Will Shea Smith be the successor to Shaun Carney?
Story By: Lee Douglas
Source: KOAA
Spring football practice enters its second week at the Air Force Academy and perhaps the most interesting position battle is the one for quarterback.
Senior to be Shea Smith enters spring ball number one on the depth chart. He backed up four-year starter Shaun Carney last season. He only saw mop up duty until Carney suffered a severe knee injury in the second half of the Armed Forces Bowl with Cal. In relief Smith rushed for a career high 33 yards on four carries and led the Falcons on a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter that cut Cal’s lead to six.
Smith told News First, “Obviously I wish we would have pulled it out but it was definitely good experience to get out on the field and play."
But that doesn’t mean he’ll succeed Carney as the Falcons starting quarterback next season.
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun said, “It could be Shea. It could be Eric Herbort. It could be one of the kids that will be a sophomore this fall. Who knows it could possibly be a freshman."
Smith, a former high school star at Odessa Permian in Texas the “Friday Night Lights school”, says he’s learned a lot backing up Carney and is ready to compete for the starting job. Smith says, “We have to compete for positions. They haven't named the starter yet so I'm going out there trying to earn a spot just like everybody else on the team. That's what spring ball is all about."
