San Diego State begins Fall Camp with its first practice Wednesday morning. This time last year, the theme heading into the season was new. 

New head coach. 

New offensive philosophy. 

New defensive scheme. 

New catch phrases. 

And a lot of new players. 

That last one is common around college football these days, but the Aztecs lost a large chunk of their talent following the 2023 season. The roster headed into 2024 weaker than its 4-8 predecessor. With few exceptions, namely Marquez Cooper, much of the incoming reinforcements had very little success at the FBS level. The results showed (3-9). 

The 2025 offseason had a much different feel. First, it began with retaining its best players. The defensive stars forewent the transfer portal and stayed in America’s Finest City. WR Jordan Napier entered the transfer portal but soon decided to return to the team he called home for two years, where he plans to build upon a productive first year in Lewis’s offense. 

Second, the staff dipped into the portal and brought in experience and talent, particularly on offense. At least on paper, the transfer portal was a net positive for the Aztecs. 

Here’s a position-by-position recap of the offseason roster turnover. Departed players’ current schools and entered players’ former schools are noted in parentheses when applicable. 

Quarterback

Departed: AJ Duffy (New Haven), Danny O’Neil (Wisconsin), Javance Tupou’ata Johnson (North Dakota)

Returned: Kyle Crum

Entered: Jayden Denegal (Michigan), Bert Emanuel Jr (C Michigan), JP Mialovski

Crum entered the 2024 season as the most experienced signal caller on the roster with a total of 17 pass attempts. He still holds that number as O’Neil and Johnson took the snaps last year. Both are gone, and two new transfers are in. While Emanuel Jr. (51 pass attempts in three years) and Denegal (5 pass attempts in two years) don’t bring much more experience under center, both are considerably bigger, stronger, and more suited for Lewis’s offense. Additionally, Emanuel Jr. spent considerable time as a flex option, rushing for 884 yards and 12 scores over three seasons. Mialovski rounds out the competition as a true freshman who joined in the spring. 

Running Back

Departed: Marquez Cooper (graduation), Cam Davis, Jaylon Armstead, Kenan Christon (Jackson State)

Returned: Lucky Sutton, Cincere Rhaney

Entered: Christian Washington (Coastal Carolina), Byron Cardwell Jr (California), Jordin Thomas

Cooper led the way for the Aztecs last season, and his loss is likely the biggest to replace. The departures of the other three most experienced backs were not unexpected given the lack of role in Lewis’s offense. All signs point to the hometown Sutton having the first crack to become the one-man show at the position in 2025. He’ll be tested by two other San Diegans (Washington and Cardwell Jr.) who return home to finish out their collegiate careers. Rhaney and Thomas will look to step in if the trio in front of them falter. 

Wide Receiver

Departed: Nate Bennett (graduation), Ja’Shaun Poke (graduation), Mekhi Shaw (graduation), Louis Brown V (Baylor)

Returned: Jordan Napier, Will Cianfrini, Heath McRee, Ben Scolari, Jerry McClure

Entered: Myles Kitt-Denton (Northwestern State), Jacob Bostik (Texas A&M), Donovan Brown (Monroe), Jaylon Hawkins, Marcus Mozer

Last year’s incoming veteran trio of Brown, Bennett, and Poke underwhelmed in their lone seasons at SDSU. The staff hopes the new trio of Kitt-Denton, Bostik and Brown have bigger impacts on the stat sheet in 2025. Throughout last season, Napier was the most talented skill position player on the roster. His return and the continued development of the youngsters, specifically McClure, should make the position group much more formidable. Unfortunately, Scolari will not be one of them, after tearing his ACL during summer workouts. 

Tight End

Departed: Jude Wolfe (graduation), Michael Harrison (graduation) 

Returned: Artur Ban, Ryan Wolfer

Entered: Jackson Ford (Tulsa), Seth Adams (SE Louisiana), Jacob Alvarez

Adams is a converted offensive tackle who is better suited in the run game, similar to Wolfer. Ban and Ford will likely compete to replace Harrison’s spot with the ability to line up outside in spread formations. The youth and inexperience of the position group could be an issue in the offense’s ability to reach its peak.  

Offensive Line

Departed: Myles Murao (graduation), Brayden Bryant (graduation), Nate Williams (graduation), Ryan Dirksen (Bryant), Kai Holec (Indiana State), Briley Barron, Tyler McMahan

Returned: Christian Jones, Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, Saipale Fuimaono, Joe Borjon

Entered: Mason Baker (American River College), Cam May (Howard), Dallas Fincher (Michigan State), Bayo Kannike (Utah Tech), Kalan Ellis (Syracuse), Michael Watkins (Washington), Delon Craft Jr, Chase Duarte, Jett Thomas, Ashdon Wnetrzak, Ikbahl Kassim

Due to injuries and midseason departures, the offensive line barely had enough bodies to run two deep during practice last season. The staff brought in six players in the portal and five from the high school ranks to shore up the depth. Only four linemen return, with Ulugalu-Maseuli set to return to center after playing guard and Jones likely manning left tackle. Borjon’s health, recovering from a torn ACL in Week 1 last year, will be a continuing story in fall camp. That leaves at least two, and likely three, starting positions up for grabs, along with a lot of incoming talent competing for them. 

