San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
BIDED TIME
Aztecs linebacker Caden Mcdonald waited his turn to earn a starting job, and now the senior from Texas is a team leader.
Caden Mcdonald grew up in Texas, where they take their football seriously and produce more than their share of standout players.
Still, Mcdonald wasn’t going to walk right in and start when he arrived at San Diego State here four years ago. SDSU annually has one of the nation’s better defenses, and few freshmen find the field.
Like most other players, Mcdonald was going to have to wait his turn.
“The biggest transition to college is the fast guys got faster and the big guys got faster,” said Mcdonald, a 6foot-3 linebacker from Haslet, Texas. “My first practice was an eye-opener. ... “As a defensive guy, you’ve got to learn the defense. Then you get an opportunity to get on the field. That’s just the first step. Now you’ve got to actually make plays.”
Mcdonald watched and learned. He got stronger in the weight room. Got smarter in the film room. And soaked in all the knowledge he could from those who started before him, like linebackers Ronley Lakalaka and Kyahva
Tezino.
“I got to room with (Tezino) in the hotels when we traveled and I got to pick his brain,” Mcdonald said. “He always told me (it was) next man up. He was our guy for two full seasons, and I just learned how he did things. He did it the right way and was a great, standup guy as well.”
Mcdonald also reached out to former SDSU linebacker Calvin Munson, who had moved on to the NFL in 2017 when Caden arrived in San Diego, for insight. It paid off. Mcdonald is the established player now, with younger guys looking to him for leadership.
The senior is among several returning starters secure in their roles as the Aztecs scrimmage today at
Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park.
SDSU defensive coordinator Kurt Mattix said identifying players who will provide depth this season will be one of the primary focuses of the scrimmage.
Mattix will be looking for guys who show similar attributes to Mcdonald.
“He’s a student of the game,” Mattix said. “He loves to compete. He has an immense amount of grit. (He’s compelled) to be one of the best.
“I think he had a taste of it last season and liked that feeling.”
Mcdonald earned firstteam all-mountain West honors last season, when he made up for fewer games (eight) in the truncated season by seemingly being in on every play.
Asked when he knew he belonged, Mcdonald recalled SDSU’S 23-14 victory over UCLA two years ago at the Rose Bowl.
“I didn’t start that game, but after the first series I played the rest of the snaps,” he said. “That was my first eye-opener game, like, this is the real deal. I fit right in. These guys aren’t any better than I am . ... I can hang with these guys.”
Mcdonald had four tackles in the game. At the start of the second half, Tezino forced a fumble that Mcdonald recovered.
It was a pivotal moment that led to an SDSU touchdown and a 10-point lead that positioned the Aztecs for their first victory in 23 meetings with UCLA.
Mcdonald was the toprated linebacker in the Mountain West in a preseason media poll, although he said he is more concerned with team success than individual accolades.
SDSU is coming off a 4-4 season (4-2 in the Mountain West). The Aztecs were picked for third place in the West Division in a preseason poll, the lowest they’ve been selected in the past decade.
“It isn’t about me,” Mcdonald said. “None of that stuff matters. Getting a (conference championship) ring is all I care about . ...
“Last year’s season was not up to our expectations at all. Our team wants to win the Mountain West championship every single year and 4-4 doesn’t cut it.
“Last year has really fueled the fire.”
The Aztecs plan to have more game-like conditions in today’s scrimmage at Dignity Health than they did a week ago on the SDSU practice field, when each of the three quarterbacks competing to be the starter — seniors Lucas Johnson and Jordon Brookshire and sophomore Jalen Mayden — was in for 3-4 plays at a time.
The QBS will get extended drives to lead the offense this time.
The starting quarterback is expected to be named by midweek, at the latest.
The defensive secondary, where SDSU is looking for three new starters, is the other primary area of interest.
The scrimmage is closed to the public.
kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com