SDSU Spring Game: Aztecs show progress, but miles to go before they sleep
San Diego State coach Sean Lewis received some pushback last year when the Aztecs shelved the traditional Spring Game and instead did things like dodgeball and tic-tac-toe, had relay races and a throwing accuracy competition.
Lewis' reasoning was sound. There were two transfer portal periods last year, including one right after spring practice ended. Why showcase his players for them to be poached by other schools?
The NCAA did away with the spring portal this year. And while Saturday afternoon at the SDSU practice field there were games like cornhole, a bounce house, face-painting, caricatures and other activities, this time they were for some 1,000 fans who came out for the event.
The football team got back to football. The offense played sideline to sideline and tried to stretch the field while defenders ran around with "some really bad intent," as the coaches like to say.
"I thought the environment was good," said Lewis, noting the proximity of fans sitting in bleachers adjacent to the grass practice field (as well as recruits along the sidelines). "It was good to have the fans up close. I was able to do a straw poll of the fans, which way do they prefer of what we've done? Everyone was really excited about this, so looking forward to being able to build off this idea, get everyone really nice and close. Some great fan engagement.”
Scrimmage observations
Redshirt freshman backup quarterback Stone Saunders (12-for-19, 144 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), a Kentucky transfer, had the biggest day, highlighted by a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Derek Stevenson (3-40, TD), a true freshman from Katy, Texas.
• The best moment for senior starting quarterback Jayden Denegal (10-for-17, 92 yards) came when he connected with freshman wide receiver Daishaun Davis for a 40-yard gain. Denegal used his legs as well on a drive that advanced to the 1-yard line before the defense denied the offense.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Draiden Trudeau (3-for-3, 23 yards) guided a touchdown drive most noteworthy for several carries by senior running back Christian Washington, who capped it with a 1-yard TD run.
• True freshman Carson Diehl (La Jolla High School) had a game-high 44 receiving yards on two catches. He reached high in traffic to snag a 40-yard pass from Saunders.
• Senior edge Brady Nassar intercepted Saunders on the second series of the afternoon. He picked off a pass tipped by transfer running back Javion Kinnard, who just happens to be Nassar's roommate.
"I had to let him know that's my ball," Nassar said. "The defense was fired up today. We flew around. We made plays."
• Kinnard (8 carries, 29 yards) led SDSU running backs, though Washington (7-26) and Lucky Sutton (9-21) were far behind.
Sutton, wearing a red jersey that means "hands-off" to defenders may have argued he would have rushed for considerably more yards except for the quick refs' whistle designed to protect him for more meaningful moments in the fall.
• Three transfer defensive linemen - senior Nate Henrich (Gannon University), junior Tuaoa Tauili'ili (Portland State) and sophomore Kainoa Davis (Charlotte) - all registered sacks.
• Starting punter Tashi Dorje had three 60-yarders among nine punts and was also effective with three directional punts that ended up near or inside the 10-yard line.
• Senior Cooper DiLeva was 5-for-5 and junior Lane Garner was 4-for-5 on field goal attempts. Both had a long of 50 yards. Garner missed a 46-yarder.
They said it
Lewis on where the most progress was made over five weeks of spring practice: "Getting to know one another and really getting to know and understand the calls and the intent of the calls. There's a lot that we need to clean up. I think our physicality needs to go up. Our fundamentals need to continue to go up.
"At the 30,000-foot level, understanding the intent of the calls, the communication that needs to happen from whistle to snap well, verbal and nonverbal, so we can get 11 guys playing as one in our three phases has been good to see."
Senior edge Brady Nassar, on how to get a defense that lost nine starters not to miss a beat: "It's a different defense. We're not the same team. We're a new team. We're not going to think about last year.We take what we learn, and we build from that. Last year was special. This year's going to be special."
Sophomore wide receiver Jaylon Hawkins, on how he plans to set himself apart in a talented wide receivers room: "Continue to put the work in outside of football, outside of practice. Continue to work out. Do the little things better, eat, sleep, get rest, take care of my body. That's what will make me better."
Key loss on defense
Safety Dalesean Staley, SDSU's only returning starter in the secondary, watched from the sidelines. He has been lost for the season with a knee injury, according to a source. Staley suffered a torn ACL in practice when an offensive player fell at his feet and collided with his knee.
Parting shot
After the scrimmage, Lewis threw out the first pitch before the Nevada-SDSU baseball game at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Ball. Low and away.
"Might have gotten a righty to chase it," Lewis said. "Lefty would be standing on first with a sore ankle."
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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 7:38 PM.