![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SUT-L-azfoot-0801-044.jpg\")
San Diego State quarterbacks Draiden Trudeau #16, JP Mialovski #14, Jayden Denegal #4 and Bert Emanuel Jr. #5 drop back during a practice on July 31, 2025 in San Diego, California. (K.C. Alfred \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\nSan Diego State junior transfer Jayden Denegal has been named starting quarterback for the Aztecs, sources told the Union-Tribune.<\/p>\n
Denegal transferred to SDSU in January following three years at Michigan, where he was the backup behind first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy on the Wolverines\u2019 2023 national championship team.<\/p>\n
Denegal has been competing for the Aztecs\u2019 starting quarterback job with junior transfer Bert Emanuel Jr., who came here in January after three years at Central Michigan. SDSU coach Sean Lewis informed the quarterbacks of the decision Tuesday evening. Lewis and Denegal are expected to speak to the media after Wednesday morning\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n
Lewis said last week that the starting quarterback would be the player who gives the offense confidence and personality, adding that the QB is the guy \u201cwho when he has the ball in his hands, not only the offense but the whole organization goes, \u2018Yeah, that\u2019s our dude.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
San Diego State quarterbacks Draiden Trudeau #16, JP Mialovski #14, Jayden Denegal #4 and Bert Emanuel Jr. #5 drop back during a practice on July 31, 2025 in San Diego, California. (K.C. Alfred \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-5 Denegal grew up in Apple Valley, 2 1\/2 hours north of campus. The first thing coaches noticed when he stepped on the practice field in the spring was a strong arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe throwing aspect is, obviously, Jayden\u2019s strength,\u201d SDSU offensive coordinator\/quarterbacks coach Matt Johnson said when fall camp began. \u201cHe\u2019s got a very strong arm. He can make all the throws.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denegal also has impressed those around him with his leadership qualities and the ability to process what he sees quickly, an essential element in the Aztecs\u2019 uptempo offense.<\/p>\n
That, again, feeds into what the SDSU staff has been looking for in a starting QB.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guy,\u201d Lewis said, \u201cwho, no matter if the offense is starting a drive on the opponents\u2019 side of the field or from its own 5-yard line, there\u2019s a belief that\u00a0 we\u2019re going to put the ball in the end zone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat guy,\u201d Lewis added, \u201cwho ultimately injects that confidence and that swagger, if you will, into the program. That\u2019s the guy who is going to get the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SUT-L-azfoot-0806-003.jpg\")
San Diego State\u2019s Jayden Denegal passes during a practice on Aug. 5, 2025 in San Diego, California. (K.C. Alfred \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n
The decision shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise. Denegal has been getting first-team reps since spring practice and was listed first on the two-deep coming into fall camp.<\/p>\n
Denegal didn\u2019t get a lot of playing time behind McCarthy at Michigan, though he did appear in six games during the 2023 season. He completed 4 of 5 pass attempts for 50 yards and tossed a touchdown pass against Nebraska. The experience playing for coach Jim Harbaugh and being immersed in the Wolverines\u2019 program was invaluable, however.<\/p>\n
When he transferred over the winter break, Denegal said, \u201cgetting all the valuable lessons that I got from Coach Harbaugh, going against the No. 1 defense in the country every day, playing with one of the best offensive lines and receivers and running backs, first-round draft picks. Winning a national championship. \u2026 I feel like that\u2019s helped me prepare for, essentially, my time now.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SUT-L-azfoot-0806-004.jpg\")
San Diego State\u2019s Bert Emanuel Jr. passes during a practice on Aug. 5, 2025 in San Diego, California. (K.C. Alfred \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n
The staff wanted to make sure that Emanuel had every opportunity to win the position by extending the competition into fall camp. The Aztecs also wanted the matter settled well before the Aug. 28 season opener against Stony Brook so the players could lock in with their leader.<\/p>\n
What will be interesting going forward is how the Aztecs use the 6-3 Emanuel, who is too athletic to be standing on the sidelines holding a clipboard.<\/p>\n
Coming into fall camp, Lewis said, \u201chowever it sorts out, Bert\u2019s going to have a very valuable role on this team. He\u2019s going to be an explosive playmaker that opponents are going to have to account for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Said Johnson: \u201cBert adds the athleticism piece we didn\u2019t have last year. He\u2019s made tremendous strides within the throw game, but he just brings an element that we haven\u2019t had in a long time with his legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to get creative as coaches. It\u2019s not going to be a deal where every time he\u2019s in the game it\u2019s a run because that makes us very predictable. There will be times and there will be situations where we might use him as a runner or we might have two (quarterbacks) on the field. There\u2019s endless possibilities when you have a guy like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Aztecs](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SUT-L-AZFOOT-0731-002.jpg\")
Aztecs Jayden Denegal runs through stretching drills at the start of the first day of team practice at San Diego State University on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in San Diego, CA.\u00a0 (Nelvin C. Cepeda \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n
SDSU started the search for a new starting quarterback when last year\u2019s starter, true freshman Danny O\u2019Neil, entered the transfer portal after the season and signed with Wisconsin. O\u2019Neil is currently competing to be the backup quarterback for the Badgers.<\/p>\n
SDSU fans can get their first glimpse of Denegal and his teammates during Thursday night\u2019s FanFest scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium.<\/p>\n