We here at Sons of Montezuma are putting into focus our top San Diego State Aztecs football players for you to to know in the upcoming 2025 season. Next up is Wide Receiver, Jordan Napier.
Player: Jordan Napier
Position: Wide Receiver
Class: Sophomore (RS)
Height/Weight: 6’1” / 195 lbs
Hometown: Fontana, California
2024 Stats: 43 receptions, 440 yards, 10.2 avg, 4 TDs
Perhaps the lone bright spot from last season’s San Diego State football season—offensively speaking—was the breakout performance by redshirt freshman wide receiver, Jordan Napier. While the rest of Aztec Nation was eagerly anticipating transfer receivers Ja’Shaun Poke and Louis Brown IV, it was Napier who snuck into the rotation and made the most of his opportunities.
Game in and game out the young rising star performed well beyond his expectations coming into the 2024 season. If it was a long pass over the top, Jordan was going to go get it. If it was tough yardage needed after the catch, you were marveled by Napier’s toughness. Frankly, it was along the lines of Jesse Matthews’ early years making a name for himself in the red & black.
Napier’s 43 catches were crucial for the success the offense had last season. Despite the poor results in the win column, most of Napier’s standout plays were made in crunch time when the moment called for a big play. Former QB Danny O’Neil knew he could rely on the athletic Napier to do whatever was needed to go after a ball.
The Aztecs will not only need a repeat of that performance this upcoming season, but they will certainly need more of it.
The talented crop of young wide receivers vying for a breakout role in San Diego State’s up-tempo offense are exactly that—young. Jordan is no exception. But where Jordan stands out as a player entering his redshirt sophomore season is that he has thrived in this offense with actual game reps. The others not so much.
Napier often provided the highlight real after each game, as he brings an enticing blend of athleticism, length, and speed that leads the charge to an Aztec receiving corps that will desperately search for breakout stars. His ability to high-point the ball, and hold his ground in contested-catch situations put the Mountain West on notice that he could be that big chunk yard getter.
Napier has strong hands and shows good coordination when adjusting to throws outside his frame. Whether it’s a back-shoulder fade or a sideline grab, he’s capable of tracking the ball and making tough catches when given the opportunity, as he did on the road against Wyoming in a back & forth nail-biter.
Because of what he accomplished last season with his 43 catches and 4 TDs, Napier is projected to be a valuable red zone weapon on this years squad. With a refined off season of conditioning, hopefully he will show how he has adjusted to the rigors of college ball at the D1 level.
The superstitious, sophomore year jinx … well, it is a thing. If you’re a believer or not in football magic, one thing that certainly is real—the pressure of heightened expectations. Unfortunately two practical things could possibly work against Napier this season. The first being that the QB to WR hookup can be a fickle one. Gone is Danny O’Neal who developed a very nice connection with Napier all season long.
The offense has two new QBs added to the mix of competition this year. Enter in Jayden Denegal and Bert Emmanuel Jr. Their tendencies may shift towards a different style of passing route trees they feel comfortable or have success with. If the rhythm or confidence is not in sync, it can prove to be difficult replicating the same amount of production.
The second thing at play is not having the veteran pass catchers around him again—gone are Poke and Brown IV. This may factor into the way the passing game opens the same opportunities for Napier. If he becomes the heavy focus of attention from opposing secondaries, is the new supporting cast of receivers capable to step-up and shine in the spot Napier did last year? One can only wait and see how Fall Camp goes if there is that guy.
As Napier and the offense continues to progress in practice and he earns the trust of quarterback Jayden Denegal and Bert Emmanuel Jr., he could continue to carve out a meaningful role as a big play maker and red zone threat. Wether or not Napier leads the team in targets, he has shown last year that he should be called upon in specific game scenarios where his clutch abilities can come into play.
Jordan Napier enters the 2025 season as a high-upside receiver with the physical attributes to make an impact. While still developing in terms of route running and system familiarity, he’s expected to grow into a more consistent contributor as the season unfolds. If he capitalizes on his size and gains the trust of the offensive staff, Napier could evolve into a reliable red zone target and downfield threat for an Aztec offense that needs difference-makers on the perimeter.
Stay tuned as we list more crucial Aztec Warriors that will be looking to make a big impact this 2025 season. The list isn’t in any specific order—but let us know in the comments what you think of each player as the list unfolds.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
2 Responses