{"id":361996,"date":"2025-11-07T10:48:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T10:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/361996\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T10:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T10:48:12","slug":"how-hawaii-stacks-up-with-mountain-west-football-leader-san-diego-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/361996\/","title":{"rendered":"How Hawaii stacks up with Mountain West football leader San Diego State"},"content":{"rendered":"

AZTECS OFFENSE <\/strong><\/p>\n

WO\u201414 Donovan Brown 6-2 180 Jr. <\/p>\n

WO\u2014Nathan Acevedo 5-10 170 Jr. <\/p>\n

SB\u20142 Jordan Napier 6-2 205 So. <\/p>\n

TE\u201419 Seth Adams 6-2 260 Sr. tr <\/p>\n

LT\u201470 Christian Jones 6-9 335 Sr. <\/p>\n

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LG\u201476 Kalan Ellis 6-5 350 Jr. <\/p>\n

C\u201463 Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli 6-4 335 Sr. <\/p>\n

RG\u201471 Bayo Kannike 6-6 300 Sr. <\/p>\n

RT\u201478 Joe Borjon 6-8 338 Sr. <\/p>\n

QB\u20144 Jayden Denegal 6-5 230 Jr. <\/p>\n

RB\u20147 Lucky Sutton 6-1 225 Jr. <\/p>\n

When the league\u2019s tallest head coach was hired two year ago, 6-foot-7 Sean Lewis promised an offense that was \u201cAztecFast.\u201d His X account has this quote: \u201cLife is too short to huddle.\u201d He based concepts on Art Briles\u2019 veer-and-shoot and Dino Babers\u2019 run-pass options. At Kent State, Lewis\u2019 offense averaged 20.9 seconds between plays. But this is SDSU, where Marshall Faulk, Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny earned their running starts. While QB Jayden Denegal is gritty (he has not missed a start despite twice aggravating a shoulder injury) and deeply accurate (42.4% on passes airborne at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage), the Aztecs now favor the ground game. They rush 65.9% of their plays, including 72.1% on first down. \u201cIt\u2019s great,\u201d right tackle Joe Borjon said, \u201cbecause we get to run the ball.\u201d At 6-1 and 225, Lucky Sutton \u2014 he wears lucky No. 7, of course \u2014 earned the nickname \u201cLuck Truck\u201d from teammates because of his bruising style. With shoulders slightly hunched and the football held high and tight, Sutton prefers the direct path. He averages 6.2 yards on runs between the guards. He has not fumbled in 155 touches this season. Sutton also has become an effective \u201cblocker,\u201d even when he does not make contact. On fake handoffs, Sutton will run up the gut, freezing the 3-tech tackle and nose tackle, while Denegal launches play-action passes from a clean pocket. Jordan Napier, who averages 13.6 yards on 45 catches, is Denegal\u2019s preferred option (7.8 targets per game). Wideout Jacob Bostik, SDSU\u2019s best receiver on 50-50 balls, will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury. Nathan Acevedo replaces Bostik in three-receiver sets. \u201cOur job is to keep our quarterback upright,\u201d Borjon said of Denegal, who has been sacked nine times in 175 pass plays. \u201cWe want to give him as much time possible to go through his second, third and even fourth read.\u201d Borjon and left tackle Christian Jones have honed the \u201cdrop-hand\u201d technique of the one-handed jab \u2014 a stiff-armed move \u2014 when Denegal rolls out of the pocket.<\/p>\n

