San Diego State starts its 2026 journey with the first practice of spring camp on Monday.

The Aztecs, led by Sean Lewis, hope the culmination of 15 practices at the Spring Game on May 2 will get them ready for their inaugural Pac-12 season. Here are six things to watch in spring camp. 

• How are the quarterback reps allocated?

The incumbent Jayden Denegal will be a full-go for spring camp following left shoulder surgery. Incoming redshirt freshman Stone Saunders will be gripping at his heels for an opportunity to learn the offense. Lewis pretty much signaled at his press conference on Tuesday that Bert Emanuel Jr would be switching to a skill position player when he only named Denegal, Saunders, and walk-on Draiden Trudeau as signal callers who would get reps during the spring. 

While Denegal will be given every opportunity to remain the starter, given his familiarity with the offense, how much of a competition there will be with Saunders remains to be seen. The Spring Game will give fans a real first look at the youngsters’ skill set. A great showing could spark momentum for an actual starting quarterback battle for fall camp.

• How will the tight ends be utilized?

In Lewis’s first two years at SDSU, he brought in senior tight ends who were focused on being an extension of the offensive line in the running game. Jude Wolfe and Seth Adams fulfilled those roles well while receiving only limited passing targets. While the expectation was for the staff to bring in yet another senior blocking tight end, this did not materialize. The only incoming tight ends this offseason were sophomore Kime Fangupo from junior college and two true freshmen (Jack Ellis and Elijah Muliufi).  

Last season, the tight ends received a total of 22 targets. Jackson Ford (10 catches for 86 yards on 17 targets) led the way. Will the offense stray away from using the position in-line as another blocker, or will they add another dimension to the playbook? Ford and Ryan Wolfer are the lone scholarship returning players at the position. 

• Who joins Joe Borjon on the first team offensive line?

Borjon and Kalan Ellis return as starters from last year’s offensive line. Ellis will likely miss most of spring camp recovering from left shoulder surgery. Borjon, expected to return to left tackle in 2026, will be looking to develop rapport with a new cast of linemates. 

19 offensive linemen round out the roster. Dallas Fincher returns after missing the entire season with a hip injury from fall camp. He was slated to be a starter before his injury in 2025. Several true freshmen from last year will be eyeing starting spots this year after getting their feet wet a year ago. But the incoming transfers will likely get a large share of the attention, including the Luniewski twins (Michigan State), Dennis Jones, and Matthew Montgomery.

• Can anyone bring down the quarterback?

Losing Trey White and Ryan Henderson to Power 4 teams and Niles King to graduation severely hinders the experience at the EDGE position. In total, 31 of the team’s 32 sacks in 2025 were recorded by players no longer on the team. Only defensive tackle Amari Comier (1) remains on the roster with a sack last season. 

New defensive coordinator Demetrius Sumler and EDGEs coach Colin Ferrell have their hands full rebuilding the positional unit. Senior Brady Nassar is the key returner who will be relied upon to step up his game. Nassar was a starter early last season before taking on a backup role behind Henderson. 

The staff brought in three players from the portal (Kai Wallin, Nate Henrich, and Djibril Rahman) to compete with Nassar and two redshirt freshmen (Lucan Amituanai and Brian Townsend Jr). If the defense looks to continue its dominance from a year ago, finding guys who can bring down the opposing quarterbacks will be paramount. 

• How will the newly revamped secondary dictate the coverages they can play?

Four of the five starters from an elite secondary are gone. All five would have departed if not for Dalesean Staley withdrawing from the transfer portal and returning to the Aztecs. Only three cornerbacks return, but with very little playing experience. Jelani Whitmore, the elder statesman of the returners, missed the entire 2025 season with an injury. The staff brought in three productive players from lower collegiate levels (Jason Oliver, Caleb Ricks, and Mike Lindsay) to compete for starting spots, but Sumler will have to adjust his coverages without Chris Johnson and Bryce Phillips.

Replacing Eric Butler in the slot role will be just as challenging. Josiah Cox was Butler’s primary backup in 2025 but whether he is best suited for a nickel role over a traditional safety role may not be addressed yet. And incoming players Jalen Thomeson and Solomon Davis will battle returners Jelani McLaughlin, Max Garrison, and Josh Hunter for playing time.  

• Who is the next in line of special specialists? 

Since Matt Araiza in 2021, the Aztecs have been blessed with elite specialists. Jack Browning followed Araiza as the placekicker and punter, and Hunter Green and Gabe Plascencia took the reins after him. Plascencia is currently working out for NFL teams ahead of the draft, and Green is in the Big 10 at Washington. Can one or two of the next in line continue the success?

Tashi Dorje initially entered the portal following the end of the season to find a starting punter job elsewhere. When Green departed, Dorje returned to SDSU. He will compete with Camden Cowgill. Returner Nick Clegg will battle four new placekickers on the spring roster for the lead role. 

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.