Ben Garland

Academy standouts Garland, Mooney return to NFL practice squads

By Kevin Lilley on September 3, 2013 Air Force, Army, Football, nfl

Former Army Black Knight Collin Mooney, the team’s single-season rushing leader, rose from the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad to the game-day roster late last season, playing in his first two NFL games and even making the stat sheet — five carries, 19 yards. Former Air Force Falcon Ben Garland recorded 115 tackles as a collegiate defensive lineman and spent all of 2012 in that same position with the Denver Broncos practice squad, only to transfer to offensive guard in preseason workouts this year in a move designed to improve his chance to make the 53-man game-day roster. Despite Mooney’s game…

Football roundup: Garland switches sides, Steelman update, Mooney recruits, schedule news

By Kevin Lilley on May 2, 2013 Air Force, Army, Football, Navy

Four academy football hits, including an Air Force standout, two Army standouts and Navy’s bipolar 2014 schedule: 1. Garland’s new gig. Star Air Force defensive lineman Ben Garland joined the Broncos in 2010, left for active-duty Air Force service in 2011 and came back in 2012. The first lieutenant returns to Denver in 2013, but on the other side of the football — The Denver Post reported he’ll play offense this time around. He has not reached the active regular-season roster during his short NFL tenure. And he’ll also need to update his Twitter background picture. 2. Black Knight to…

Ben Garland waived by Broncos, could be (UPDATE: is) headed to practice squad

By Kevin Lilley on August 31, 2012 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

The Denver Broncos waived Air Force Academy grad Ben Garland on Friday, but the defensive tackle might not need to pack his bags just yet. Garland, who recorded a sack in Denver’s preseason-ending 16-13 win over Arizona on Thursday, could end up on the Broncos’ practice squad, according to multiple reports. (UPDATE: The Broncos released their practice squad via Twitter, and Garland’s on it.) Denver and the 31 other NFL clubs had to cut their rosters to 53 players by 9 p.m. Eastern on Friday, but at noon Saturday, the teams can begin building practice squads of up to eight…

Midweek football links: Garland's gift, academy preseason roundup, uniform news and more

By Kevin Lilley on August 8, 2012 Air Force, Army, Football, Navy, nfl, Uncategorized

Eight quick gridiron hits (four here and four after the jump) as we begin the slow transition from Olympic fever to football frenzy. If symptoms persist, we suggest frequent check-ins with After Action’s picture-a-day countdown to kickoff. 1. Garland’s sabre surprise. Denver Broncos players have been active in charity efforts geared toward healing a community devastated by wildfires. But when it came to Air Force 1st Lt. Ben Garland, who is attempting to earn a roster spot on Denver’s defensive line, the giving was personal. Garland’s teammates gave him two silver sabres and an Air Force football helmet lost to…

Tuesday military sports links: Airmen in NFL and CFL, sailor in Paralympics, wrestlers win in Serbia

By Kevin Lilley on June 19, 2012 Air Force, Navy, Uncategorized, Wrestling

From Denver to Calgary to London to Belgrade and all points in between, here’s a few quick hits spanning eight or so time zones: Oh? Canada? Air Force 2nd Lt. Spencer Armstrong’s college football career barely took off — the wideout missed five games his junior season with a hamstring injury, then broke his leg three games into his senior year, rejoining the Falcons in December for the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl (and that cool picture on the right). The Canada-born Armstrong was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in 2009, but as with other aspiring…

Thursday links: Ben Garland, Big East, Army baseball, concussion study, J.J. Avila and more

By Kevin Lilley on May 31, 2012 Air Force, Army, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Mixed martial arts, Navy, UFC

A Thursday tour around the Web for military-themed sports goodness: Ben Garland update. We promised we’d keep you informed, and here’s the latest: Garland, a first lieutenant, ditched his Denver Broncos uniform Wednesday for some traditional cammies, being sworn in as a member of the Colorado Air National Guard in front of the team’s training facility. Get the whole story from our good friends at USA Today here. Garland will do public relations work for the Guard while trying to make the Broncos as a defensive lineman. J.J. Avila update. In April, we told you the ex-Naval Academy hoopster and…

Monday football roundup: Short Ben Garland update, bad Big East news, Army film in heavy rotation

By Kevin Lilley on May 14, 2012 Air Force, Army, Football, Navy, nfl

A few service academy-related football notes to start off your week: 1. Praise from high places: We promised you updates on Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland’s quest for an NFL job with the Denver Broncos, so we pass this along from Frank Schwab at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Denver head coach John Fox offered some short remarks on Garland’s stellar work ethic during a post-rookie workout news conference late last week. Judging from the picture in that first link, the Air Force Academy grad’s strength and conditioning won’t be an issue. 2. Conference calamity: Speaking of early outs,…

Returning to a deferred dream: Ex-Falcon Ben Garland back with Broncos

By Kevin Lilley on April 24, 2012 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

We’ve written about Air Force 2nd Lt. Ben Garland before, when his career paths collided last year and he chose to give up his chance at becoming a pilot for the chance pursue an NFL career. As we reported, the defensive lineman had to skip the 2011 NFL season and serve on active-duty while applying for the Palace Chase program, part of which allows airmen “early release from active duty to pursue activities with potential recruiting or public affairs benefit to the Department of the Air Force.” Cut to a year later — his release has been approved, according to…

Catching up on Twitter, NFL lockout edition

By Mike Hoffman on July 25, 2011 Football, nfl

The NFL lockout is over so ESPN can mercifully retire the same photo of the locked gate holding back the dirty snow we saw over and over and over again. But this also means our favorite former service academy stars can return to the field and NFL teams can invite recent graduates who will try to catch a coach’s eye before returning to active duty. Sure, this is probably the lazy way to go but let’s see what the players are up to via the Twittersphere now that the NFL’s has announced that football’s back and we can go back…

Garland passes on pilot slot for NFL dreams

By Mike Hoffman on April 5, 2011 Air Force, Football, Uncategorized

Air Force Academy grad Ben Garland beat a block by Cougars offensive lineman Roy Watts during the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 31, 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo) Air Force Academy grad and Denver Bronco defensive tackle Ben Garland chose to pass up on his pilot slot to give him a chance to play in the NFL, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. Garland struggled with the decision after he was invited to Broncos training camp and played well last summer. He remains on their roster on the military/reserve list. “Being a pilot was my dream since…

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