WITH NEW SEMESTER, A ROSTER SHUFFLE
Oklahoma State O-lineman transfers to play for Aztecs
The 2022 spring semester begins next week at San Diego State. Comings and goings on the football team continue before classes start Wednesday.
The latest move involves the offensive line, which has several openings.
Cade Bennett, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Oklahoma State, announced Friday morning on social media he has committed to the Aztecs.
The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Bennett is from Scottsdale, Ariz., where he attended Notre Dame Prep. He considered SDSU out of high school before choosing the Cowboys.
Bennett played in two games this season at Oklahoma State. He comes to SDSU with four years of eligibility remaining.
“Oklahoma State helped me mature and truly become a man,” Bennett told 360SportsAZ.com. “I’m thankful for everything the program gave me physically and mentally and am ready to begin this new chapter.”
Added Bennett: “I tried to find the place I could be closer to home and have a great experience. I also wanted to get on the field and hopefully pursue my dreams of going to the NFL. SDSU has a long tradition of O-linemen in the league. Again, it is a match made in heaven for me.”
Bennett said he expects to play guard for the Aztecs, who have openings on both sides of center with the departure of their top three guards — William Dunkle, Chris Martinez and Dominic Gudino.
An addition Friday to the transfer portal is SDSU sophomore quarterback Baylor Horning, a walk-on from Nevada. Horning was fifth on the depth chart and worked with the scout team the past two seasons.
Horning is the 10th SDSU player and second quarterback to enter the portal since
the regular season ended. Starting QB Lucas Johnson went into the portal Dec. 28 and announced last week he has committed to Montana.
Quarterback Jordon Brookshire, who shared starting duties with Johnson, also is expected to leave for another school, though he has not entered the portal nor announced his plans.
At this point, SDSU’s returning quarterbacks are two players who made brief appearances during the 2021 season — redshirt freshman Will Haskell and junior Jalen Mayden — and sophomore Marshall Eucker.
Haskell played in three games, completing 4 of 7 passes for 47 yards. He also rushed six times for 31 yards and a touchdown. Mayden came on in relief of Brookshire in the Mountain West championship game and completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and one touchdown.
Eucker is a walk-on from La Costa Canyon High.
SDSU signed two high school quarterbacks — Provo (Utah) Timpview’s
Liu Aumavae and Norco’s Kyle Crum — during December’s early signing period. Both QBs are expected to enroll early and participate in spring workouts.
The Aztecs are likely to add an experienced quarterback
through the transfer portal, an addition that is expected to be revealed sooner rather than later.
Although SDSU’s spring semester begins next week, classes will be virtual for at least the first two weeks. The
university announced Jan. 5 remote learning would take place amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. On-campus classes are scheduled to begin Feb. 7.