In a sport increasingly defined by transactions and portal movement, San Diego State football is betting on something different.
Relationships.
“At its core, college football is about relationships,” said Aztecs Football GM Caleb Davis. The SDSU GM joined Sons of Montezuma Podcast for a full interview soon to be released.
“If we don’t have a genuine relationship with these kids and their families, how are they going to be genuine and honest with me?”
Having worked at powerhouses like Notre Dame and Cincinnati football, he’s seen elite operations firsthand. Relationships is the lesson that stuck out most. That philosophy showed up in the numbers.
Despite inevitable portal departures, SDSU retained 21 of 25 players who logged 200+ snaps last season. In today’s climate, that retention percentage is rare.
“It makes it really easy when the kids love playing for the coaches they’re around,” Davis said. “It’s a testament to how Coach Lewis runs the program.”
Under Sean Lewis, players didn’t just stay—they bought in. Davis stressed that culture isn’t dictated by the GM.
“I don’t control the locker room. The players own it,” he said.
That ownership matters in recruiting too. When evaluating prospects, Davis looks beyond height, weight, and speed.
“One of the biggest pieces I try to evaluate is competitiveness,” he said. “It’s easy to be competitive in games. But are you competitive in everything? Who can’t live without football?”
That hunger, Davis believes, separates good talents from program changers.
The 2026 roster reflects that philosophy. Transfers like Justice Lowe (Oregon), Javion Kinnard (Colorado State), and a deep offensive line class combine proven production with high-upside competitiveness.
On defense, additions such as freshman All-American Caleb Ricks bring both NFL lineage and FCS-level performance.
The result is a roster that isn’t just deeper — it’s aligned.
As spring practice kicks off March 22 and the May 2 spring game approaches, the team will be in full on conditioning—building the bonds of brotherhood together. Physical toil of the body & the mind sets the team together. Because roster construction is one thing on paper—the real growth in togetherness for this up-coming season will be formed before one football is hiked and it wil be rooted in continuity, buy-in, and belief.
“There’s no reason not to believe,” Davis said of SDSU’s future.
The Pac-12 era begins this fall.
And if culture truly wins championships, San Diego State may already be ahead of schedule.
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