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: Brady Nassar
- Position: Defensive Edge
- Class: Senior
- Height/Weight: 6’5″, 255 lbs
- Hometown: Pleasonton, California
- Experience: 12 starts in 35 appearances in three seasons at SDSU, appeared in 10 games as a true freshman
San Diego State’s defense was undoubtedly the DNA of last season’s 9-win team. At the end of the season, players on the lockdown unit did not go unnoticed. The NFL snatched up several players with loads of talent and the transfer portal lured away several key players that made up a ton of production for the Aztecs.
While this next player did not start all 13 games in 2025, he appeared in every game and made four starts. Brady Nassar returns for his senior season and is one of the few returners on the Aztec defense. Those two factors will be depended on to hold up the standard that has been set.
Nassar racked up 20 tackles (8 SOLO), 0.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups as a junior, rotating amongst a talented and productive edge rusher rotation.
The East Bay native is expected to carry the mantle for the Aztecs in 2026 as standout edges’ in Ryan Henderson and Trey White departed SDSU to Power Four programs in the Lone Star State.
The production last season between Henderson and White combined accumulates to 77 tackles (42 SOLO), 14 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. Cannot forget to mention that White earned an All-Conference First Team selection and was one of the few that wore a ‘C’ patch.
In other words, White leaves not only a void in production, but also in leadership as well.
“We’re a violent team,” said Nassar to the media following a Fall Camp practice. “Every time we get a break, we talk about ‘click, clack, boom,’ [to play] like an explosion. We are going to get off the ball fast, we are going to hit people hard, we are going to be communicative and we’re going to take over games as a unit.”
Leadership cannot be counted or measured as a stat, but Nassar dropped the word “we” to a grand total of seven times in that quote. In other words, that is how leaders speak.
Nassar came to the SDSU program after being recruited and earning offers from Power Four schools in Arizona State, Cal, Colorado and Washington as a recruit. After decommitting from the Buffalo’s when Deion Sanders assumed coaching roles, Nassar had to pivot and refocus his future to a better landing spot.
Working up the ranks of his undergraduate years he has put his head down and worked for every opportunity. He appeared in 10 games as a true freshman and saw significant playing time as a sophomore.
His second year on The Mesa yielded 26 tackles (14 SOLO), 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack in 2024. Though his third season saw less production (2025), now as a senior and the lone returner that saw the field last season amongst the Aztec edges’, 2026 should call for him to be looked at as a leader.
“[The] Pac-12 Championship,” Nassar said when asked what game he is looking forward to the most in a diverse schedule. “Look forward to that in Snapdragon [Stadium].”
This season, Nassar is expected to be a full-time starter for the first time. I cannot wait to see his full potential unleashed as this is a player who
Aztec fans, keep your eyes on No. 33 this season, Brady Nassar.
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