Defensive Live

Departed: Wyatt Draeger (graduation), Tupu Alualu (graduation), Ryan Gaea (Duquesne), Darrion Dalton (Washington State), Keion Mitchell (Howard)

Returned: Krishna Clay, Kodi Cornelius, Sam Benjamin, Tiumalu Afalava, Teivis Tuioti

Entered: Malachi Finau (Hawai’i), Kainoa Davis (Charlotte), August Salvati (Florida Atlantic), Amari Comier (Diablo Valley College), Sidney Dupuy

Outside of Clay’s surprise emergence, the group mostly disappointed in the new 4-2-5 defense. The Aztecs held the 13th-worst rush defense in the country last season (207.3 ypg). Cornelius could emerge as the big anchor in the middle after redshirting in 2024, and Finau, the only newcomer participating in spring camp, should push for immediate playing time. Davis and Salvati joined the roster in the summer and will have an opportunity to impress the staff early in fall camp.  

Edge Rusher

Departed: Marlem Louis (graduation), Dom Oliver (W Kentucky), Ezekial Larry, Malik Gucake (Prairie View A&M)

Returned: Trey White, Brady Nassar, Ryan Henderson, Jared Badie

Entered: Niles King (Grand Valley State), Brian Townsend Jr, Lucan Amituanai 

The return of White, the Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, was the biggest boon of the offseason for the staff. White will look to build on his impressive 2024 campaign, which saw a decrease in production towards the latter half of the season. Nassar tied for second on the team with 4.5 TFLs and is poised to make a big leap. King, aptly nicknamed the “Sack King” for his 18.5 sacks over the past two years, hopes to translate his pass-rushing production to the FBS level and help keep double teams away from White. One name missing from the newcomers is Jerry Washington. After getting a scholarship offer the night before Signing Day, the Arizona high school senior signed at SDSU this past December. By early June, Washington was announced by Massachusetts as a new Class of 2025 signing. 

Linebacker

Departed: Kyle Morretti (graduation), Cody Moon (graduation), Danny Niu

Returned: Tano Letuli, Owen Chambliss, Brady Anderson, DJ Herman

Entered: Tanner Williams (Utah State), Mister Williams (Incarnate Word), Jeremiah Tuiileila, Etene Pritchard

Letuli and Chambliss enter their second seasons The Mesa. Letuli is firmly entrenched as one of the two starters at the position. Chambliss began his Aztec career as a starter, but injuries and inconsistency set him back as the season progressed. Anderson entered the transfer portal after the season, but decided to return. Herman received his first meaningful game snaps in 2024 and made the most of them. Mister Williams brings experience and production and will compete for the second starting position. Last season, Williams was named Second Team All-Conference after collecting 78 tackles, 13 TFLs, 4 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles at Incarnate Word. 

Cornerback

Departed: Tayvion Beasley (BYU), Tayten Beyer (Cal Poly)

Returned: Bryce Philips, Chris Johnson, Isaiah Buxton, Jelani Whitmore

Entered: Braylon Cardwell

The position with the least amount of turnover returns both starters. Philips participated on Senior Night and began preparing for the NFL Draft, but was given an extra year due to a legislative ruling that granted former junior college players additional eligibility. The lack of turnover might pose a depth problem. Buxton and Whitmore are talented but inexperienced, and Cardwell is an incoming true freshman. Beyer told EVT that his decision to transfer after spring camp was due to his desire to get on the field and play heading into his second season.

Safety

Departed: William Nimmo Jr (graduation), JD Coffey III (graduation), Jason Mitchell (W Michigan) 

Returned: Eric Butler, Dalesean Staley, Deshawn McCuin, Max Garrison, Josh Hunter, Prince Williams, Jatavious Magee, Jelani McLaughlin

Entered: Josiah Cox (New Mexico State), Dwayne McDougle (Idaho), Hunter Haines (Washington State), Kaimana Tufaga, Chase Shumate

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the offseason was the return of eight scholarship safeties. One of them, Hunter, entered the transfer portal but is now back on the roster at the start of fall camp. Hunter competed with McCuin last season at the nickel “stud” position, while Butler and Staley started at the two main spots. Cox, a Lincoln High star, returns to San Diego and will compete for immediate playing time. 

Placekicker

Departed: Nick Lopez

Returned: Gabriel Plascencia, Nick Clegg

Entered: None

Plascencia, the Mountain West Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, returns as the starting kicker for the Aztecs. Depth may be an issue in the event of an injury to Plascencia. Clegg has no official attempts at the college level after redshirting last season. 

Punter

Departed: Tyler Pastula (graduation) 

Returned: Eemil Herranen

Entered: Tashi Dorje, Hunter Green (Northern Colorado)

Green is poised to assume the duties and continue the excellence of the last three punters at SDSU (Araiza, Browning, and Pastula). Green averaged 45.3 ypp with a long of 72 the past two years and was named FCS Third Team All-American in 2024. 

Long Snapper

Departed: Ryan Wintermeyer (graduation)

Returned: Tyson Chavez

Entered: Luke Williams (College of San Mateo)

Wintermeyer started all four years at SDSU and was one of the best long snappers in the country. Chavez will presumably take over after being Wintermeyer’s understudy the past three years.

Stay tuned to the East Village Times for coverage of San Diego State Football as they prepare to begin the season against Stony Brook on August 28 at Snapdragon Stadium. 

Andre Haghverdian

Avid sports fan and historian of basketball, baseball, football and soccer. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in America’s Finest City. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics.