No Air Force player will be able to replace Ben Garland in 2010.

It will take several to fill the void left by the graduation of the powerful nose guard.

“I think we can do it in parts,” defensive line coach Ron Burton said. “I don’t think we can do it with one person.”

Garland, after all, changed how Air Force played defense in 2009.

A nose guard who combined size (6-foot-5, 275 pounds), strength, speed and a relentless motor, Garland was able to control hunks of the line of scrimmage. So coaches often made him responsible for the gaps on both sides of the opponent’s center.

“Usually, in most defenses, what you do is you’ll assign one guy to one space,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “With him, we were able to assign one guy to two spaces.”

Garland also ate up blockers, allowing inside linebackers to run free. And his ability to beat blocks and get into the backfield (he made a team-high 10.5 tackles for losses) made the Falcons less reliant on blitzes and more able to play five defensive backs (nickel) effectively.

“He was directly responsible for a lot of our success last year,” junior defensive end Rick Ricketts said.

Among those who will combine to replace Garland are sophomores Ryan Gardner and Harry Kehs. Gardner, according to Burton, does not possess Garland’s size but has “great footwork,” “a great lower body” and “an understanding of what we’re trying to get done.” He’s the front-runner to start.

“A lot of responsibility,” Gardner said.

Kehs, a converted tight end, might be the strongest member of the defensive line, according to Ricketts.

Ricketts, the lone returning starter on the defensive line, also will have a role in helping replace Garland when it comes to leadership.

“No doubt about it,” Burton said. “That’s a part of the program, part of the Air Force Academy. He and (defensive end) Wylie Wikstrom (who is projected to start opposite Ricketts) are two kids who have been in the program. They have the opportunity to lead by example, and that’s one of the things they must do.”

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