(WR Mekhi Shaw – East Village Times)
Key Players Returning:
RB Jaylon Armstead, RB/KR Kenan Christon, WR/PR Mekhi Shaw, OG Dean Abdullah, OG Myles Murao, OT Christian Jones, DT Tupu Alualu, LB Cody Moon, and CB Josh Hunter.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jalen Mayden, TE Mark Redman (Louisville transfer), OC Thomas Mirabella, OG Cade Bennett, DE Garret Fountain, DE Daniel Okpoko, LB Zyrus Fiaseu, LB Cooper McDonald, CB Chris Johnson, CB Dezjhon Malone, CB Noah Tumblin, NB Davaughn Celstine (SMU transfer), SS Cedarious Barfield, FS Marcus Ratcliffe, and PK/PT Jack Browning.
(QB Danny O’Neil – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: QB Danny O’Neil (Indianapolis, Indiana), ATH Jason Mitchell (Bellflower, California), WR Will Cianfrini (Carlsbad, California), RB Marquez Cooper (Ball State transfer), TE Jude Wolfe (USC transfer), TE Michael Harrison (Colorado transfer), QB AJ Duffy (FSU transfer), CB Isaiah Buxton (Chula Vista, California), RB Anthony McMillan (Chula Vista, California), and RB Cincere Rhaney (Gardena, California).
2023 Results:
G01 OHIO W 20-13
G02 IDAHO STATE W 36-28
G03 UCLA L 10-35
G04 @ #18 Oregon State L 9-26
G05 BOISE STATE L 31-34
G06 @ Air Force L 10-49
G07 @ Hawaii W 41-34
G08 NEVADA L 0-6
G09 UTAH STATE L (2OT) 32-34
G10 @ Colorado State L 19-22
G11 @ San Jose State L 13-24
G12 FRESNO STATE W 33-18
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 4-8 (4th in MWC)
Home: 3-4
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 2-6
Non-MWC: 2-2
Head Coach: Sean Lewis
San Diego State: 0-0
Career: 24-31
Bowl: 1-1
(LB Cody Moon – goaztecs.com)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Jaylon Armstead (103 car., 528 yards, 4.1 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Mekhi Shaw (28 rec., 375 yards, 13.4 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Jaylon Armstead (8)
Sacks: Tupu Alualu (3)
Tackles: Cody Moon (66)
Interceptions: Deshawn McCuin/Trey White (1)
Pass Deflections: Josh Hunter/Deshawn McCuin/Cody Moon (2)
Tackles For Loss: Tupu Alualu (4)
Forced Fumbles: Ryan Henderson/Chris Johnson (1)
Kick Returns: Kenan Christon (15 ret., 331 yards, 22.1 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Mekhi Shaw (14 ret., 101 yards, 7.2 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Gabriel Plascencia (4-4 fg/fga., 100%, 2-2 xp/xpa., 14 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 5 Danny O’Neil (FR)
RB: 23 Kenan Christon (SR/TR)
WR: 83 Mekhi Shaw (RS SR)
WR: 11 Nate Bennett (SR/TR)
WR: 3 Ja’Shaun Poke (RS SR/TR)
TE: 18 Jude Wolfe (RS SR/TR)
LT: 78 Joseph Borjon (RS JR/TR)
LG: 53 Myles Murao (RS JR/TR)
OC: 55 Brayden Bryant (SR/TR)
RG: 63 Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli (RS JR)
RT: 74 Nate Williams (SR/TR)
KR: 3 Ja’Shaun Poke (RS SR/TR)
PK: 46 Gabriel Plascencia (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 32 Marlem Louis (SR/TR)
DT: 99 Tupu Alualu (SR/TR)
DT: 97 Darrion Dalton (RS JR)
DE: 30 Dominic Oliver (RS JR)
LB: 5 Owen Chambliss (RS FR/TR)
LB: 21 Tano Letuli (SO/TR)
NB: 17 Deshawn McCuin (RS SR/TR)
CB: 21 Chris Johnson (JR)
CB: 0 Bryce Phillips (SR/TR)
FS: 9 Dalesean Staley (JR/TR)
SS: 6 Eric Butler (JR)
PR: 83 Mekhi Shaw (RS SR)
PT: 98 Tyler Pastula (SR/TR)
(RB Jaylon Armstead – 247Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 A&M-COMMERCE LIONS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 OREGON STATE BEAVERS | San Diego State trails the series 2-4. Last season’s 9-26 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2014.
09/14 @ California Golden Bears | The series is tied 4-4. The Aztecs won (45-40) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/28 @ Central Michigan Chippewas | San Diego State won (48-31) the only prior meeting between schools in 2019.
10/05 HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS | San Diego State leads the series 25-11-2. The Aztecs are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (11-14) was in 2019.
10/12 @ Wyoming Cowboys | The series is tied 19-19. The Aztecs won (26-22) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/26 WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS | The series is tied 1-1. The Aztecs won (42-24) the last meeting between schools in 2011, and they lost (17-45) the inaugural meeting in 2007.
11/01 @ Boise State Broncos | San Diego State trails the series 4-5. The Aztecs are 2-4 since 2014, and their last series win (27-16) was in 2021.
11/08 NEW MEXICO LOBOS | San Diego State leads the series 29-15. The Aztecs are 5-0 since 2014, and they won (34-10) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/16 @ UNLV Rebels | San Diego State leads the series 23-9. The Aztecs are 8-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (24-27) was in 2018.
11/23 @ Utah State Aggies | San Diego State leads the series 13-4. The Aztecs are 3-3 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series win (38-7) was in 2020.
11/30 AIR FORCE FALCONS | San Diego State trails the series 18-21. The Aztecs are 5-2 since 2014, and their last series win (20-14) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 4-4
Non-MWC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (6th in MWC)
gridironpredictions.net 