The San Diego State Aztecs’ football practice fields came to life Saturday afternoon for their annual spring showcase.
The game featured some solidified starters and other understated players trying to earn a spot on the depth chart. Furthermore, as the intersquad scrimmage progressed, certain names began to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
Stone Saunders
While the Aztecs retained Jayden Denegal, their starting quarterback from last season, it is always a plus to have a capable backup signal-caller; Stone Saunders showcased his on-field traits and furthered his development in the spring game.
The Kentucky transfer and redshirt freshman took a majority of his snaps as the second option behind Denegal, completing passes to a plethora of wide receivers regardless of their stature on the depth chart.
Typically, a transfer quarterback needs time to acclimate to a new playbook and group of receivers. Considering the aforementioned factors and the numerous injuries in the receiver room, Saunders should have performed mediocrely in his first spring game in San Diego; this was not the case.
He completed 12 passes for upwards of 140 yards, displaying his affinity for the deep ball and comfort in offensive coordinator Matt Johnson’s system. Saunders also led all Aztec quarterbacks in passing yards and completions. His strong showing was highlighted by a 31-yard touchdown pass to fellow freshman wide receiver Derek Stevenson.
Saunders also earned the respect of some of his teammates, a major compliment to his solid spring game performance.
“I was very impressed with Stone; he is a great quarterback,” wide receiver Jaylon Hawkins said. “I like the way he sees the field, he definitely [throws] the ball out there [and] gives you a chance to go get it; that is what I like.”
Carson Diehl
As SDSU grapples with injuries to its key pass catchers, the team is forced to utilize fresh faces to fill these spots; freshman wide receiver Carson Diehl has been a direct beneficiary of the Aztecs’ banged-up wide receiver corps.
Saunders hooked up with Diehl down the seam to build some momentum for the second-string offense as they tussled with most of SDSU’s starting defense for most of the spring game’s opening team session. Diehl was frequently targeted in the Aztecs’ spring game, which is typically a sign of trust and a vote of confidence, especially for a young wide receiver trying to find his way.
As the whistles blew and the action came to a close, the San Diego native finished his inaugural college spring game with two catches for about 40 yards.
Tashi Dorje
When SDSU lost Hunter Green, its second-team All-Mountain West punter, to the Washington Huskies, it left some big shoes to fill. Thankfully for the Aztecs, a senior transfer from the College of San Mateo has begun to assert himself as the next man up.
Tashi Dorje showcased a diverse repertoire of punts in the spring game’s special teams portion. From backed-up punts with little time to get the kick off to booming right-to-left boots with considerable hang time, Dorje gave his teammates and coaching staff an in-depth look at what he can do for his squad’s punt unit.
“Tashi is going to be the guy who is going to punt for us; he has really solidified his role in that regard,” head coach Sean Lewis said. “[He] has done a really nice job separating himself and being that guy who is going to be the punter for us this year.”
The lack of live punt coverage and official punt measurements leaves some ambiguity surrounding Dorje’s display in the Aztecs’ spring game. Still, coach Lewis’ words of affirmation have to be a considerable boost for the transfer punter.
Mike Lindsay
With SDSU’s defense rotating several new faces into the secondary, Mike Lindsay made one of the strongest cases that he can become a steady piece in the Aztecs’ defensive backfield.
The sophomore cornerback transfer from Idaho State finished with five total tackles and two pass breakups, using his length and timing to disrupt throws throughout the scrimmage. Lindsay was often around the ball, whether he was closing quickly on underneath routes or staying attached in coverage when the offense tried to test the perimeter.
Lewis praised Lindsay’s spring overall, but also pointed to one play as an example of the next step in his development.
“If I’m Mike Lindsay down here, I got a chance to change the game by getting a pick,” Lewis said. “No one’s writing about a PBU and then an extended offensive play, right? Secure the interception, change the game in that way.”
Even without the interception, Lindsay’s performance was one of the more noticeable defensive outings of the afternoon. For a secondary still building depth under defensive coordinator Demetrius Sumler, Lindsay showed he can be part of that competition heading into the summer.
Alijah Lash
Alijah Lash may still be early in his college career, but the freshman linebacker did not look overwhelmed in his first spring showcase with the Aztecs.
The Texas native tied the team-high six tackles, including one tackle for loss, and brought a physical presence to the middle of the defense. His background as a high school pass rusher was evident in the way he attacked downhill, but SDSU is still working to develop him into a more complete linebacker.
Lewis described Lash as a “natural striker,” praising his physicality while also noting that playing off the ball remains a new adjustment.
“He does a really good job with his timing,” Lewis said. “Understanding his fits is something that he needs to get a heck of a lot better on, and playing off the ball is new to him.”
Still, Lash’s maturity has already stood out to the coaching staff. For a freshman who should still be finishing high school, he showed enough on Saturday to suggest he could push for a role sooner rather than later.
“Mentally, he is a mature kid,” Lewis said. “He carries himself in a different way than someone who should be in home ec second semester right now of his senior year.”
