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Draft Scout College Football Player News: San Diego State

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02/26/23 - Jalen Mayden, rSr/2024, San Diego State + More +

Jalen Mayden took great satisfaction last year in quickly and successfully moving midseason from safety to starting quarterback for San Diego State. But what sticks with Mayden, and fuels him during offseason workouts, is the way the season concluded for the Aztecs. "Definitely the finish," Mayden said. "I feel like I didn't do my part." He guided SDSU to wins in five of six games after replacing Braxton Burmeister as the starting QB, but the Aztecs suffered a 13-3 loss to Air Force in the regular season finale and a 25-23 loss to Middle Tennessee in the Hawaii Bowl.

SDSU was averaging 65.6 passing yards a game and ranked 131st - last - in the FBS in passing when Mayden took over. Mayden (141-for-237, 2,030 yards, 12 TDs/10 INTs) completed 59.5 percent of his passes while averaging 253.8 yards a game, third in the Mountain West and 32nd in the nation. But he also had at least one interception in each of the last six games, including three picks in the bowl loss. "I really take that to heart," Mayden said. "It's me throwing three interceptions - balls that didn't even get a chance to touch the receivers' hands - or I made the wrong read...I'm most disappointed in myself and how I played those last two or three games." - San Diego Union Tribune

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QB Jalen Mayden, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego Union Tribune
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01/22/23 - JD Coffey III, Sr/2025, San Diego State + More +

San Diego State has received its third Division I transfer commitment in the new year - this one from former Texas safety JD Coffey III. And Coffey's commitment came just in time to enroll in the spring semester. Classes began on Wednesday. The 6-foot junior, who announced his commitment this week on social media, played six games each of the past two seasons for the Longhorns. He has two years of eligibility.

Coffey had limited playing time in Texas, totaling 11 tackles over two years. Five of the tackles came in one game - a win last September over Louisiana-Monroe. He entered the transfer portal Nov. 29 after slipping to third at one juncture on the Longhorns' depth chart. Coffey was highly-regarded two years ago coming out of Texas' Kennedale High, the same school that produced former SDSU running back Juwan Washington. A consensus four-star prospect, Coffey was rated the No. 7 safety by 247Sports.com in the 2021 recruiting class. - San Diego Union Tribune

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FS JD Coffey III, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego Union Tribune
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01/08/23 - Samuela Tuihalamaka, rSr/2024, San Diego State + More +

San Diego State picked up some help for its depleted defensive line when Oklahoma State senior transfer Samuela Tuihalamaka indicated late Friday night on social media he has signed with SDSU. Tuihalamaka needed only two days to find a landing spot after entering the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday. He is among more than a dozen Cowboys players to enter the portal. Tuihalamaka did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The 6-foot-1, 304-pound Tuihalamaka is a "super senior," afforded one more year to play by virtue of the "COVID year" granted to players in 2020 by the NCAA.

The Aztecs lost their three super senior starters - defensive ends Keshawn Banks and Jonah Tavai and defensive tackle Justus Tavai - following the 2022 season. While there are several backups eager to step into starting roles, SDSU was expected to scour the portal for experienced assistance. That's where Tuihalamaka enters the picture. He played all 13 games this season in a backup role at Oklahoma State, totaling 23 tackles, with one sack among four tackles for loss, on a Cowboys team that went 7-6. He had two tackles in Oklahoma State's 24-17 loss to Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. - San Diego Union Tribune

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DT Samuela Tuihalamaka, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego Union Tribune
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12/29/22 - Jesse Matthews, Sr/2023, San Diego State + More +

San Diego State wide receiver Jesse Matthews told the Union-Tribune on Monday that he will not be back for the Aztecs next season, and he is declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Matthews could have returned for a sixth season at SDSU, using his "COVID year" of eligbility, but he believes "it's the time in my life where I just need to move onto the next chapter." Matthews, who graduated earlier this month with a communications degree, has been invited to the Hula Bowl, which is Jan. 9 in Orlando, Fla. His focus thereafter will be preparing for SDSU's Pro Day and other workouts leading up to the draft, which is April 27–29 in Kansas City, Mo. "I feel like coming back wouldn't improve my stock," Matthews said.

