2021 San Diego State Aztecs Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Justin Fine/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

RB Greg Bell, WR Jesse Matthews, TE Daniel Bellinger, OC Alama Uluave, OG William Dunkle, OG Dominic Gudino, OT Zachary Thomas, DE Keshawn Banks, DE Cameron Thomas, DT Jonah Tavai, LB Andrew Aleki, LB Seyddrick Lakalaka, LB Caden McDonald, LB Michael Showcroft, CB Taylor Hawkins, FW Trenton Thompson, KR/PR Jordan Byrd, PR Jesse Matthews, and PK/PT Matt Araiza.

Key Players Departing:

QB Carson Baker, OT Kyle Spalding, LB Connor Mitchell, CB Darren Hall, NB Dwayne Johnson, FS Tariq Thompson, and PT Tanner Kuljian.

Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
OG John Simmons (La Mesa, California), and QB Jalen Mayden (Mississippi State Transfer).

3 Star Recruits:  CB Noah Avinger (Anaheim, California), OG Ross Maseuli (Santa Ana, California), S C.J. Baskerville (North Richland Hills, Texas), LB Zyrus Fiaseu (Henderson, Nevada), QB William Haskell (Glendale, Arizona), WR Phillippe Wesley (Playa Del Rey, California), S New Zealand Williams (Playa Del Ray, California), and LB D.J. Herman (Las Vegas, Nevada).

2020 Results:

G01  UNLV  W  34-6
G02  at Utah State  W  38-7
G03  SAN JOSE STATE  L  17-28
G04  HAWAII  W  34-10
G05  at Nevada  L  21-26
G06  at Colorado  L  10-20
G07  COLORADO STATE  W  29-17
G08  at #18 BYU  L  14-28

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  4-4 (4th in MWC)

Home:  3-1
Away:  1-3
Neutral:  0-0
MWC:  4-2
Non-MWC:  0-2

Head Coach:  Brian Dutcher

San Diego State:  64-29
Career:  129-98
Bowl:  4-8

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Jordon Brookshire (42-74, 410 yards, 56.8%, 5.5 avg., 2 TD, 2 INT)
Rushing:  Greg Bell (113 car., 637 yards, 5.6 avg., 6 TD)
Receiving:  Jesse Matthews (24 rec., 326 yards, 13.6 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Greg Bell (7)
Sacks:  Caden McDonald/Jonah Tavai (4.5)
Tackles:  Darren Hall (37)
Interceptions:  Darren Hall (3)
Pass Deflections:  Darren Hall (6)
Tackles For Loss:  Caden McDonald (10)
Forced Fumbles:  Michael Showcroft (2)
Kick Returns:  Jordan Byrd (13 ret., 383 yards, 29.5 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns:  Jesse Matthews (12 ret., 113 yards, 9.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Matt Araiza (10-14 fg/fga., 71%, 23-24 xp/xpa., 53 pts.)
Punting:  Matt Araiza (5 punts, 249 yards, 49.8 avg., 2 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  7  Lucas Johnson  (GR/TR)
RB:  22  Greg Bell  (RS SR/TR)
TE:  88  Daniel Bellinger  (SR)
WR:  96  Elijah Kothe  (SR)
WR:  41  B.J. Busbee  (SR)
TE:  82  Jay Rudolph  (SO)
LT:  76  Zachary Thomas  (RS SR)
LG:  56  Dominic Gudino  (SR)
OC:  72  Alama Uluave  (SR)
RG:  73  William Dunkle  (RS JR)
RT:  61  Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson  (RS SO)
KR:  15  Jordan Byrd  (SR)
PK:  2  Matt Araiza  (RS JR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  99  Cameron Thomas  (RS JR)
NT:  66  Jonah Tavai  (SR/TR)
DE:  2  Keshawn Banks  (SR)
LB:  54  Caden McDonald  (RS SR)
LB:  38  Andrew Aleki  (SR)
LB:  24  Segun Olubi  (GR/TR)
AZ:  33  Patrick McMorris  (JR)
CB:  12  Dallas Branch  (JR/TR)
CB:  9  Tayler Hawkins  (RS SR)
FW:  18  Trenton Thompson  (RS SR)
BW:  27  Cedarious Barfield  (RS JR)
PR:  15  Jordan Byrd  (SR)
PT:  2  Matt Araiza  (RS JR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  A
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  B
Kickers:  B
Punters:  B

Schedule:

09/04 
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES  |  San Diego State leads the series 10-1.  The Aztecs won (31-10) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

09/11  at Arizona Wildcats  |  San Diego State trails the series 5-10.  The Aztecs lost (10-23) the last meeting between schools in 2001.

09/18  UTAH UTES  |  San Diego State trails the series 12-17-1.  The Aztecs lost (34-38) the last meeting between schools in 2010.

09/25  TOWSON TIGERS  |  First meeting between schools.

10/09  NEW MEXICO LOBOS  |  San Diego State leads the series 27-15.  The Aztecs are 5-0 since 2011, and they won (31-23) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

10/15  at San Jose State Spartans  |  San Diego State leads the series 22-20-2.  The Aztecs are 7-2 since 2012, and their last series win (27-17) was in 2019.

10/23  at Air Force Falcons  |  San Diego State trails the series 17-19.  The Aztecs are 7-0 since 2011, and they won (21-17) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

10/30  FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS  |  San Diego State leads the series 30-25-4.  The Aztecs are 4-5 since 2011, and they won (17-7) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

11/06  at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors  |  San Diego State leads the series 22-11-2.  The Aztecs are 7-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (11-14) was in 2019.

11/13  NEVADA WOLF PACK  |  San Diego State leads the series 7-6.  The Aztecs are 6-3 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series win (42-23) was in 2017.

11/20  at UNLV Rebels  |  San Diego State leads the series 20-10.  The Aztecs are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (24-27) was in 2018.

11/26  BOISE STATE BRONCOS  |  The series is tied 3-3.  The Aztecs won (19-13) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

Predictions:

Home:  5-2
Away:  3-2
Neutral:  0-0
MWC:  6-2
Non-MWC:  2-2

Overall:  8-4 (3rd in MWC West)