Bigger and Blue-Collar Nasty the emphasis for SDSU’s DL
DL coach David Lose and EDGE coach Rob Aurich during the Aztec Fast Showcase (Don De Mars/EVT).
In 2024, SDSU defensive tackles combined for 13 tackles for loss, 7 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries. While superior performance at that position is not always measured in statistics, the lack of production across the board provided a glimpse into the defense’s shortcomings.
In his first year of Division I football, Krishna Clay (40 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and 3 QB hurries) emerged as the top defensive linemen on the roster. Clay, who transferred to SDSU after one year at the College of San Mateo, weighed 270lbs last year. Now, he says he is at 295 after an offseason of muscle building.
“That helps a lot in the run game,” Clay remarked about his added bulk after practice Thursday.
Both Clay and defensive line coach, David Lose, emphasize the importance of the two defensive tackles plugging the A gaps, taking on multiple blockers to allow the rest of the defense to make plays in the run game.
Lose preaches playing physically with what he terms a “blue-collar nasty” mindset. Adding weight but holding muscle mass was an emphasis across the position group, not just Clay and it should help the run defense.
“We want to kill the run as a defense, not just as a defensive line,” Lose added. “It starts up front with the two guys in the middle holding point. Being able to attack their keys and reestablish the line of scrimmage.”
Finding running mates for Clay in 2025 will be a top priority for Lose. The other main contributors, Tupu Alualu (26 tackles, 4 sacks) and Darrion Dalton (15 tackles, 2.5 TFLs) are no longer on the roster. Alualu graduated. Dalton transferred to Washington State.
Two returning players, Sam Benjamin (4 tackles) and Teivis Tuioti (13 tackles, 1 sack), spent the beginning of their first year at SDSU at the top of the depth chart, but slid down as the year went on. 2025 provides a clean slate for both to work their way back into the fold.
Benjamin spoke after practice Thursday about how he focused on improving his footspeed with constant drills and watching film to understand the scheme better and make quicker reactions during plays.
“I know what to expect more as far as game speed,” said the Arizona State transfer who started the first four games last season. “Being able to slow down the game and play faster… show up everyday and put out the same level of playmaking and physicality instead of being good some days and not so good others.”
In 209 snaps, Benjamin earned a 55.8 run defense grade per Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Tuioti begins his sixth and final year in the Mountain West (previous stints at Nevada and Colorado State). He logged six starts for the Aztecs in 2024, earning a 65.8 tackling grade and a 55.1 run defense grade per PFF in 288 snaps.
Lose praised both returners in their offseason development and play throughout the first eight practices of Fall Camp.
Given the speed of the game and size of defensive linemen, in-game rotation is a must. Developing depth and making the players interchangeable along the two positions of the interior line is emphasized.
The primary newcomer is Hawai’i transfer, Malachi Finau. In 248 snaps last year, Finau collected 19 tackles, 3 sacks and 6 QB hurries. The 3-star recruit out of St. John Bosco earned a 56.8 run defense grade per PFF.
Lose noted Finau has made vast improvements from spring camp to fall camp and Clay believes he brings an element of explosiveness to the position group.
Kaino Davis (Charlotte), Amari Comier (Diablo Valley College) and Sidney Dupuy (high school) round out the position group, joining the roster in the summer and working their way up to the level of the top four in the group.
Clay and Benjamin believe the depth and consistency under Lose’s tutelage will translate onto the field in 2025.
“You have to trust that everybody will do their job to get things done,” Clay said. “I can’t play my game if I don’t trust the guy next to me so knowing everybody around me makes it much easier to play more fluidly.”
“If it takes you away from playing fast or playing physical, don’t allow it,” Benjamin recalled Lose repeating throughout camp. “I love that. It doesn’t get better than that.”
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.