"I'm 23 years old, so I'm not really a young prospect. I'm kind of in the older category. "Another year of college football would just put more wear and tear on my body. There's no guarantee I would be injury-free throughout the next season, and I feel like I wouldn't really grow much more if I were to come back to college football. "I feel like, not that I've reached my ceiling in college football, but I've accomplished what I've needed to accomplish at San Diego State." Matthews' father, Tom Matthews, is a certified agent, and the family has gathered information from scouts and coaches in recent weeks and months to assess Jesse's professional prospects. At this point, he grades out as a sixth-round pick. A strong Pro Day - especially if he puts up a good 40 time - could move him up a round or two in the draft. - San Diego Union Tribune

Sr/2023

WR Jesse Matthews, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego Union Tribune
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12/24/22 - Michael Shawcroft, Sr/2023, San Diego State + More +

San Diego State linebacker Michael Shawcroft, who battled through injuries to become a leader on the SDSU defense, announced on social media that Saturday's EasyPost Hawaii Bowl will be his last game. "Playing football has been my life since I was 5 years old," Shawcroft posted online Wednesday night. "I've had so many great memories and made friendships that will last a lifetime. "Unfortunately, I have to listen to my body and decide what is best for me and my future. With that being said, I've decided that the bowl game will be the last football game I ever play. "Thank you San Diego State for giving a hometown kid a chance to play in front of his friends and family. I'm forever grateful." Shawcroft, a senior from Helix High, said last month that he needed some time to decide whether to return for one more season and use his "COVID year" of eligibility.

"That's something I've been praying about, I'm going to think about," Shawcroft said at the time, adding, "It's just something that I need to listen to my body. I've had a lot of things happen to me here. "I need to talk to trainers, talk to coaches and really decide what's best for me in the next step of my life." He decided the Christmas Eve game against Middle Tennessee will be it for football. Shawcroft has been a leader both on and off the field for the Aztecs. He was a second-team all-Mountain West selection this season. At SDSU's team banquet two weeks ago, Shawcroft was recognized with the President's Award for High Achievement. It is given to the player "who has achieved the highest standards of athletic and academic excellence." - San Diego Union Tribune

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ILB Michael Shawcroft, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego Union Tribune
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12/21/22 - JaShaun Poke, rSr/2025, San Diego State + More +

West Virginia received two commitments from Kent State transfers Sunday night. Receiver Ja'Shaun Poke and cornerback Montre Miller both announced their commitments to the Mountaineers via social media. Poke is a 5-foot-10, 173-pound Hampton, Georgia, native, who caught 31 passes for 362 yards and a touchdown this fall as a senior for Kent State. He was the team's third-leading receiver. He was also the team's leading kick returner with 411 yards on 15 attempts. "I got so much goin on and if i do it right I'm Lit for life," Poke wrote in the caption of an Instagram post announcing his commitment. He caught 26 passes for 315 yards and a score in 2021, and in 2020 had 21 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

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WR JaShaun Poke, San Diego State
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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12/19/22 - Alama Uluave, rSr/2023, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: OL - Alama Uluave, Sr., San Diego State,...Uluave made the first team after earning honorable mention last season. A member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List (most outstanding center) and the Outland Trophy Watch List (top interior lineman), Uluave is graded out as the top center in the league by Pro Football Focus in pass block rating (78.5, min. 300 passing opportunities) and fifth among all linemen in the league. He's allowed just one sack in 367 passing chances, playing 746 out of the team's 755 offensive snaps overall. - San Diego State Football

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C Alama Uluave, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego State Football
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12/19/22 - Jonah Tavai, rSr/2023, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: DL - Jonah Tavai, Sr., San Diego State,...Tavai heads up a list of three SDSU players on the first-team defense. Tavai, who earned honorable mention in 2020-21, has 57 tackles (30 solo), including 12.5 tackles for loss (for 65 yards), nine sacks (for 62 yards), a forced fumble and 13 quarterback hurries in his 12 starts this season. Among the league leaders, Tavai is ranked second in sack yards (62, 14th in FBS), tied for second in sacks (9.0, T-14th in FBS), third in sacks per game (0.75, T-16th in FBS), fifth in tackle for loss yards (65, T-32nd in FBS) and seventh in tackles for loss (12.5, T-43rd in FBS). According to Pro Football Focus, Tavai has the second-highest pass rush grade in FBS (91.9, min. 300 pass opportunities) and the fourth-highest defensive grade (92.1, min. 450 snaps), both marks which easily lead the Mountain West. Per PFF, he has the third-most quarterback pressures (61) in the country, the fourth-most hurries (39), and tied for the 13th-most QB hits (12). - San Diego State Football

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DT Jonah Tavai, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego State Football
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12/18/22 - Jordan Byrd, rSr/2023, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: KR & PR - Jordan Byrd, Sr., San Diego State,...Byrd became the first San Diego State player to make a MW first team at both kick returner and punt returner. The preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year, Byrd has returned 19 kickoffs for 487 yards (25.6 avg.) with a 95-yard touchdown and also returned 17 punts for 115 yards (6.8 avg.) and another score. It is Byrd's third career all-MW award at kick returner, having been a second-team pick in 2020 and a first-team selection in 2021.

