San Jose State Football: Projecting The 2020 Spring Depth Chart
The Spartans took a big step forward in 2019, but how might they replace their key departures? We predict how they could start.
Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire
The next steps could be the hardest.
2019 proved a big leap forward for the success-starved San Jose State Spartans, but planning the path to bowl eligibility is about to get a little tougher.
Losing an Offensive Player of the Year is challenge enough for any program, but key playmakers depart on the defensive side of the ball as well. The Spartans have recruited competitively under Brent Brennan, but it might be the arrival of key transfers that will make or break the next twelve months. How might it all shake out at the start of spring, at least?
Note: Projected spring first-teamers in italics.
Quarterback
Nick Starkel, Grad.
Nick Nash, Soph.
Perhaps the most high-profile name to arrive in the Mountain West through the transfer portal thus far, it’s hard not to imagine Brent Brennan and offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven giving Starkel the opportunity to be a bridge for the other young signal-callers on the roster. That’s not a guarantee, though, since Chance La Chapelle could be ready to take a step forward and Nash, after a successful stint as a change-of-pace running QB last fall, could be in line for a bigger niche.
Between those three and Alec Trujillo, a three-star recruit in the 2019 class, this will take time to sort out. The program’s upward trajectory depends on getting this choice right.
Running back
Tyler Nevens, Sr.
Kairee Robinson, Soph.
Long a sore spot for the Spartans, at least one proven commodity returns but the likelihood of a committee seems substantial. Robinson got more work in the second half of the year and gave the running game some life, averaging 4.44 yards per carry and catching two touchdowns from Josh Love in his last four games, so a strong spring could nudge him to the RB1 spot come August.
Wide receiver
Tre Walker, Sr.
JaQuan Blackwell, Sr.
Bailey Gaither, Grad.
Jermaine Braddock, Soph.
Isaiah Hamilton, Soph.
Andre Crump, Soph.
If the quarterback situation gets settled sooner rather than later, watch out. The whole gang, save for Sitaleki Nunn and not even including promising underclassmen like Isaiah Holiness, is back for another round, giving the Spartans perhaps the deepest pass-catching unit in the conference.
Tight end
Billy Humphreys, Sr.
Derrick Deese Jr., Sr.
Considering how much the Spartans threw the ball last year, the fact that these two combined for just 34 catches is a mild surprise, but they headline another deep skill position group. Someone is going to have to replace Brett Foley’s targets, after all, so a veteran like Jackson Burrill could be in line for a bigger role, as well.
Offensive line
Left Tackle
Jackson Synder, Sr.
Scott Breslin, Jr.
Left Guard
Tyler Ostrom, Soph.
Lamar Barrett, Jr.
Center
Kyle Hoppe, Sr.
Trevor Robbins, Sr.
Right Guard
Tyler Stevens, Jr.
Lamar Barrett, Jr.
Right Tackle
Jaime Navarro, Soph.
Anthony Pardue, Soph.
The Spartans were fortunate to start the same five linemen every game last fall, but finding the right replacements this spring will be just as important as identifying the new starting quarterback, especially if they want to solve their seasons-long woes running the football. A juco import like Barrett could be a key swingman at guard and tackle.
Defensive line
Defensive End
Viliami Fehoko, Soph.
Christian Johnson, Sr.
Nose Tackle
Jay Kakiva, Jr.
Josh Gomez, RS Fr.
Defensive Tackle
Cade Hall, Jr.
E.J. Ane, Jr.
A unit that’s skewed very young and taken some lumps in the last couple years could start taking a big step forward this spring. Replacing Sailosi Latu in the middle will be tough, especially with Demanuel Talauati and Terrell Townsend in the transfer portal, as well, but Kakiva, the team’s highest-rated 2020 recruit according to 247 Sports, could give this unit an immediate shot in the arm with a massive physical presence of his own. Expect a number of guys, whether Gomez or Jamaar Hardy or Duane Tuitasi, to get every opportunity to starting winning a role in the rotation.
Linebacker
Rahyme Johnson, Jr.
Michael Pryor, Soph.
Kyle Harmon, Jr.
Jordan Cobbs, Soph.
Tysyn Parker, Sr.
Isa’ako Togia, Jr.
Rico Tolefree, Jr.
Hadari Darden, Sr.
Ethan Aguayo and Jesse Osuna were productive when available, so replacing them won’t be easy. Luckily, the Spartans have some options: Parker has spent time as a starter inside over the last three seasons, while Johnson was a former four-star recruit who sat out 2019 after transferring from UCLA.
Cornerback
Nehemiah Shelton, Jr.
Johnny Balderas, Jr.
Tre White, Jr.
Malik Welch, Jr.
There’s a lot of potential for shakeups in this unit because, as elsewhere on the defense, transfers could figure heavily in the mix. Kenyon Reed arrives from Kansas State, for one, while Welch comes from Long Beach Community College. It’s rarely been about just one standout in recent years, though, so building up the typical level of depth will take time.
Safety
Free Safety
Tre Webb, Sr.
Jalend Dinwiddie, Jr.
Strong Safety
Jay Lenard, Sr.
Bobby Brown II, Sr.
After starting every game last fall, seasoned vets Webb and Lenard are back along with Brown, who you might recall from his big effort in SJSU’s road upset at Arkansas. Not a lot of suspense here, which is probably a good thing.
Kicker
Matt Mercurio, Soph.
Chris Wood, Jr.
Mercurio’s emergence was a pleasant development and, taken in tandem with the fact that Wood is the only other kicking specialist at the roster for now, it seems like his job is as safe as it can be.
Punter
Chris Wood, Jr.
It looks like Wood will get first crack at the punting job, but nothing says the Spartans can’t hit the transfer portal again to find some competition. Alex Galland was a relatively late arrival from Yale last summer but was also something of a disappointment next to so many other outstanding Mountain West punters.
