Blog Article
San Diego State Football 2025: Will the AztecFAST Attack Finally Deliver?
San Diego State Football’s Sean Lewis enters year two with everything on the line.
The 2025 season represents a make-or-break moment for San Diego State football. After a disappointing 3-9 debut campaign, Lewis faces mounting pressure to prove his AztecFAST attack can translate innovative concepts into actual wins. With significant roster turnover at quarterback and a challenging schedule ahead, this season will determine whether the program advances or regresses.
The margin for error has disappeared completely.
The Danny O’Neil Departure Changes Everything
Danny O’Neil’s transfer to Wisconsin in December sent shockwaves through the program.
The first true freshman starting quarterback in San Diego State’s Division I history, O’Neil showed genuine promise despite the team’s struggles. He threw for 2,181 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions while battling injuries throughout the season. His departure wasn’t about football performance.
“That’s a big thing to me, being able to play in front of family,” O’Neil explained. “I wouldn’t say I was homesick. I just want to be able to have some relatives be able to come see me at games.”
The loss creates massive uncertainty at the position that matters most.
Four Quarterbacks, One Starting Job
Lewis responded aggressively to O’Neil’s departure by completely rebuilding the quarterback room.
The competition features an intriguing mix of experience and potential:
- Jayden Denegal (Michigan transfer): 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, spent three seasons backing up J.J. McCarthy
- Bert Emanuel Jr. (Central Michigan transfer): 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, son of former NFL player, dynamic runner
- Kyle Crum (returning junior): Only familiar face, completed 5 of 17 passes in limited action
- JP Mialovski (true freshman): Early enrollee from Long Beach, threw for 4,365 yards in high school
Denegal brings the most traditional quarterback skills to the competition.
“The biggest thing I could say is, in my opinion, he has one of the greatest one-play mindsets out there,” Denegal said of McCarthy. “He doesn’t really care. Last play isn’t going to affect his next play. That part of his game is something that I admire.” Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh praised Denegal, saying he “throws the ball extremely well” and is “pretty darn athletic.”
Emanuel Jr. offers a completely different dimension with his rushing ability.
The Houston native has carried 145 times for 844 yards and 12 touchdowns during his Central Michigan career. “Bert’s ability to run… That’s where he is at his strongest. I’m very excited to see us in a situation where we get to some of the quarterback run-game stuff,” said quarterbacks coach Chris Johnson.
The winner will inherit an offense desperate for stability.
Two Defensive Stars Anchor the Foundation
While the offense undergoes massive reconstruction, the defense returns elite-level talent.
Edge rusher Trey White recorded 12.5 sacks and ranked fifth nationally despite playing on a struggling team. Linebacker Tano Letuli led the Aztecs with 70 tackles and brings veteran leadership to a unit that needs dramatic improvement.
Both players stayed committed despite transfer portal opportunities.
“They are loyal to the soil and they are loyal to the work they’ve done and put in,” Lewis said. “They’re committed to that locker room. They’re not interested in winning only when it’s convenient here at San Diego State.”
The secondary also shows promise with cornerback Chris Johnson expected to emerge as one of the Mountain West’s top cover men. Safety tandem Eric Butler and Dalesean Staley brings experience to a unit that recorded just one interception in 2024.
These defensive anchors must carry increased responsibility in 2025.
The Post-Marquez Cooper Offensive Challenge
Losing 1,274-yard rusher Marquez Cooper creates another massive hole in the offensive foundation.
Cooper’s production represented nearly the entire rushing attack in 2024. No other running back exceeded 100 yards or scored a rushing touchdown. The receiving corps returns its top three targets, but none eclipsed 700 yards receiving.
Lewis acknowledged the challenge while expressing confidence in the depth chart.
“Obviously he is a bell cow, in terms of yards and the production that he had,” Lewis said of Cooper. “But Cam Davis and Lucky Sutton did a great job of developing. They’re going to have an opportunity through winter condition and spring ball to cement themselves as the guy.”
The offensive line faces a reconstruction project following the medical retirement of center Brayden Bryant.
Schedule Provides Both Opportunity and Danger
The 2025 schedule features a mix of winnable games and potential disasters.
Early-season matchups could set the tone for the entire campaign:
- August 28 vs. Stony Brook: Season opener at Snapdragon Stadium should build confidence
- September 6 at Washington State: First real test on the road in Pullman
- September 20 vs. California: Chance to make a statement against a former Pac-12 program
- September 27 at Northern Illinois: Dangerous road trip to DeKalb
The Mountain West slate includes challenging road games at Nevada, Fresno State, and New Mexico.
Lewis noted his team’s close losses in 2024 as a reason for optimism.
At Mountain West Media Days, he emphasized that “multiple one-possession games. Three games were lost by 9 points total.” Those narrow margins suggest minor improvements could translate to several additional wins.
The schedule could create early momentum or early disaster.
Lewis has implemented an unconventional team-building approach involving Navy SEAL training sessions.
The philosophy centers on “hard things done together in a beautiful environment” with sessions conducted at Coronado Beach. Lewis conducted “three different iterations of exercises and again in micro teams and position groups and offense, defense, different challenges” during winter conditioning.
This unique approach reflects Lewis’s belief that mental toughness will separate his program.
Pressure Mounts on Sean Lewis
With a hot seat rating of 0.531, Lewis enters a pivotal second season.
While his position isn’t immediately threatened, another disappointing campaign could change the dynamic quickly. The transfer portal era demands faster results than traditional coaching timelines allowed.
Lewis’s track record at Kent State provides reasons for optimism.
He transformed the Golden Flashes from a perennial bottom-feeder into a MAC contender, posting more seven-win seasons than the program achieved in the previous 30 years combined. His innovative offensive concepts garnered national attention before his stint in Colorado.
But San Diego State fans won’t accept another three-win season.
The Verdict: Everything Depends on the Quarterback
The 2025 season will be defined by whoever wins the quarterback competition.
The defense returns enough talent to compete in the Mountain West if the offense can generate consistent production. The schedule features winnable early games that can help build momentum for conference play.
Lewis faces a simple reality: college football patience has shortened dramatically.
The foundation exists for improvement with defensive stars White and Letuli, an improved offensive line, and depth in the running back room. The receiving corps brings system familiarity despite lacking star power.
Success requires solving the quarterback puzzle and finding the right balance between tempo and efficiency.
If Lewis can generate consistent offensive production, the Aztecs have the defensive talent to compete for a bowl berth. If the quarterback situation remains unsettled, another long season awaits.
The AztecFAST attack gets one more chance to prove its effectiveness.
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