The official term at Air Force is a “turnback,” but Kyle Chen described his past year in simpler terms.

“I kind of put my life on pause,” the junior safety said.

Coming off a sophomore season in 2024 that saw him start four games, Chen was working through a standard defensive back drill in July 2025 when he felt his knee pop. It wasn’t particularly painful, but tests and an MRI revealed tears that required surgery.

Semester turnbacks – a temporary separation from the academy because of a hardship – are not historically uncommon. But under Air Force leadership during the summer of 2025, the only options provided to Chen were to remain at the academy and rehab, knowing he would miss a season and be limited as a cadet, or separate for a full year.

Chen weighed the variables. He hated the idea that all of the friends with whom he had entered the academy would graduate a year before him. And what would he do with himself at home for a year?

But on the other hand …

“I love football,” he said. “I want to play football for as long as I can. … I decided I’d rather take the year off, take some time for my family and my recovery and then have two more years of football here.”

What followed was a lot of golf. Rehab. Workouts. Church. Time with family, friends, his girlfriend. Seeing his former high school team play. More golf. A lot of waiting.

He said he was in a bad state mentally when the injury occurred. But by the end of the time away he was rejuvenated.

Now Chen is stepping into a defensive secondary that has seen a massive overhaul in the 14 months since the injury.

The safety positions in 2025 were occupied by Max Mustell (then a freshman) and Roger Jones Jr. (then a sophomore).

They both return, and sophomore Cade Paterson has surged to the top of the depth chart. Another sophomore, Joseph Kramich, worked with the No. 1 defense in scrimmage settings last week.

That leaves Chen, who had earned a starting spot as a sophomore, again facing an uphill climb to playing time.

“There’s a bunch of guys in that room who can really, really play,” he said of a group of safeties.

Coach Troy Calhoun noted Chen’s ability to play both safety positions.

“Kyle is very aware, very mature,” Calhoun said. “He’s got really, really good football IQ.”

On top of that, Chen has a new outlook gained from a year on pause.

“I’ve got a whole new perspective on it,” he said of returning to the academy refreshed. “Just ready to really attack the year.”