Air Force-New Mexico game at Albuquerque (8:15 p.m., ESPNU, 740AM):

A group text shot out among the Air Force outside linebackers as soon as the Mountain Division was clinched last weekend.

“There were a lot of exclamation marks,” D.J. Dunn said. “Maybe some emojis in there, too.”

Dunn has emerged as the most prolific texter in that group. He’s also emerged as one of the more productive members of the Falcons defense and one of its most vocal players.

“He’s just an outspoken person in general,” fellow outside linebacker Jacob Onyechi said. “That’s just how he is.”

Dunn is this way by necessity. He grew up in San Bernardino, Calif., as one of 10 in his household. With seven girls and three boys, he would have to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to sneak in a shower before the onslaught would arrive in a group dash to meet the bus by 6:30 a.m. Timidity has no place in that sort of chaotic upbringing.

But when Dunn arrived at the top of the Air Force depth chart this year after playing just three games over his first two years, he was slow to bring his outspoken ways with him.

“I didn’t want to overstep or anything like that,” he said. “I wanted to establish some credibility, some ethos, so there was some meat behind what I was saying. I didn’t want to be that wild dog, I wanted to be more of an inspirational, motivational guy.”

The credibility is no longer an issue. Dunn ranks second on the Falcons with 12 tackles for loss and six sacks. He has a pair of fumble recoveries and blocked a field goal at Boise State.

Dunn is now comfortable to be himself and communicate as he wishes. The only problem is that he’s limited with emojis since he has a now-outdated Iphone 4.

On the field, he’s experiencing no such limitations.

BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE