The NCAA’s spring transfer portal window opens Wednesday, giving football players 10 days to submit their names in search of greener pastures.
San Diego State had a dozen players enter the portal during last year’s spring window. Most of that could be attributed to the comings and goings associated with a new coaching staff.
Departures are expected to be minimal this go-round. Virtually everyone on the 93-man roster was present and ed for during Tuesday morning’s practice.
Of course, anyone who does decide to leave probably won’t make a move before spring practice concludes with Saturday’s AztecFAST Showcase at Snapdragon Stadium.
“There were numerous guys that had a lot of interest (from other schools),” said SDSU coach Sean Lewis, referencing the winter portal window. “They got tampered with, got poached with, got talked to, whatever word that you want to call it.
“They left money on the table to stay home here to do great things because they know that we’ve started something special, and they’ve got unfinished business that they want to attend to.”
SDSU had nearly two dozen players enter the portal during the winter window, but the Aztecs were able to keep six core players in the program.
Junior edge Trey White and junior linebacker Tano Letuli, both team captains, were among a group of returning starters that also included senior cornerback Chris Johnson, junior safety Dalesean Staley, sophomore wide receiver Jordan Napier and senior center Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli.
“Numerous high-profile guys have already chosen to stay and will continue to do the work together,” said Lewis, adding, “If (other teams) are interested, they’re already tampering.
“I’m not going to concern myself with that. I’m concerned about the health and safety of our team and what’s best for our program and where we are right now.
“We’ve created unbelievable bonds and great relationships. The portal opens at midnight, and I’m confident with the work that we’ve done (to retain players). Could a surprise happen? Sure.
“But I’m going to pour my time and energy into my guys and create an experience and environment that they want to be in.”
Can fans still expect to see four-year players in an era where bouncing from school to school has become commonplace?
“I think it’s realistic here,” Lewis said. “I think that misconception that (losing players) is just going to naturally happen and we’re just going to have to accept that, I’m not willing to accept that.
“I want to stand in. I want to dig in. I’m going to fight. I’m going to create a first-class experience here for our guys, to where they know they’re getting developed, they know that they’re getting all the resources that they need and they’re getting cared for in a way … that they don’t want to leave. … We can retain our roster and keep our guys home. I think we’ve proven that we can do that.”
Eyeing portal prospects
SDSU isn’t expected to be as active in the spring portal as a year ago when it made half a dozen additions, but Lewis does have his eye on some positions of need.
“If there’s an O-lineman or a D-lineman that can help bolster our roster, we’ll look into that,” he said “We’re probably going to look at adding one more playmaker at the wide receiver position. From there, we’ll kind of see how the rest of it shakes out.
“Again, the game’s won in the trenches, so always interested to see what’s available and what’s going to be the right fit. Developing our guys is top of mind, but also exhausting all the possibilities with the talent that is out there.”
SDSU had nine running backs on the spring roster last year. There are four this year (freshman Jordin Thomas will make it five when he arrives over the summer). But there are no plans to add depth at the position through the portal, another sign the Aztecs are getting away from the run-dominated offense they employed for more than a decade.
“Thinking back about the number of backs that we use with our style of play … there was two backs,” Lewis said. “There was a main bell cow or two guys that complement each other really, really well.
“Whereas in the past, I think our fan base was accustomed to a different style of play where you needed more backs on scholarship. Our style of play (now) doesn’t warrant that, so that we can have a good scholarship allocation or distribution to all the positions that we need to have the competitive depth on both sides of the ball.”