AZTECS DEFENSE <\/strong><\/p>\n

FE\u2014Niles King 6-6 260 Sr. <\/p>\n

NT\u201490 Sam Benjamin 6-5 290 Sr. <\/p>\n

DT\u201455 Malachi Finau 6-1 295 Jr. tr <\/p>\n

Rush\u20142 Trey White 6-2 255 Jr. <\/p>\n

WLB\u201412 Owen Chambliss 6-3 230 So. <\/p>\n

MLB\u201441 Mister Williams 6-0 245 Sr. <\/p>\n

S\u20146 Eric Butler 6-2 195 Sr. <\/p>\n

LCB\u20141 Chris Johnson 6-0 195 Sr, <\/p>\n

SS\u20149 Dalesean Staley 6-1 190 Jr. <\/p>\n

FS\u201426 Dwayne McDougle 5-11 208 Jr. tr <\/p>\n

RCB\u20140 Bryce Phillips 6-0 195 Sr. <\/p>\n

For 13 years, SDSU ran Rocky Long\u2019s 3-3-5 scheme. After Long departed in 2020 and successor Brady Hoke retired at the end of the 2023 season, the Aztecs sought a DC who would implement an attacking style that was more beefy in the trenches. Eric Schmidt made the transition but then left after last season to become head coach at North Dakota. Rob Aurich, who replaced Schmidt, continued a 4-2-5 scheme that can adjust to a 3-3 or 4-3. The self-styled \u201cglues\u201d are the inside linebackers. But Tano Letuli, the defensive leader, suffered a torn right ACL when he became entangled on a Wyoming tight end\u2019s cross block last week. Letuli will undergo surgery for the season-ending injury. Mister Williams, an Incarnate Ward transfer, steps up to mike linebacker. Will linebacker Owen Chambliss leads with 72 tackles (32 more than second place Chris Johnson\u2019s total) and 41 solo stops. \u201cIt\u2019s super fun,\u201d Chambliss said of Schmidt\u2019s scheme. \u201cA lot of play-making opportunities at all three levels. Everybody gets a little bit of fun here and there.\u201d Last season\u2019s fun times had an expiration date for Chambliss, who suffered a broken right hand against UH. He also suffered a concussion, broken right fibula, and hyper-extended left elbow during the season. \u201cWhole bunch of things happened that were out of my control,\u201d said Chambliss, who has returned to good health. UH transfer Malachi Finau is part of the beefed-up line. The Aztecs usually align with three hand-on-the-turf linemen, with Trey White as a stand-up edge rusher. Of White\u2019s 31 tackles, 25.8% were made behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson, the left cornerback, can press or play 8 yards off the ball as part of a four-across zone. Dalesean Staley, who plays the strong safety position known as \u201cbullet,\u201d is a downhill hitter.<\/p>\n

AZTECS SPECIALISTS <\/strong><\/p>\n

PK\/KO\u201446 Gabriel Plascencia 6-0 245 Sr. <\/p>\n

P\u20143 Hunter Green 6-4 225 Jr. <\/p>\n

LS\u201450 Tyson Chavez 6-2 230 Jr. <\/p>\n

H\u201439 Eemil Herranen 6-4 210 Jr. <\/p>\n

KR\/PR\u20142 Jordan Napier 6-2 205 So. <\/p>\n

Unlike most punt units, the Aztecs prefer to use one personal protector instead of a two- or three-blocker wedge in front of punter Hunter Green. DJ Herman has excelled in that role, chip-blocking a rusher and then turning upfield as a second-tier tackler. Herman is a 2021 Bishop Gorman graduate who committed to SDSU before the Gaels-Warriors pipeline was established in 2022. Gabriel Plascencia connected on his first 14 FG attempts to open the season before missing a 23-yarder last week.<\/p>\n

RAINBOW WARRIORS OFFENSE <\/strong><\/p>\n

WO\u20149 Jackson Harris 6-3 205 So. <\/p>\n

SB\u20145 Pofele Ashlock 6-2 185 Jr. <\/p>\n

LT\u201452 Dean Briski 6-5 300 Jr. <\/p>\n

LG\u201458 Zhen Sotelo 6-2 310 Sr. <\/p>\n

C\u201457 Ethan Spencer 6-2 295 Jr. <\/p>\n

RG\u201459 Kuao Peihopa 6-3 290 Sr. <\/p>\n

RT\u201470 James Milovale 6-6 320 Sr. <\/p>\n

SB\u20143 Nick Cenacle 6-2 200 Sr. <\/p>\n

WO\u201411 Karsyn Pupunu 6-3 205 Sr. <\/p>\n

QB\u201412 Micah Alejado 5-10 180 Fr. <\/p>\n

RB\u201430 Landon Sims 6-2 220 Sr. <\/p>\n

Similar to most Bishop Gorman student-athletes, quarterback Micah Alejado filled his free time studying football videos and working out, even in the chilly winters and 100-plus-degree summers. Chad Kapanui, QB coach to Alejado at Bishop Gorman and now at UH, had no doubts Alejado would make the transition to Division I football. \u201cHe really worked at it,\u201d Kapanui said. At 5-10, Alejado has proven he can connect far (touchdown-interception ratio of 6-to-1 on passes traveling at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage) and through the defensive front (78.7% accuracy on slants and crosses over the middle). Alejado also has developed a connection with second-year freshman Tama Uiliata (68.2% on targets) and Stanford transfer Jackson Harris. There were more than 1,400 receivers in the transfer portal this past year. UH receivers coach Jared Ursua and graduate assistant William Overstreet identified 300 potential recruits, then did a deep dive on their backgrounds. They spoke to their coaches, pored over a library of videos, and called each prospect. Harris and Kentucky transfer Brandon White topped the list. There were eight game videos of Harris, including last year\u2019s start in the season opener. \u201cHe caught the first touchdown of the season (for Stanford), which showed me he was really important,\u201d Ursua said. Harris played 52 snaps in that game, but his playing time diminished after that. As it turned out, Harris was recruited by the previous staff that employed a different scheme. His practice videos showed his effort remained high. \u201cHe showed flashes of good production,\u201d Ursua said. \u201cHe just needed an opportunity.\u201d Following UH\u2019s spring ball and early weeks of training camp, Harris earned a spot on the first unit. But he was slowed because of a hamstring issue. In the four games since healing, Harris is averaging 20.6 yards per catch (7.6 yards after the catch) and 126 yards per game. He has displayed situational awareness with 90% of third-down catches beyond the first-down stick. This season, 34.3% of his catches exceeded 15 yards. \u201cIt\u2019s understanding coverage, slowing the game down, polishing up my route techniques, being more detailed,\u201d said Harris, who also works on catching passes while being hit. <\/p>\n

