San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
JUST WHO WILL LEAD SDSU?
Quarterback top spot to watch as Aztecs open spring
It is an odd coincidence that San Diego State begins spring practice late this year, almost exactly one year after SDSU ended spring practice early.
The Aztecs had exerted themselves for six of 15 scheduled workouts when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and interrupted life — even college football — as we knew it.
Practice and the season were on and off and on and off, then eight games were contested (in which the Aztecs went 4-4) with home games played in another city (Carson) and stadium (Dignity Health Sports Park).
SDSU announced a normal 12-game schedule two weeks ago and the Aztecs again will play out of town as their new stadium rises in Mission Valley.
Aztecs football players return to the practice field on Monday, providing the first glimpse of what is in store for the 2021 season.
Spring practice is not accompanied with the same sense of urgency that is present in the fall. After all, there are 172 days between now and the Sept. 4 season opener against New Mexico State. The next four weeks are important just the same.
Following are five things to watch coming into spring practice.
“Watch” is more in the figurative than literal sense this year. That’s because practices are closed. In addition, a school spokesman said fans are not expected to be allowed at the mid-april spring scrimmage that highlights the workouts:
1. Quarterback competition
Who will be SDSU’S starting quarterback?
This is the No. 1 question for the third straight season and again intriguing because the returners had limited playing time and a newcomer will provide stiff competition.
Last year, Carson Baker earned the starting spot out of fall camp. Baker was replaced as the starter by Lucas Johnson in midseason and placed his name in the transfer portal in January when it became apparent his skill set did not align with the direction the Aztecs are going at the position.
Three dual-threat QBS are in camp, with senior returners Johnson and Jordon Brookshire joined by sophomore Jalen Mayden, a transfer from Mississippi State. Freshman William Haskell is a fourth dual-threat candidate, although he will not arrive until the summer.
Johnson seemed to be everything the Aztecs could want at the position when he made a midseason start at Nevada.
He guided SDSU to a halftime lead by completing 10 of 14 passes for 158 yards, with a 35-yard touchdown run and a 7-yard touchdown pass. Johnson was in and out of the lineup in the second half against the Wolf Pack because of a leg injury, underscoring in one game what has plagued him throughout his career. He can’t stay healthy.
Brookshire started SDSU’S last two games — a win over Colorado State and a loss to BYU. For the season, he completed 42 of 74 passes for 410 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brookshire, who had a game-high 23 carries against the Rams, is another good running threat, but he hasn’t displayed the passing accuracy necessary to win the position.
Mayden’s presence will be most interesting this spring since the least is known about him. He went into the transfer portal last October after new Mississippi State coach Mike Leach went with K.J. Costello as the Bulldogs’ starting QB.
Mayden appeared in three games at Mississippi State as a true freshman in 2018, completing 1 of 2 passes for nine yards and rushing seven times for 32 yards, but has not seen the field since then. He was originally recruited out of Texas’ Sachese High, where he passed for 6,210 yards over three seasons with 74 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,876 yards (6.4 ypc) with 24 touchdowns.
2. Secondary starters?
The secondary was SDSU’S deepest and most experienced position last season.
But the Aztecs have the task of replacing three of five starters this year after junior cornerback Darren Hall and senior safeties Tariq Thompson and Dwayne Johnson Jr. all declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Senior cornerback Tayler Hawkins and senior safety Trenton Thompson, the team’s top two returning tacklers, are back.
The three other players who join them in the starting lineup remain to be seen.
Among the leading candidates are two juniors — cornerback Cedarius Barfield and safety Patrick Mcmorris — and four sophomores — cornerbacks Noah Tumblin and Dallas Branch and safeties Kyron White and Allan Mwata.
Senior safety Rashad Scott would have been in the mix, but a midseason ACL injury will sideline him in the spring, if not beyond.
3. The offensive line
A month ago, the most intriguing storyline along the offensive line was identifying two players to replace starters on the left side following the departure of senior tackle Kyle Spalding and senior guard Jacob Capra.
There is additional interest now with former NFL offensive lineman Mike Goff taking over for longtime Oline coach Mike Schmidt, who accepted a similar position at Syracuse.
How much does coaching style matter on the line? We’ll find out. Goff, obviously, brings a wealth of knowledge after playing 12 years in the NFL, including five seasons (2004-08) with the Chargers.
Among those competing for starting spots are redshirt freshman Jonathan Harrison, who was second on the depth chart at left tackle last season, sophomore Joey Capra, junior William Dunkle and senior Desmond Bessent.
4. Running back Greg Bell
The running back room looks virtually identical to last season, with seniors Greg Bell, Chance Bell, Jordan Byrd and Kaegun Williams all back.
Observations here are not to judge the competition among the players but to confirm the health of Greg Bell, who clearly established himself as the No. 1 back when he rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games to open the 2020 season.
An ankle injury in Game 5 at Nevada cost Bell a chance at 1,000 yards in the truncated season. The injury limited him to just 28 carries for 100 yards in the last four games after rushing 85 times for 537 yards in the first four games.
Bell showed glimpses of his healthy self in the season finale at BYU. Is he completely healed now? That’s what everyone is eager to see.
5. Tall wide receiver
Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers followed Mayden from Mississippi State.
The 6-foot-6 junior from Lewisville, Texas, immediately becomes SDSU’S tallest wideout.
Whether he becomes a standout for the Aztecs remains to be seen.
In addition to size, Shavers brings ability as well as four years of experience in the SEC. Shavers attended Alabama out of high school. He redshirted as a freshman in 2017, then received limited playing time the following two seasons. He was a graduate transfer last season at Mississippi State, where he played four games. He totaled nine receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. The score came in a Bulldogs victory over defending national champion LSU.