Byrd has also rushed 91 times for a team-high 389 yards (4.3 avg.) with three touchdowns, while adding eight catches for 53 yards (6.6 avg.) with a touchdown, making him the first FBS player with at least one rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, kick return touchdown and punt return touchdown in the same season since Temple's Isaiah Wright in 2018 and just the second MW player in league history (also former Aztec Rashaad Penny in 2017). Byrd leads the MW in combined kick/punt return yards (602, 8th in FBS) and kick return yards (487, 8th in FBS), and is tied for first in kick return touchdowns (1, T-2nd in FBS) and punt return touchdowns (1, T-5th in FBS), second in kick return average (25.63, 11th in FBS) and fourth in punt return yards (115, T-48th in FBS). - San Diego State Football

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RB Jordan Byrd, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego State Football
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12/18/22 - Caden McDonald, rSr/2023, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: LB - Caden McDonald, Sr., San Diego State,...McDonald made the all-MW first team for a third consecutive season, joining fellow Aztec Kirk Morrison (2002-04) as the only linebackers in league history (since 1999) to make three all-MW first teams. A member of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (most outstanding defensive player), McDonald has totaled 41 tackles (16 solo) on the season in 12 starts, including two sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, an interception, two pass breakups and nine quarterback hurries. - San Diego State Football

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ILB Caden McDonald, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego State Football
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12/18/22 - Michael Shawcroft, Sr/2023, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: LB - Michael Shawcroft, Sr., San Diego State,...Shawcroft was picked as a second-team honoree after earning honorable mention accolades a year ago. Shawcroft earned second-team honors despite leading the team with 77 tackles, 18 more than No. 2 on the team. He also has 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and six quarterback hurries, despite missing a game due to injury. Shawcroft ranks in a tie for sixth in the MW in tackles for loss per game (1.09, T-39th in FBS), a tie for eighth in total tackles for loss (12.0, T-56th in FBS), and a tie for 10th in tackle for loss yards (53, T-68th in FBS) and sacks per game (0.50). - San Diego State Football

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ILB Michael Shawcroft, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego State Football
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12/18/22 - Tyrell Shavers, rSr/2023, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: WR - Tyrell Shavers, Sr., San Diego State,...Shavers became a second-team all-MW selection, the first San Diego State wide receiver to earn first or second-team honors since both Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson were first-team picks in 2010. Shavers has 34 catches for a team-high 581 yards (17.1 avg.) with three touchdowns, starting all 12 games, with a long reception of 66 yards. Shavers, who also has a blocked kick and return for a touchdown, leads the MW in yards per reception (17.09, 37th in FBS), and is tied for first in punt return touchdowns (1) (off a blocked punt), tied for second in blocked kicks (1, T-15th in FBS), tied for eighth in receiving yards (581) and tied for 10th in receiving yards per game (48.42). - San Diego State Football

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WR Tyrell Shavers, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego State Football
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12/18/22 - Jack Browning, rSr/2024, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: P - Jack Browning, Sr., San Diego State,...Handling all three kicking duties, Browning has made 17 of his 21 field goal attempts and all 28 PATs, leading the Aztecs with 79 points, more than the next three players combined. Browning has also punted 63 times for 2,898 yards (46.0 avg.) with a net average of 42.7 and a long of 63 yards. Out of his 63 punts, 28 have landed inside the 20-yard line, including 14 inside the 10 and six inside the 5. Browning also has kicked off 53 times for 3,394 yards (64.0 avg.) with 31 touchbacks. - San Diego State Football

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K Jack Browning, San Diego State
News Source: San Diego State Football
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12/17/22 - JaShaun Poke, rSr/2025, San Diego State + More +

2022 ALL-MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: Kickoff Return Specialist - Ja'Shaun Poke, Kent State,...Poke earned second-team honors for his returning prowess. He led the MAC with a 29.4 average on kick-off returns and finished sixth in total return yardage, on only 15 returns. Poke also had an impact in the passing game, finishing third on the team with 362 yards on the season. - Kent State Football

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WR JaShaun Poke, San Diego State
News Source: Kent State Football
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12/09/22 - Jack Browning, rSr/2024, San Diego State + More +

The Aztecs lose all three starters - Keshawn Banks, Jonah and Justus Tavai - on the defensive line, so that is the biggest area of need for next season. At linebacker, SDSU loses starter Caden McDonald and potentially Michael Shawcroft, the team's tackle leader, who has not yet decided if he will return for his "COVID year" of eligibility. The Aztecs have only one senior on the offensive line - center Alama Uluave - but they are young at the position and could use an experienced transfer or two to improve themselves there.

At wide receiver, SDSU loses starter Tyrell Shavers and potentially Jesse Matthews, who, like Shawcroft, has a "COVID year" of eligibility remaining. Matthews has said he doesn't plan to make a decision until after the season. Four seniors - quarterback Jalen Mayden, safety Cedarious Barfield, cornerback Dallas Branch and kicker/punter Jack Browning - indicated in recent weeks that they would be returning to use their COVID year. - San Diego Union Tribune

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