A look at the SDSU position groups and players whose stock moved — for better or worse — following Saturday’s game.
With the start of the 2026 San Diego State football season, the Sons of Montezuma introduces a new weekly segment where we take stock of the team’s recent performance.
After each game, we’ll provide an assessment of what position group or unit seems to be trending upward. They’ll be in the “Stock Up” category. Converserly, the team’s area that might need some tweaking to better maximize outcomes will be listed as “Stock Down.”
Stock Up
Throughout the off-season and well into camp, reports indicated SDSU’s special teams represented an area of concern heading into the 2026 season opener.
The media and fans’ focus zeroed in on the kicking game as the team sought to replace the wildly consistent Gabriel Plascencia and punter extraordinaire Hunter Green.
Plascencia, the career leader in field goal accuracy for the Aztecs, left a big hole as he departed for NFL training camp. Green earned second-team All-Mountain West honors last fall before returning home to kick for the University of Washington this season.
What went underreported were the special teams’ other aspects – kickoff and punt returns, and pressure and coverage units.
After a game one 53-20 win over the outmanned Portland State Vikings, SDSU’s special teams garner the Sons of Montezuma’s first Stock Up rating for the new season. The entire unit stepped up and contributed mightily to the Red & Black’s dominating performance.
San Diego State blocked two punts. The first one by Jelani McLaughlin in the second quarter set up the Aztecs’ offense at their opponent’s one-yard line. Sophomore linebacker Oberhiri Eyafe secured the unit’s second block of the game following halftime. The special teams play again providing the Aztecs with a short field to extend their lead.
Redshirt freshman Jaylon Hawkins capped the stellar evening for Special Teams Coordinator Zac Barton’s unit with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to immediately answer a score by the visitors. The speedster raced up the right sideline before cutting across the field and outrunning everyone to the end zone.
According to SDSU sources, San Diego State became the first team in FBS play with two blocked punts and a kick return for a touchdown in the same game since at least the 2012 season.
In addition to the highlight plays, the kickers enjoyed a good night as well. Cooper DiLeva, a transfer from Arkansas, connected on a 31-yard field goal and was a perfect 6-6 on extra points. Punter Tashi Dorje punted twice for a 47-yard average.
The work of the special teams and their impact on the team’s success wasn’t lost on SDSU’s star running back Lucky Sutton.
“When special teams has two blocks like that, it just brings a lot of energy to our front line and to the team as a whole,” the senior captain said in the post-game news conference. “When I see those two blocks, it’s just an opportunity for our offense to go score again. I give all my credit to them for getting me those two touchdowns. That’s all the special teams and the offensive line. That’s to their credit, just them getting us to that field position.”
Stock Down
OK, let’s be honest here for a second. San Diego State beat their opening opponent by 33 points, scoring more points than they ever have at Snapdragon Stadium and their most since 2016.
Our initial Stock Down designation feels as if we are being a bit nitpicky, but it’s the assignment, so let’s highlight one area of the team’s performance against Portland State that might warrant some attention heading into next week’s matchup against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.
The 2026 SDSU starting secondary features a whole new cast of characters. Gone are stalwarts like NFL first-round selection Chris Johnson and ball hawking safety Dalesean Staley who is out for the season with an injury.
In the opener, the new unit performed well as a whole with two interceptions and two pass breakups. However, the secondary did give up a few large gains to the visiting Vikings with the Portland St. quarterback just overthrowing a few more open receivers streaking down the sidelines.
In total, the Aztecs surrendered 280 yards and one touchdown through the air.
But, again, to be fair, that was on 52 passing attempts from a team playing from behind beginning in the second quarter.
Leading the charge from this year’s secondary are talented players like Josiah Cox, the aforementioned McLaughlin (pass break up and blocked punt), Isiah Green (interception), Jelani Whitmore, Mike Lindsay (interception), Josh Hunter, Caleb Ricks (pass break up), and Jalen Thomeson. With continued tutelage from defensive coordinator Demtrius Sumler and the defensive backfield coaches, expect SDSU’s secondary to gain steadily as the season progresses.
The Aztecs travel up the freeway next Saturday to face off against the Bruins of UCLA. Kickoff is set for 4:15 P.M.
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