photo by KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE