{"id":105954,"date":"2025-07-30T22:34:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T22:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/105954\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T22:34:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T22:34:10","slug":"usd-opens-training-camp-with-big-expectations-on-football-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/105954\/","title":{"rendered":"USD opens training camp with big expectations on football field"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe it was because the calendar had not yet flipped to August. Maybe it was the view from the University of San Diego press box, the field below unlined yet plush green.<\/p>\n

Maybe he was just in a good mood.<\/p>\n

But on Tuesday, the day his players reported to summer camp ahead of Thursday\u2019s first practice, third-year USD head football coach Brandon Moore was smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m looking over my shoulder this year to see what\u2019s going to fall from the sky,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Moore\u2019s 2023 first season (4-7) was marred by a hazing scandal that resulted in two lawsuits. The Toreros finished 8-3 last season, closing with a rush, winning six of their last seven games.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe energy and the expectation carries over,\u201d said Moore.<\/p>\n

USD has been picked by coaches to win the Pioneer Football League championship.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the first time since 2019 that the Toreros, once the PFL\u2019s dominant program, have been selected as the league favorite. The team will hold an open-to-the-public preseason scrimmage Aug. 16 at 5 p.m., then kick off the 2025 slate at home against Cal Poly on Aug. 30.<\/p>\n

With lofty expectations, here are five things to watch for before the Cal Poly opener.<\/p>\n

\"USDUSD quarterback Dominic Nankil passes. (Charlie Neuman \/ For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
\n1. Who lines up behind center?<\/p>\n

There are two candidates to start at quarterback, junior Dom Nankil and redshirt junior Tyler Voss. The 6-foot, 175-pound Nankil is a former Mater Dei Catholic High School star who led the Crusaders to two state championships. Voss (6-3, 190) is from Simi Valley. He\u2019s a transfer from San Jose State, where he never attempted a pass.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re dead even,\u201d said Moore.<\/p>\n

The head coach goes \u201cTop Gun\u201d when describing the QBs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re \u2018Maverick\u2019 and \u2018Iceman,\u2019\u201d said Moore. \u201cMaverick (Nankil) is going to get it done and be unorthodox at times. He\u2019s a lot more creative with his feet. Tyler (Ice Man) is an operator in the sense that it\u2019s going to look how you drew it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cDom can sling it. Tyler\u2019s got more of that (Tom) Brady stature. He can just sit in (the pocket) and rip it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nankil is the more experienced of the pair. In that helter-skelter 2023 season, he started as a true freshman, throwing for 1,158 yards and five TDs against four interceptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe consensus,\u201d said Moore, \u201cis both guys can help us win championships.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Who carries the ground game?<\/p>\n

USD is noted for producing quarterbacks with gawdy passing stats. But when the Toreros are at their offensive best, that aerial attack is accompanied by a talented running back,<\/p>\n

If a back emerges this year, he\u2019ll come virtually out of nowhere. The leading candidate is graduate student Matt Colombo, a former USC back who gained 152 yards last season for the Toreros.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a slasher,\u201d Moore said of Colombo. \u201cHe\u2019s got a great center of gravity. He\u2019s a strong runner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how uncertain USD\u2019s running back status is. Senior Adam Criter has been switched from wide receiver, likely carrying the ball some in space. He has one career catch for 11 yards.<\/p>\n

3. How good can the O-line be?<\/p>\n

If your passing game and running attack are in question, it helps to have a talented offensive line. And that\u2019s the strength of USD\u2019s offense. Four starters return: center Maicah Talavou, left tackle Evans Bowling and guards Jack D\u2019Ambra and Nick Streumpf.<\/p>\n

Talavou and Bowling were named to the All-PFL preseason team. Moore feels that the 6-2, 290-pound Talavou, a junior, is a potential All-American.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re riding the offensive line,\u201d said Moore. \u201cWe like them to be gritty and play between the whistle at 1,000 miles per hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Who replaces Reed?<\/p>\n

USD lost a gifted wide receiver in Ja\u2019seem Reed, the PFL\u2019s lone 1,000-yard receiver last season. (Reed signed a free-agent contract with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday.)<\/p>\n

But whoever wins the starting quarterback job won\u2019t be lacking in athletes who can catch the football. Moore expects Josh Heverly (28 catches, 412 yards, six TDs last season) to have a breakout season. Cole Monach (29-362-3) is more than reliable.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s tight end talent in Peyton Smith (16-132) and Bradley Schlom (14-218), who played in five games at UCLA.<\/p>\n

Said Moore: \u201cWe have guys who can catch the football.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"USDUSD coach Brandon Moore speaks to the team at the end of the practice last year. (Charlie Neuman \/ For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
\n5. Can anyone stop Cooper?<\/p>\n

USD\u2019s top five tacklers exhausted their eligibility. But one of the best defenders, defensive end Malachi Cooper, is back. Cooper topped all defensive linemen last season in tackles (36) and tackles-for-loss (9) and tied for the position lead in sacks (4.5).<\/p>\n

The 6-4, 260-pound Serra High School product was named to the All-PFL preseason team. Cooper, a fifth-year senior, wears jersey No. 0.<\/p>\n

\u201cMalachi has a unique game,\u201d said Moore. \u201cHe\u2019s both physical and athletic. He looks the best, physically, since we\u2019ve been at USD. It\u2019s going to be interesting to see what kind of year he has and how offenses try to block him.\u201d<\/p>\n

2025 USD football schedule<\/p>\n

Aug. 30: CAL POLY, 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sept. 6: SOUTHERN UTAH, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sept. 13: at Montana State, time TBA<\/p>\n

Sept. 20: at Princeton, time TBA<\/p>\n

Sept. 27: ST. THOMAS, 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

Oct. 4: at Marist, time TBA<\/p>\n

Oct. 11: DRAKE, 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

Oct. 25: at Davidson, 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

Nov. 1: DAYTON, 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

Nov. 8: at Valparaiso, time TBA<\/p>\n

Nov. 15: BUTLER, 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

Nov. 22: at Stetson, time TBA<\/p>\n

By the numbers<\/p>\n

8 \u2014 Number of USD offensive starters who return in 2025.<\/p>\n

5 \u2014 Number of USD defensive starters returning.<\/p>\n

2 \u2014 Number of specialists returning<\/p>\n

6 \u2014 USD has been picked to finish first in the Pioneer Football League for the first time in six years.<\/p>\n

5 \u2014 Five USD players have been named to the Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team:\u00a0OL Evans Bowling, OL Maicah Talavou, DL Malachi Cooper, DB Ruben Lopez and punter\u00a0Aydan Corrales.<\/p>\n

Originally Published: July 30, 2025 at 2:40 PM PDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Maybe it was because the calendar had not yet flipped to August. Maybe it was the view from…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":105955,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5134],"tags":[5229,1582,276,1369,1370,3549,7264,62,68084,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-105954","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-ca","10":"tag-california","11":"tag-college-sports","12":"tag-latest-headlines","13":"tag-san-diego","14":"tag-sandiego","15":"tag-sports","16":"tag-toreros","17":"tag-united-states","18":"tag-united-states-of-america","19":"tag-unitedstates","20":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","21":"tag-us","22":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114944571471046687","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105954"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105954\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}