{"id":95235,"date":"2025-07-26T23:01:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T23:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/95235\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T23:01:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T23:01:09","slug":"aztecs-open-fall-camp-eager-for-improvement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/95235\/","title":{"rendered":"Aztecs open fall camp eager for improvement"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Diego State coach Sean Lewis wore a suit and tie two weeks ago to Mountain West football media days in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is big business,\u201d Lewis said during a radio interview at the event. \u201cWe\u2019re in the business of winning ballgames.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Aztecs are ready to get down to business, with fall camp opening Wednesday in preparation for a season that is just four weeks away.<\/p>\n

Players and coaches are aiming for significant improvement over last year\u2019s 3-9 finish in Lewis\u2019 SDSU debut.<\/p>\n

Lewis is expected to be dressed more comfortably at practice as the Aztecs get to work.<\/p>\n

Here are five things to watch:<\/p>\n

\"SDSU'sSDSU\u2019s quaterbacks, Jayden Denegal (10), JP Mialovski (6), Kyle Crum (9), and Bert Emanuel Jr (5), pose during the AztecFAST Showcase held on Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Xavier Hernandez for the UT
\n1. Quarterback competition<\/p>\n

Junior transfers Jayden Denegal (Michigan) and Bert Emanuel Jr. (Central Michigan) will resume the starting quarterback competition that began in the spring.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-5 Denegal was a backup at Michigan the past three years. He starred at Apple Valley High School, throwing for more than 4,600 yards and 69 touchdowns while rushing for 14 TDs.<\/p>\n

The 6-3 Emanuel hails from Houston. The son of former NFL receiver Bert Emanuel was sidetracked by injuries at Central Michigan, where he was noted more for his running (carrying 145 times for 844 yards and 12 TDs) than his passing (27 of 51, 439 yards, and 5 TDs\/3 INTs).<\/p>\n

Denegal emerged from spring workouts listed first on the depth chart, so he has the edge coming into fall camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cJayden and Bert have done a tremendous job,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cI think they\u2019ve earned the respect of their peers, which is really, really important. Now we get to go into camp and figure out who\u2019s going to be the guy and who\u2019s going to help the team win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The starter is expected to be identified soon after the team\u2019s Aug. 14 scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium. The Aztecs open their season Aug. 28 at home against Stony Brook.<\/p>\n

Lewis said it\u2019s important \u201cthat we\u2019re able to know, hey, this is the guy and clearly identify these roles so that the team knows.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SanSan Diego State offensive lineman Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli (63) lifts wide receiver Jordan Napier (19) after a touchdown against Texas A&M-Commerce during their game at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)
\n2. The O-line<\/p>\n

SDSU\u2019s offensive struggles last season can be traced to inconsistent play along an offensive line depleted by injuries and transfers and had a penchant for penalties.<\/p>\n

At times, the Aztecs practiced with only seven or eight healthy linemen. The ranks have been replenished, with the position group swelling to 16 players. Only one of them dresses out at fewer than 300 pounds. Half of them stand 6-6 or taller.<\/p>\n

Left tackle Christian Jones and center Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli are returning senior starters. Senior Joe Borjon is recovered from torn knee ligaments suffered in last year\u2019s season opener and expected to start at right tackle.<\/p>\n

Seniors Bayo Kannike (Utah Tech) and Dallas Fincher (Michigan State), juniors Kalan Ellis (Syracuse) and Cam May (Howard) and sophomore Mason \u201cYeti\u201d Baker (American River College) are transfers competing to start and\/or add depth to the unit.<\/p>\n

Senior Tyler McMahon, who started eight games at right guard last season, has left the team for personal reasons.<\/p>\n

\"SanSan Diego State edge Ryan Henderson (96) celebrates on the field during their game against the Texas A&M-Commerce at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)
\n3. The D-line<\/p>\n

With the entire starting secondary and linebacker corps returning, the biggest question is up front.<\/p>\n

Getting pressure on the quarterback will be a point of emphasis.<\/p>\n

Junior edge Trey White did his part last season, ranking among the nation\u2019s leaders with 12 1\/2 sacks. The next most among returners is junior edge Ryan Henderson, who had 2 1\/2 sacks.<\/p>\n

Juniors Krishna Clay and Brady Nassar, who had 41 and 26 tackles, respectively, also return up front and are poised to take a step forward.<\/p>\n

The key will be how much contribution comes from a handful of transfers, including senior Niles King (Grand Valley State) and juniors Malachi Finau (Hawaii) and August Salvati (Florida Atlantic).<\/p>\n

\"SanSan Diego State wide reciever Jordan Napier (2) practices, March, 11, 2025 in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Denis Poroy)
\n4. Playmaking receivers<\/p>\n

Sophomore Jordan Napier (43 catches, 440 yards, 4 TDs) is the only proven commodity in the receiving corps.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to develop playmakers at the wide receiver position,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cObviously, we know Jordan Napier, but there\u2019s not any other production that\u2019s returning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior transfer Myles Kitt-Denton (Northwestern State) emerged in the spring, earning a first-string spot at slot receiver. Junior transfers Jacob Bostick (Texas A&M) and Donovan Brown (Monroe University) also bear watching, along with a pair of local products, sophomore Jerry McClure (Mater Dei Catholic High School\/UCLA) and redshirt freshman Will Cianfrini (Carlsbad High School).<\/p>\n

Cianfrini was progressing in the spring before being slowed by a hamstring injury. He is healthy now.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll these guys need to continue to develop,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cFor our style of play, where we\u2019re going to have three, four, five wide receivers on the field at any given time, you\u2019ve got to have enough playmakers out on the edge to make it meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NewNew Mexico running back Christian Washington (22) runs during the first half an NCAA football game against LSU on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo\/Matthew Hinton)
\n5. Familiar faces<\/p>\n

The graduation of workhorse running back Marquez Cooper, who rushed 292 times last season, opens up an opportunity for plenty of carries.<\/p>\n

More often than not, it will be a local product taking handoffs.<\/p>\n

SDSU\u2019s top three running backs on the depth chart are San Diegans \u2014 junior Lucky Sutton (Cathedral Catholic High School), junior transfer Christian Washington (Helix High School\/New Mexico\/Coastal Carolina) and senior transfer Byron Cardwell Jr. (Morse High School\/St. Augustine High School\/Cal).<\/p>\n

Sutton and Washington were first and second on the depth chart coming out of camp. Cardwell was a 2,000-yard high school rusher who is trying to get a college career derailed by injuries back on track.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another familiar face in SDSU\u2019s defensive secondary, where junior safety Josh Hunter has returned after testing the transfer portal. Hunter had 31 tackles last season.<\/p>\n

Originally Published: July 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM PDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"San Diego State coach Sean Lewis wore a suit and tie two weeks ago to Mountain West football…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":95236,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5134],"tags":[5229,1582,276,1369,1370,3549,7264,18257,62,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-95235","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-sdsu-aztecs","16":"tag-sports","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\/114922027994995197","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95235","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=95235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}