RAINBOW WARRIORS DEFENSE <\/strong><\/p>\n

DE\u201451 Lester Lagafuaina 6-4 240 So. <\/p>\n

DT\u201479 De\u2019Jon Benton 6-2 270 Gr. <\/p>\n

NT\u201477 Jamar Sekona 6-2 275 Sr. <\/p>\n

DE\u20145 Tariq Jones 6-2 245 Sr. <\/p>\n

DLB\u20143 Jalen Smith 6-0 220 Sr. <\/p>\n

MLB\u201411 Jamih Otis 5-11 220 Jr. <\/p>\n

NB\u20144 Elijah Palmer 5-8 180 Jr. <\/p>\n

CB\u201414 Jaheim Wilson-Jones 5-11 175 Sr. <\/p>\n

CB\u201424 Devyn King 5-11 175 Sr. <\/p>\n

S\u20141 Peter Manuma 6-0 205 Sr. <\/p>\n

S\u20148 Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen. 6-1 170 Sr. <\/p>\n

A year ago, it would be difficult to tell three key interior linemen without a medical chart. De\u2019Jon Benton missed his lone season at New Mexico because of torn biceps. Jamar Sekona needed a five-hour surgery to repair three areas of his left knee. Luther McCoy was two years removed from his third and fourth operations to mend a labrum tear on his right shoulder. \u201cIt was a love-hate relationship for a while,\u201d McCoy said of his feelings for the sport. \u201cFootball is very unforgiving. It loves nobody really. It took a lot for me to grasp what I can do on the field coming back from injuries.\u201d At 6-5, McCoy ballooned to 330 pounds as a Minnesota nose tackle. \u201cHis body doesn\u2019t really function at that weight,\u201d said Jeff Reinebold, who coaches UH\u2019s interior linemen. When he enrolled at UH this year, McCoy had transformed into a 280-pound, all-purpose linemen who could use his quickness as a 3-tech tackle and long reach to obscure the passing lanes to the flats as a D-end. \u201cGreat get-off, plays with good pad level, quick hands, great balance,\u201d Reinebold said. Three days after being treated for dehydration, Sekona was in the starting lineup against San Jose State last week. Benton has caused chaos as a three-position defender. Cornerback Virdel Edwards II also sat out the 2024 season after suffering a Jones fracture in his left foot. To provide ample rest, Edwards, Jaheim Wilson-Jones and Devyn King are the primary cover defenders in a three-corner rotation at the two spots. Now healthy, Edwards is a unique corner with size (6-2 and 205 pounds), speed (4.47 seconds over 40 yards) and aggressiveness. \u201cI love the way Virdel plays with some fire,\u201d said associate head coach Chris Brown, who also coaches the linebackers. \u201cHe\u2019s built like a linebacker.\u201d NFL scouts view Edwards as a safety or \u2018backer, although there is a growing trend for tall-and-fast cover defenders. <\/p>\n

RAINBOW WARRIORS SPECIALISTS <\/strong><\/p>\n

PK\/KO\u201417 Kansei Matsuzawa 6-2 200 Sr. <\/p>\n

P\u201419 Billy Gowers 6-1 205 Fr. <\/p>\n

LS\u201433 Jack Mowrey 6-3 240 So. <\/p>\n

H\u201418 Caleb Freeman 6-0 185 Sr. <\/p>\n

KR\u20140 Cam Barfield 5-7 185 So. <\/p>\n

PR\u20148 Tama Uiliata 5-11 190 Fr. <\/p>\n

With head coach Timmy Chang\u2019s blessing, special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield has access to every player but quarterbacks Micah Alejado, Dermaricus Davis and Luke Weaver. For a session each practice, the defensive players work on blocking and the offensive players practice tackling. \u201cWhen our defensive guys are on kickoff return, they have to block,\u201d safeties coach Nick Locher said. \u201cAnd our receivers and running backs are asked to tackle on kickoffs or punts.\u201d Running back Landon Sims, who is on all six special teams, has made two tackles. Billy Gowers, a 29-year-old, Australia-reared punter, has a tackle. Safety Makana Meyer leads with four coverage tackles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"AZTECS OFFENSE WO\u201414 Donovan Brown 6-2 180 Jr. WO\u2014Nathan Acevedo 5-10 170 Jr. SB\u20142 Jordan Napier 6-2 205…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":139205,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5134],"tags":[5229,1582,276,4582,3549,7264,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-361996","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-editors","12":"tag-san-diego","13":"tag-sandiego","14":"tag-united-states","15":"tag-united-states-of-america","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","18":"tag-us","19":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115508026071398560","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361996","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=361996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=361996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=361996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=361996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}