After more than four months of recovery, film study and practice behind closed doors, the San Diego State Aztecs will finally showcase their talent and preparation in front of a live crowd this Saturday at this season’s spring football game.
Aztec football fans will be treated to food trucks, a live DJ and an in-depth glance at what the 2026-27 team brings to the table.
Offensive Outlook
SDSU’s new offensive linemen have the tall task of filling the shoes of last season’s departures. More than half of the starting offensive line spots are up for grabs as center Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, left tackle Christian Jones and right guard Bayo Kannike played their final season at Snapdragon Stadium last year.
Along with returning seniors Joseph Borjon and Kalan Ellis, the offensive line paved the way for SDSU’s ball carriers to post 2,583 yards on the ground and be sacked only 18 times.
So far this spring, however, the Aztecs have faced some adversity up front.
“With Kalan being limited because of his postseason surgery, and then [Joseph] being limited as well, we have been playing with a lot of new pieces,” head coach Sean Lewis said.
Notable newcomers on the front lines, like Dennis Jones (Texas Southern), Evan Lawrence (Indiana) and Harlem Nellum (three-star freshman from Frontier High School), will all try to prove to new offensive line coach and run game coordinator Bill O’Boyle that they can excel in the trenches and become integral pieces up front.
Like the offensive line, the wide receiver corps is also facing its fair share of injuries. While the receivers do not face as much turnover as their frontline counterparts, numerous returning standouts have been limited in practice so far.
In fact, the two leading receivers for the Scarlet and Black last season, Jordan Napier and Donovan Brown, have been in and out of their team’s regular activities because of the injury bug. Jacob Bostick, who led SDSU in receiving touchdowns last year, has also been limited because of injury. Thus, returning senior Nathan Acevedo has been thrust into the spotlight.
“[I want to] come out and show a little bit of what I can do and what I can bring to the team this year,” Acevedo said.
Additionally, Acevedo expects his side of the ball to demonstrate continuity by spreading the ball to a wide variety of playmakers. Other than the receiving unit, the offensive backfield also boasts a great deal of returners.
“We are going to come out aggressive, and we are going to show that we can throw the ball and we can run,” Acevedo said. “I hope we can spread the ball all around; we have playmakers from top to bottom, so we really want to stretch the field [and make the defense] have to guard us from sideline to sideline.”
Two of the three leading rushers for the Aztecs last season, seniors Lucky Sutton and Christian Washington, and senior starting quarterback Jayden Denegal, return to the Mesa for this upcoming season. Alongside offensive mastermind Matt Johnson, who returns for his second season as SDSU’s offensive coordinator, the backfield aims to build upon its much-improved rushing attack.
Saturday also brings forth the opportunity for one of the Aztecs’ tight ends to make a name for himself and aid in a smooth transition from Seth Adams to whoever his replacement may be.
Defensive Outlook
While the offense works through injuries and new faces, the Aztecs’ defense enters Saturday with another opportunity to reinforce the identity that has long defined football on the Mesa.
San Diego State once again returns one of the team’s deepest position groups in the secondary, led by returning contributors and reinforced with experienced transfers looking to carve out larger roles.
One of those newcomers is junior safety Solomon Davis, who transferred from Oregon after spending the last three seasons with the Ducks. Although much of his time came on special teams, Davis said the experience competing inside a Big Ten program helped prepare him for a bigger opportunity at SDSU.
“I definitely feel like a lot of those special teams reps in the past, and a little bit of defense, definitely helped me experience-wise,” Davis said. “Just being able to bring everything I learned from there and use it here will be a great thing.”
Davis spoke to San Diego State’s defensive tradition and his relationship with defensive coordinator Eric Schmidt and safeties coach C.J. McGorisk, which played a major role in his decision to transfer to the Mesa. He was previously recruited by cornerbacks coach Demetrius Sumler out of high school and viewed the program as a natural fit.
“I would definitely say the integrity and the history that the defense has had,” Davis said. “Seeing a guy like Chris Johnson go first round, and a lot of other dudes get opportunities in the league, I just want to be able to carry on the legacy.”
Johnson’s rise from SDSU standout to first-round NFL Draft pick with the Miami Dolphins has continued to resonate throughout the program this spring.
Now, the next wave of defensive backs will have a chance to make an impression in front of fans Saturday.
Davis said he hopes to prove himself as a dependable piece within the secondary, while showcasing the effort and physicality he brings to the field.
“I just want to show my teammates I’m a guy they can trust, whether it’s on the field or off the field,” Davis said. “I’m going to give them everything every time. I’m going to play with effort and play with ball excellence at all times.”
The safety room also returns veteran Dalesean Staley, giving the unit another experienced presence alongside the incoming transfers and younger defensive backs competing for playing time.
Davis credited McGorisk for helping sharpen his understanding of the position throughout spring camp.
“Just little things like reading splits of receivers, where they line up on the field and understanding down and distance,” Davis said. “Meeting with Coach C.J., I’m learning a lot more.”
Saturday’s spring game will serve as one of the final opportunities for players across the roster to separate themselves before summer workouts and fall camp begin, but as Lewis emphasized, “you’ve got to do the work over the course of the summer to really refine that craft and refine your role.”
