SJSU Spring Football Practice Primer (2024)

Despite Nick Starkel's eligibility ending in 2021, theSpartans have a returning QB with 24 games and five starts under his belt - Nick Nash. But all eyes will be on the newcomer this spring. San Jose State added Hawaii starting quarterback Chevan Cordeiro via the NCAA Transfer Portal. Cordeiro spent four years at UH - two years with significant experience as the No. 2 and two years as their starter. He threw for more than 6,000 yards and ran for more than 1,000 more. Cordeiro still has two years of eligibility.

Nash spent some time playing wide receiver for the Spartans last year before being called back to QB. This spring will reveal if Nash will compete with Cordeiro or look for a role elsewhere. This spring will be about competition and molding the offense to the next QB in the post-Nick Starkel era. Also back and competing for the remaining pecking order are Matt Der Torossian, Walker Eget and Natano Woods.

Tyler Nevens has been a constant in the SJSU backfield with 574 carries over the past five seasons, including career-highs of 167 rushes for 756 and 7 touchdowns last year. Now those opportunities are up for grabs this spring.

SJSU brings back the other RB in its one-two punch, Kairee Robinson. The spring could be an opportunity for Shamar Garrett to earn a larger role on offense after impressing on special teams the last two seasons. Kenyon Sims, Brendan Manigo, and Jakai Torres will also compete this spring - each of the three could be candidates to backfill Nevens’s physicality as bigger backs.

San Jose State’s four lead receivers statistically are all back from last season. With last year’s No. 1 receiver from the tight end room now gone - Isaiah Hamilton, Jermaine Braddock, Charles Ross and Malikhi Miller will all look to earn a larger share of the targets.

In addition to Cordeiro at quarterback, the Spartans also added an establishedMountain Weststar in receiver Elijah Cooks from Nevada. Another Nevada WR, Justin Lockhart, also makes the move to SJSU. These two will look to make an instant impact in 2022. If Cooks is healed from his 2021 injury, that impact could be seen this spring.

Departures include Isaiah Holiness (UMass), Andre Crump (UC Davis), Jamar Simpson, and Donald McKinney, who all entered the transfer portal this offseason. Trevon Sidney and Vincent Corso also graduated. The open reps will give young Spartans like Terence Loville, Branden Alvarez and Assani Berkeley a chance to prove themselves this spring.

San Jose State has a big hole to fill at tight end as Derrick Deese Jr. completed his eligibility last season. Deese was SJSU’s leading receiver with 47 catches for 730 yards and 4 touchdowns last season.

Two promising tight ends are up next. Redshirt junior Dominick Mazotti had eight catches for 135 yards last season. Sam Olson turned heads as a sophom*ore last season with a 70-yard touchdown catch in the season opener before an early injury. SJSU also returns second-year Iowa State transfer Skylar Loving-Black and Jackson Canaan who were involved on offense last season and look to move up the depth chart in the spring. Six-foot-four and 235-pound Nate Lewis also aims to make an impression after missing time during his true freshman preseason camp last fall.

In a position with open repswhere multiple players can get on the field, the tight end unit could be the most open on the team this spring.

SJSU hassignificantholes to fill from last year’s graduating class, losing star tackle Jackson Snyder, center Kyle Hoppe and interior lineman Trevor Robbins. The Spartans will give a test run this spring for its new transfer additions, Akron transfer center Bryce Petersen and Washington State tackleJames McNorton.

SJSU brings back the right side of the line, guard Tyler Stevens and tackle Jaime Navarro.The competition at spring this spring includes at guard: Anthony Pardue, Ostrom and Jesse Chamberlain - and at tackle: Scott Breslin, Fernando Carmona Jr. and John Weiss. Thebattles at center, left guard, and left tackle could be the most competitive open positions throughout spring practice.

Nearly the entire D-Line two-deep is back from last year’s SJSU team - including the veteran one-two punch at defensive end in Cade Hall and Viliami Fehoko. The spring will give the Spartans chance to sort out and develop its other returning personnel.

Returning experience at nose tackle includes Noah Wright, Lando Grey, Soane Toia, along with Jay Kakiva coming off a 2021 injury. Tre Smith showed promise at defensive end with 22 tackles and 3 sacks as a freshman. The spring will give an opportunity for players like Marcel Sanders, Josh Gomez, Marcus Wilson and Grady Manley the chance to compete as well.

Look for competition in the interior - plus development and reps for the reserve ends.

SJSU returns star inside linebacker Kyle Harmon and starging outside backer Alii Matau, but loses graduates Tysyn Parker (ILB) and Hardari Darden (OLB). Competing for Darden’s outside spot this spring include Rico Tolefree, Matthew Tago and Dion Leonard. Competing at inside linebacker include Jordan Cobbs, Rahyme Johnson and Isa’ako Togia.

The Spartans also have a promising group of developing talent that will get extra time this spring including Jordan Allen, Elijah Wood, Elijah Lawson and Bryun Parham.

The only departure from San Jose State’s two-deep in the secondary is Bobby Brown II after graduation. Cornerback Nehemiah Shelton will open spring as a returning starter. Kenyon Reed, who split snaps with Brown, will look to secure a starting role. Also competing will be returning second-team cornerbacks Malik Welch, Ryan Nixon and Charlie Bostic will all compete for playing time. SJSU will also look to develop returning underclassmen Jalen Bainer, Mikale Greer, Kavon Baptiste and Zavion Reese this spring.

At safety, SJSU returns starter Tre Jenkins, along with experienced Tre White who started four of SJSU's games in 2020. B.J. Johnson also looks to continue his rise up the depth chart. Returning depth includes Andrew Jenkins and developing talent in underclassmen Jalen Apalit-Williams and Giovonni Harper.

Overall, the secondary returns an experienced group with some room for competition within the returning unit.