Yet again, this coming season, a new quarterback will lead the San Diego State Aztecs.

In Sean Lewis’ second year at the helm, the team will explore four new options behind center for the coming season. Kyle Crum is the only returning quarterback of the five men who are competing for the starting job.

The Aztecs tried to implement a “fast” style of offensive last year with few huddles and multiple continuous plays. It worked at times, but when the unit failed, it only resulted in quick possessions of the ball, which meant that the defense would have no time to rest on the sidelines. That is the problem when you hurry down the field. There is a fine line in between a fast-paced offense and playing recklessly.

Danny O’Neil started the year as the Aztecs quarterback. He was Sean Lewis’ guy and got the benefit of the doubt the whole season. Lewis recruited O’Neil throughout high school, and the two had a great relationship. O’Neil got banged up a few times, but the true freshman stood in there and proved his toughness. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, he transferred to Wisconsin this past off-season.

To make matters worse, the team lost A.J. Duffy as he left to play Division II football at New Haven. Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson also left the team and transferred to the University of North Dakota. Tupou’ata-Johnson showed a lot of upside but never got a long-term commitment to play as the Aztecs featured O’Neil.

This past off-season, SDSU looked toward the transfer portal to bring in three new men for the position. They also have an incoming freshman with impressive high school numbers who may compete eventually. In 2027, the Aztecs will welcome Derek Garcia, who is at Ventura High School and shows a lot of promise. The rotation continues.

SDSU has trotted out 11 different starting quarterbacks to open the season in the last 13 years. A little consistency would go a long way toward a reliable offense. But for now, the unit will be led by another new face to San Diego.

Here is a rundown of the current players and who is likely to take hold of the job.

Kyle Crum

The only returning QB to the system is entrenched in the middle of the pack. Crum has the size to get the job done but has not taken control of the job in his time at SDSU. During the reps on Monday, Crum took snaps in the middle of the group. He appears to be a backup at this point. The native of California will simply need to show more to earn a starting job this coming season. It is not out of the realm of possibility for Crum, but he will need to work hard to be given an opportunity.

Jayden Denegel
6-foot-5, 235 lbs.
Apple Valley, California- Apple Valley High-Michigan

In three seasons in Michigan, he appeared in six games for the Wolverines. Denegal flashed a big arm on Monday and looked very accurate with his passes. He seems like the odds-on favorite right now for the starting job. Chris Spiering of EVT described Denegal as “Big, strong and in control.” Denegal took most of the first team reps and took control of the practice for the Aztecs. He throws the ball easily and, although he is not a huge running risk, moves well for his size. His experience in Michigan will be a bonus for the Aztecs as they look for leadership.

Bert Emanuel Jr.
Junior- 6-foot-3, 235 lbs.
Houston, Texas- Ridge Point High-Central Michigan

Emanuel played against SDSU in September at Central Michigan in a backup role. He flashed tremendous quickness and is considered a huge threat running the ball. In his career at the NCAA level, Emanuel has rushed for 844 yards and scored 12 TDs. Injuries were an issue early in his career, but he is healthy and seems to be the stiffest competition for Denegal. He is the son of Bert Emanuel, who played in the NFL, so the genes are solid. Emanuel has the brains for the position but doesn’t possess a huge arm. He will need to show more consistency with his passing to earn a starting role.

JP Mialovski
Freshman- 6-foot-1, 200 lbs.
Long Beach, California-Millikan High

This freshman has a ton of upside, but he is really raw. He threw for over 4,000 yards and 46 TDs in his two years starting at the high school level. Playing collegiate football is a way different, so it will take a huge showing for Mialovski to earn starting reps with the first team. Experience is his major issue right now. Mialovski does not have tremendous size and will need to continue to get stronger as he plays at SDSU. He is accurate with his passes and has a string arm. He could factor down the line for SDSU as he continues to develop.

Travis Throckmorton
Junior- 6-foot-1, 200 lbs.
Westlake Village, California- Simi Valley High-Oregon State

Throckmorton comes from Oregon State, where he didn’t play one game last year. Oregon State sent out four different men at the position, but Throckmorton failed to earn a snap during the regular season. In fact, he never played for the school since coming to the school in 2022. He threw for over 1,500 yards and 13 TDs his senior year in high school, where he led Simi Valley to their first-ever 10-0 record. During Monday’s practice, he showed good size but will need to really emerge to earn playing time from Denegal and Emanuel.

The verdict

It appears that the job will go to Jayden Denegal, though Bert Emanuel Jr. has a chance to emerge with consistent play. Denegal brings experience playing at the pinnacle of collegiate football in Michigan. That kind of experience cannot be overlooked.  His size and arm strength will help him secure the position moving forward.

It is possible we see Emanuel in a “Wild Cat” position with the team. They also may get creative and use the quarterback as a runner or a receiver. He brings an exciting element to his game that will surely be utilized. The other three men in this group will need to really take advantage of their opportunities to contribute in 2025.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.