San Diego State football preview: The players, stats and storylines to watch as the 2023 season kicks off
The Aztecs open their season Saturday afternoon against Ohio University; here’s everything you need to know
San Diego State opens the 2023 football season on Saturday night with five players that have been named to watch lists, a brutal August and September schedule, and a slew of talented opponents. Here’s a look at what — and who — to watch for as San Diego State’s season kicks off:
2
Cade Bennett
Watch list: Outland Trophy (top interior lineman)
The Aztecs offense can count on the experience of Bennett, a mobile guard who was named a preseason second-team all-Mountain West selection. The 6-3, 315-pound transfer from Oklahoma State did not allow a sack last season and earned a 82.4 pass-block rating from Pro Football Focus, the second-highest mark in the Mountain West. Bennett showed some durability in 2022, playing 748 of 755 snaps in 12 regular-season games before an injury sidelined him for the Hawaii Bowl.
3
Mark Redman
Watch list: John Mackey Award (outstanding tight end)
The 6-6, 250-pound senior had 21 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns last season and was selected second-team all-Mountain West. Redman, who enters his second season with the Aztecs after transferring from Washington, is expected to shine under new offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley. “We’re going to put him in positions to create matchup issues to be successful,” Lindley said.
4
Jalen Mayden
Watch list: Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List (offensive player with ties to Texas)
Few players in the nation made as big an impact after switching positions as Mayden did. After beginning the season as a safety, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Mayden moved to quarterback for the final eight games. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 2,031 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 231 yards with three touchdowns. Despite the limited exposure under center, Mayden was selected as honorable mention all-Mountain West.
5
Cody Moon
Watch list: Bronco Nagusrski (top defensive player)
A transfer from New Mexico, where the former walk-on linebacker notched 105 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks last season, Moon will provide experience for a defense replacing several starters. His knowledge of the 3-3-5 defense — the same scheme he played in at UNM — will be key. The 6-3, 210-pound junior, who was selected first-team preseason All-Mountain West, has been lauded by head coach Brady Hoke for his toughness, versatility and high football IQ.
6
Jack Browning
Watch lists: Ray Guy Award (best punter) and Lou Groza Award (top placekicker)
Browning seamlessly took over for Matt Araiza, the best kicker in program history. Browning did it all last season — punts, kickoffs and PATs — and was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year. He kicked 20 field goals (two shy of the school record) and averaged 46.1 yards a punt; 37 of his 59 kickoffs were touchbacks.
7
Ohio University
(Saturday, 4 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium)
PLAYER TO WATCH: KURTIS ROURKE
The 6-5, 231-pound quarterback and reigning Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year threw for 3,256 yards and 25 touchdowns against four interceptions in 11 games before tearing his ACL.
8
Idaho State
(Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium)
PLAYER TO WATCH: RAIDEN HUNTER
With the offense seeking answers under new coach Cody Hawkins, the Bengals could lean on Hunter, a 5-10, 196-pound running back and San Diego High product who ran for a team-high 451 yards last season.
9
UCLA
(Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium)
PLAYER TO WATCH: LAIATU LATU
The 6-5, 265-pound disruptive edge rusher, who missed the previous two seasons at Pac-12 rival Washington due to injury, finished second in the Pac-12 with 101/2 sacks last season. The Sacramento native also forced three fumbles.
10
Oregon State
(Sept. 16, 12:30 p.m. in Corvallis, Ore.)
PLAYER TO WATCH: DAMIEN MARTINEZ
The 6-foot, 232-pound sophomore may be the toughest running back the Aztecs face all season. He rushed for 982 yards during a breakout 2022 season that earned him Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.
11
Boise State
(Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium)
PLAYER TO WATCH: TAYLEN GREEN
In his first career start, the quarterback rallied the Broncos past the Aztecs last season. The 6-6, 221-pound sophomore finished with 2,042 yards passing and was responsible for 24 touchdowns (14 passing, 10 rushing).
12
Air Force
(Sept. 30, 5 p.m. in Colorado Springs, Colo.)
PLAYER TO WATCH: JOHN LEE ELDRIDGE III
Brad Roberts, the nation’s leading rusher in 2022, is gone; Eldridge, a senior tailback, is expected to pace the Falcons’ running game. The 5-9, 200-pound Eldridge averaged 7.7 yards a carry last season and finished with 766 yards.
13
Hawaii
(Oct. 14, 8 p.m. in Honolulu)
PLAYER TO WATCH: BRAYDEN SCHAGER
The Warriors’ run-and-shoot offense will continue to rely on the 6-3, 225-pound quarterback. The junior threw for 2,348 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.
