2021 San Jose State Spartans Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Key Players Returning:

QB Nick Starkel, RB Tyler Nevens, TE Derrick Deese, OC Kyle Hoppe, OG Trevor Robbins, OG Tyler Stevens, OT Jamie Navarro, OT Jack Snyder, DE Junior Fehoko, DE Cade Hall, LB Hadari Darden, LB Kyle Harmon, LB Alii Matau, LB Tysyn Parker, CB Nehemiah Shelton, FS Tre Jenkins, SS Jay Lenard, KR Shamar Garrett, PR Kenyon Reed, and PK Matt Mercurio.

Key Players Departing:

WR Bailey Gaither, WR Tre Walker, CB Tre Webb, and PT Elijah Fischer.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
LB Matthew Tago (Oregon State transfer), TE Skylar Loving-Black (Iowa State transfer), QB Walker Eget (Stevenson Ranch, California), RB Kenyon Sims (Illinois transfer), LB Bryun Parham (Long Beach, California), ATH Nathan Lewis (Carmichael, California), CB Kavon Baptiste (Riverside, California), WR Branden Alvarez (Corona, California), ATH Assani Berkeley (San Luis Obispo, California), and WR Charles Ross (Nevada transfer).

2020 Results:

G01   AIR FORCE  W  17-6
G02   NEW MEXICO  W  38-21
G03   at San Diego State  W  28-17
G04   UNLV  W  34-17
G05   at Hawaii  W  35-24
G06   vs. Nevada  W  30-20
MWC  vs. Boise State  W  34-20
BOWL  vs. Ball State  L  13-34

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  7-1 (MWC Champions)

Home:  3-0
Away:  2-0
Neutral:  2-1
MWC:  6-0
Non-MWC:  1-1

Head Coach:  Brent Brennan

San Jose State:  15-30
Career:  15-30
Bowls:  0-1

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Nick Starkel (163-254, 2174 yards, 64.2%, 8.6 avg., 17 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing:  Tyler Nevens (66 car., 515 yards, 7.8 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving:  Tre Walker (45 rec., 627 yards, 13.9 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Derrick Deese/Tyler Nevens (5)
Sacks:  Cade Hall (10)
Tackles:  Kyle Harmon (78)
Interceptions:  Tre Jenkins (2)
Pass Deflections:  Nehemiah Shelton (4)
Tackles For Loss:  Junior Fehoko (12.5)
Forced Fumbles:  Jay Lenard (2)
Kick Returns:  Shamar Garrett (12 ret., 372 yards, 31.0 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns:  Kenyon Reed (9 ret., 90 yards, 10.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Matthew Mercurio (9-11 fg/fga., 82%, 26-26 xp/xpa., 53 pts.)
Punting:  None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  17  Nick Starkel  (GR/TR)
RB:  23  Tyler Nevens  (SR)
WR:  82  Terence Loville  (RS FR)
WR:  9  Isaiah Hamilton  (RS JR)
WR:  13  Jermaine Braddock  (RS JR)
TE:  87  Derrick Deese  (RS SR/TR)
LT:  55  Jack Snyder  (GR)
LG:  57  Trevor Robbins  (GR)
OC:  56  Kyle Hoppe  (RS SR)
RG:  70  Tyler Stevens  (RS SR)
RT:  54  Jaime Navarro  (RS JR)
KR:  24  Shamar Garrett  (SO)
PK:  39  Matt Mercurio  (RS JR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  42  Junior Fehoko  (RS JR)
NT:  96  Jay Kakiva  (SR/TR)
DE:  92  Cade Hall  (SR)
LB:  41  Hadari Darden  (RS SR/TR)
LB:  45  Kyle Harmon  (SR)
LB:  28  Tysyn Parker  (SR)
LB:  8  Alii Matau  (RS SR)
CB:  23  Nehemiah Shelton  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  18  Kenyon Reed  (RS SO/TR)
FS:  27  Jay Lenard  (RS SR)
SS:  22  Tre Jenkins  (RS JR)
PR:  18  Kenyon Reed  (RS SO/TR)
PT:  99  Will Hart  (GR/TR)

Team Grades:

Offense

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

Defense:

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams:

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

Schedule:

08/28 
SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS  |  San Jose State won (47-7) the only prior meeting between schools in 2000.

09/04  at USC Trojans  |  San Jose State trails the series 0-4.  The Spartans lost (3-56) the last meeting between schools in 2009.

09/19  at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors  |  San Jose State trails the series 20-22-1.  The Spartans are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (40-42) was in 2019.

09/25  at Western Michigan Broncos  |  First meeting between schools.

10/02  NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES  |  San Jose State leads the series 17-3.  The Spartans won (47-7) the last meeting between schools in 2012.

10/09  at Colorado State Rams  |  San Jose State trails the series 4-6.  The Spartans are 3-3 since 2011, and they lost (30-42) was in 2018.

10/15  SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS  |  San Jose State trails the series 20-22-2.  The Spartans are 2-7 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series loss (17-27) was in 2019.

10/23  at UNLV Rebels  |  San Jose State leads the series 17-7-1.  The Spartans are 6-2 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (35-38) was in 2019.

10/30  WYOMING COWBOYS  |  San Jose State trails the series 4-7.  The Spartans are 3-1 since renewing the series in 2013, and they lost (9-24) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

11/06  at Nevada Wolf Pack  |  San Jose State trails the series 10-22-2.  The Spartans are 2-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (38-41) was in 2019.

11/13  UTAH STATE AGGIES  |  San Jose State leads the series 20-18-1.  The Spartans are 0-6 since 2011, and they lost (24-62) the last meeting between schools in 2018.

11/25  FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS  |  San Jose State leads the series 38-42-3.  The Spartans are 5-3 since 2011, and they won (17-16) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

Predictions:

Home:  6-0
Away:  5-1
Neutral:  1-0
MWC:  8-0
Non-MWC:  4-1

Overall:  12-1 (MWC Champions)