Rudy Varela is Air Force’s power-built senior center ready to step into the spotlight
In the 2026 season, Rudy Varela is projected to start for the first time after spending three years learning behind All-Mountain West centers, and that experience shows in his confidence and command of the unit.[8][10][15] At 6-foot-3 and about 295–317 pounds, he brings a power-first profile, senior maturity, and the kind of trench toughness Air Force leans on in its run-heavy system.[1][10][15] He also comes with a clean durability/usage note: he played in two games in 2025 and did not see action in 2024, so the question is less talent than how quickly he translates backup reps into starter-grade consistency.[1]
