The upcoming 2026 season is the start of a NEW ERA for SDSU. Sons of Montezuma is putting into focus our top San Diego State football players for you to know heading into the PAC 12 era.
- Name: Gavriel Lightfoot
- Position: Defensive Line
- Class: Senior
- Height/Weight: 6’3″, 310 lbs
- Hometown: Moreno Valley, California
- Previous School: Colorado, The Team Up North
Interior tackle Gavriel Lightfoot transfers from the Big 12 to the Pac-12 after coming off a medical redshirt year in what was supposed to be his final collegiate season. Following the transfer from Fresno State, he suffered an injury in April of 2025 as he was beginning at Colorado.
“During the Spring Game back in April, I had torn my meniscus,” Lightfoot said in a YouTube video. “Due to that I had to have surgery.”
Lightfoot’s road to health in an effort to play that same season did not go to plan.
“I had to miss a couple Fall Camp practices because it [meniscus] was bothering me again, now I felt like it started to become a chronic issue,” Lightfood said. “That is something I did not want happening because I worked too hard for this. I wanted to come here [Colorado], ball out and go to the league, that was my plan.”
Unfortunately for Lightfoot, due to the injury, he was sidelined for the entire season at Boulder delaying his NFL plans.
Prior to his time at Colorado, the lineman made his name known at rivals Fresno State. In his three seasons with the Puppies, he made 35 appearances (27 starts), 66 tackles (5 for loss) and a sack. Something to keep in mind as well is that he did not redshirt his freshman year, debuting as a 17-year-old in 2022.
“I’m a run specialist,” Lightfoot said. “I can pass rush too but I feel like my specialty is run [defense].”
This is why Lightfoot is one to watch in 2026. He provides immediate impact in the run defense department for the Aztecs while having extensive experience at the collegiate level.
Lightfoot should have two specific matchups circled on his calendar—the fist October 17 as his former team up north travels down to his new home in San Diego for a reunion game. And also November 21, as that is when the Aztecs travel to Boise State.
The Broncos are the consensus favorite by many to win the conference—with San Diego State officially voted by the Pac-12 media to come in a close 2nd place. For the Broncos, Junior running backs Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley make up a two-headed monster in the backfield that put up 800 and 1000 yard rushing performances in 2025.
If the Aztecs defense is to return to it’s dominance of last year, Gavriel may very well be the catalyst down in the heart of the trenches.
Aztec fans, keep your eyes on No. 95 in 2026, a brick wall to opposing running backs in Gavriel Lightfoot.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
One Response