San Diego State lost its starting quarterback and seven of its top eight receivers from last season, so among the tasks in spring practice has been identifying who can throw the football and who can catch it.
Some answers were offered at the SDSU practice field during Saturday evening’s scrimmage, which was highlighted by 60- and 70-yard es from junior transfer quarterback Jayden Denegal to senior transfer wide receiver Myles Kitt-Denton.
The 50-play scrimmage capped the fifth week of SDSU’s six-week spring practice. A few comments and observations.
Say what
SDSU coach Sean Lewis’ immediate thoughts coming off the field:
“It was very spirited. I thought there was great back and forth. The offense started fast. Great explosive plays.
“The defense responded and really dug in in the red zone period, which was great.
“In the final period, we shut down a lot of the top guys to really build on the competitive depth. It was great to see guys step up with the opportunities we created.”
Pitch and catch
Denegal, a Michigan transfer, has been running with the first team throughout the spring and seems to have the edge in the competition with junior transfer Bert Emanuel Jr. (Central Michigan).
“I thought Jayden Denegal really settled in and had some nice deep balls,” Lewis said.
While Denegal’s second of the evening was picked off by junior safety Dalesean Staley, the 6-foot-5 quarterback from Apple Valley was on the mark most of the evening.
His top target three weeks ago during a scrimmage in Corona was sophomore Jordan Napier, the Aztecs’ leading returning receiver.
This time it was the 5-11 Kitt-Denton, a Pearland, Texas, native. He was a speedy downfield threat last season at Northwestern State, where Kitt-Denton (25 receptions, 452 yards, 5 TDs) had three games with catches of at least 70 yards.
In the scrimmage, Kitt-Denton warmed up with a 10-yard reception from Denegal on the opening play of the sixth drive.
Two plays later came the 60-yard completion. Kitt-Denton ran down the left sideline to haul in a 40 yards downfield, then dodged and weaved another 20 yards before being tackled inside the 10-yard line.
Junior Lucky Sutton, who started at running back, carried it in from there, popping a defender as he crossed the goal line.
Two series later, Denegal and Kitt-Denton reconnected, this time down the right sideline. The receiver ran past the defense and Denegal again put the ball on his hands 40 yards downfield. Kitt-Denton coasted untouched into the end zone.
Case for defense
Staley’s interception was the first of three by the defense.
It came on an underthrown sideline intended for Napier. The play was whistled dead fairly quickly, although Staley continued some 70 yards to the end zone for good measure.
Sophomore safety Jelani McLaughlin intercepted a by Emanuel, wrestling the ball away from wide receiver Parker Threatt.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Isaiah Buxton stepped in front of a ball intended for junior transfer wide receiver Jacob Bostick to intercept a by third-string quarterback Kyle Crum.
The defensive play that resonated most came right after Buxton’s interception. Redshirt freshman linebacker Tanner Williams, a transfer from Utah State, separated running back Christian Washington from the ball with a thunderous hit.
A couple legs up
Senior kicker Gabriel Plascencia made a 23-yard field goal on the opening drive. Plascencia saved his best for last, making a 57-yarder on the final drive of the scrimmage. That was seven yards longer than his career best last season.
Junior transfer punter Hunter Green (Northern Colorado) boomed a 61-yard punt during the workout, which earned a chest bump from a teammate.
Green, who had some struggles in the Corona scrimmage, showed better consistency this week at practice with five punts of 55 yards or more. Perhaps most impressive, however, has been the five-second hang time on the punts.
Departures
Injuries have forced sophomore offensive lineman Briley Barron (knee) and redshirt sophomore tight end Gabe Garretson (neck/shoulder) from the roster. Barron has had multiple knee surgeries and faces another. Garretson has been sidelined by stingers.
