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: Malachi Finau
- Position: Defensive Tackle
- Class: Senior
- Height/Weight: 6’1″, 315 lbs
- Hometown: Los Angeles, California (Hawai’i transfer)
- Experience: Started nine games and appeared in all 13 for the Aztecs last season
The Aztecs’ defense was an elite unit nationally in 2025 earning three top 10 rankings in total defense, passing defense and red zone defense.
Turn the page to 2026 and you have a defensive coordinator gone and 8 out of 11 starters departing to graduation, pro football or bigger paydays at P4 schools, the Aztecs defensive unit is in full rebuild mode.
At the forefront of the resurrection is defensive tackle senior #6 Malachi Finau who enters the 2026 season as one of San Diego State’s tone‑setters in the trenches. Expectations are high for a breakout season for Finau after spending last season in the shadows of other Aztec defensive teammates.
Finau chose to return to SDSU with long time secondaries Coach Demetrius Sumler promoted to defensive coordinator to replace Robert Aurich who left for Nebraska.
Being one of the lone starters back on the defense, Finau understands how important it is for him to step into a leadership role to stabilize and anchor the defense.
“It’s a new role I wanted to take on.” said Finau during camp interviews last week. “You know, last year I had a bunch of dogs that I could follow. You know, you got Chris [Johnson], you got Trey [White] all those guys. So, I think just taking on this new leadership role, I think my biggest thing is just showing the ropes to the young guys, and not just the young guys, even older guys.”
Finau will be counted on to step up his production from a year ago if the Aztecs are going to reload on defense again.
Last season, Malachi played in the Mountain West at 6’1″ and 290 pounds. But with moving up conferences, the task calls for moving up personally. He made a conscious effort to get bigger in the offseason which will allow him to better withstand the punishment from a step up in competition in the Pac 12 conference.
“My main thing was just trying to get bigger. You know last year I played around like 290, 285.” said Finau, “Now I’m 315. So I was just trying to get bigger and train myself to play with that weight.”
While his 2025 stats don’t jump off the page (21 tackles, a half a TFL and 2 QB hurries) Finau has looked good in preseason camp practices. Really good. His attitude, leadership, physicality, and dedication to his senior season has caught the attention from his coaches and teammates, so much that he has officially been named a 2026 Aztecs team captain.
“Honestly, you just got to be a dog. The trenches aren’t meant for everybody. It’s just the biggest dog is going to win at the end of the day.” said Finau.
At the Aztec Fan Fest event on Aug. 15th, Finau along with defensive linemate Gavriel Lightfoot consistently won their battles at the line scrimmage. The duo pressured QB Jayden Denegal up the middle, forcing him to escape the pocket and check down to receivers without the additional time to hit on deep routes.
Finau registered 4 tackles and 2 sacks in the showcase albeit with a no touch rule on Denegal. The hopeful indication is that Finau & Lightfoot form a dynamic interior force that can open up the rest of the defense to make plays.
If Finau takes the leap many inside the program expect, he could emerge as an All Pac 12 conference player and legitimate NFL prospect.
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