The ball used to start in Bert Emanuel Jr.’s hands.
Now, just days into spring camp, the goal is to get it there in an entirely different way.
The former San Diego State backup quarterback has adopted a new identity this season, switching to wide receiver. From his perspective, it’s not a move rooted in frustration or circumstance.
“I just feel like it’s the path that God had me on,” Emanuel Jr. said. “It came into my mind sometime, and then I prayed about it … and it kind of just came into the idea, like I could do this.”
Emanuel Jr.’s time at quarterback always hinted at something more. At Central Michigan, he was dynamic with the ball in his hands, with 844 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns and a 5.82 yards-per-carry average that ranked among the best in program history. Even in limited opportunities at SDSU, that explosiveness translated.
His New Mexico Bowl performance was the clearest glimpse of what he could be: 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns in just over a quarter of action, including breakaway runs of 72 and 69 yards. It was the kind of performance that forces coaches to rethink where a player belongs.
“I feel like my athletic ability to be explosive will definitely help impact the game,” Emanuel Jr. said. “Glad I’m able to be another weapon. Give me the ball and be a playmaker that I know I could be.”
The transition didn’t come from dissatisfaction with his role last season. Even as a backup behind Jayden Denegal, Emanuel Jr. stayed grounded in a team-first mentality.
“I just [wanted to] be the best teammate I could be,” he said. “Obviously, I wanted to be a starting quarterback, but things didn’t turn out that way. I want him to succeed. Because if he succeeds, we succeed.”
That selflessness is exactly what stood out to new wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator Matthew Middleton.
“Bert is a phenomenal young man,” Middleton said. “He’s worked his butt off. He’s been completely selfless and has done whatever the team has asked him to do.”
It’s that willingness to adapt, to learn, to shift roles, that has made this experiment possible.
For Emanuel Jr., the mental side of football isn’t new. If anything, his background at quarterback gives him a head start.
“Conceptually, I feel like I know where I’m supposed to be,” he said. “Know where I need to be so I can get the rock.”
Middleton sees the advantage for someone like Emanuel Jr.’s playmaking ability
“The great thing is, they play quarterback, so they understand the cerebral part of it,” Middleton said. “Now, it’s just the physical part, understanding where the landmarks are on the field, you got to line up there, run there and hit those spots.”
That physical adjustment has been the biggest hurdle so far.
“Biggest challenge [is] definitely a lot more running,” Emanuel Jr. said. “Last year I was around 240. I’ve cut down a lot of weight since then … just getting my body in the right position.”
Inside the receiver room, Emanuel Jr. has taken on the role of a student.
“I don’t have too much pride when it comes to stuff like that,” he said. “I’m an open sponge. I’m definitely looking forward to learning everything I can.”
That includes leaning on teammates, like roommate and wide receiver Jacob Bostick, for guidance on the nuances of the position.
Middleton, who has coached multiple position transitions throughout his career, isn’t rushing the process. His focus is on growth, not perfection.
“What I’m looking for is guys that are still coachable,” Middleton said. “Guys that take the coaching and apply it and don’t hang their head. They move on to the next play.”
Emanuel Jr. checks those boxes early.
“He prides himself on being in the building and working on his ball skills,” Middleton said. “That says a lot about him, of wanting to be great.”
Bostick and Jordan Napier are still recovering from injuries, leaving the receiver room wide open. With several new transfers in the mix, there’s no guarantee, only opportunity.
“Everybody works their butt off,” Middleton said. “All of them are hungry, screaming, ‘Coach me.’”
Emanuel Jr. finds success isn’t tied to a stat line or a position label. It’s something simpler.
“Just be a dynamic playmaker,” he said. “Just being out there and being able to dominate with my guys.”