14
Nevada
(Oct. 21, time TBA at Snapdragon Stadium)
PLAYER TO WATCH: BRENDON LEWIS
A former starting quarterback at Colorado, the 6-2, 215-pound Lewis showed he could thrive as dual threat with the Wolf Pack.
15
Utah State
(Nov. 4, Time TBA at Snapdragon Stadium)
PLAYER TO WATCH: IKE LARSEN
The 5-10, 185-pound safety made a strong first impression as a freshman, intercepting a team-high four passes and blocking a single-season school record three punts.
16
Colorado State
(Nov. 11, 4 p.m. in Fort Collins, Colo.)
PLAYER TO WATCH: TORY HORTON
The Fresno native is one of the top receivers in the Mountain West. The 6-2, 190-pound Horton finished the 2022 season with 71 receptions for a league-best 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns.
17
San Jose State
(Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. in San Jose)
PLAYER TO WATCH: CHEVAN CORDEIRO
The quarterback was named the Mountain West’s 2023 preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The 6-1, 187-pound senior passed for 3,251 yards and 23 touchdowns a year ago, both league highs; he also ran for nine scores.
18
Fresno State
(Nov. 25, time TBA at Snapdragon Stadium)
PLAYER TO WATCH: CAMERON LOCKRIDGE
The 6-foot, 179-pound senior led the league with five interceptions last season. He also was named Defensive MVP of the Mountain West Championship Game after intercepting two passes in a victory over Boise State.
19
0
Number of divisions in the Mountain West Conference this year. The Mountain West will compete as one 12-team division this season for the first time since breaking into two divisions in 2013. The move was designed to ensure that the conference’s top two teams advance to the championship game.
20
1
San Diego State’s all-time losses against teams from the Mid-American Conference. The Aztecs are 15-1-1 all-time against the fellow G5 league, their only defeat coming to Ohio in the 2018 Frisco Bowl. SDSU and Ohio play today.
21
1
The Aztecs’ total victories against UCLA. San Diego State notched its first-ever victory over the Bruins in 2019, ending a 19-game losing streak against the Pac-12 opponent. UCLA, which leads the all-time series 21-1-1, visits Snapdragon Stadium on Sept. 9
22
4
Where the Aztecs were picked to finish this season in the Mountain West’s preseason media poll. Boise State, Air Force and Fresno State were ahead of them.
23
7
Over/under for SDSU victories this season, set by Las Vegas bookmakers.
24
20.5
Points allowed per game last season by the SDSU defense, a figure that ranked 19th in the nation.
25
21.5
Points scored per game last season by the SDSU offense, a figure that ranked 108th in the nation.
26
22
The Aztecs have used the slogan #Win22 the past seven seasons, referencing their aim to win the 22nd conference championship in school history. SDSU hasn’t won the Mountain West since claiming back-to-back titles
in 2015 and 2016.
27
101
This is the 101st season of Aztecs football, which began in 1921 with
a 6-0 win over Army-Navy Academy. The Aztecs did not field teams during the 1943-44 seasons due to World War II.
28
489
Pages in SDSU professor Seth Mallios’ “100 Seasons of Aztec Football,” which is available at the SDSU bookstore and team store at Snapdragon Stadium and online at shopaztecs.com.
29
589
All-time victories in program history. SDSU’s overall record is 589-438-32, a .571 winning percentage. Fresno State (636 wins) is the only Mountain West school with more all-time wins. SDSU ranks 73rd in victories among the nation’s 133 Division I FBS teams. Michigan is 11 wins away from becoming the first Division I team to 1,000 victories.
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KIRK KENNEY’S KEYS TO THE SEASON
1. Offensive line. More consistent offensive line play will be necessary to give quarterback SDSU Jaylen Mayden time to throw and open legitimate holes for the running game.
2. Wide receivers. The Aztecs lost the top two receivers — Jesse Matthews and Tyrell Shavers — from a unit that has been otherwise underwhelming for a decade. Other pass-catchers will need to emerge behind junior Mekhi Shaw; a deep tight ends group will be counted on to prevent teams from loading up against the run.
3. Defensive line. All three starters on the defensive line must be replaced. Senior defensive end Garret Fountain played plenty of snaps a year ago and moves into one of the spots. It remains to be seen if those up front alongside Fountain can live up to the high bar the defense has set for itself.
4. Schedule. If SDSU is to improve on last year’s 7-6 finish, it will be essential to survive a challenging first half of the season. The Aztecs figure to be underdogs against UCLA, Oregon State, Boise State and Air Force to start the season.
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