A weekly look at what Aztecs football stock is up and which is trending downward
Throughout the 2026 San Diego State football season the Sons of Montezuma will 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. Conversely, the team’s area that might need some tweaking to better maximize outcomes will be listed as “Stock Down.”
Stock Up
Without a doubt, redshirt freshman Jaylon Hawkins takes the cake. His third kickoff return taken to the house ties him with the great Rashaad Penny’s previously set mark for the Aztecs.
Hawkins possesses breakaway speed of course, but it’s his ability to read the blocks and find paths to big returns that really stands out. Hawkins also caught a TD pass in week-1. Perhaps at the receiver spot his abilities will be taken advantage of more.
The special teams all season has been a bright spot for the Aztecs along with punter Tashi Dorje and kicker Cooper DeLiva. Dorje has performed well as a first year starter at the FBS level. He has been used often unfortunately for the Aztecs, but beneficially for his own growth & development towards the team’s greater goals.
Dorje’s ability to be versatile in the styles of kicks he executes according to the game situation has impressed. Of his 33 punts, he holds an average 45.9 yards and a long of 77 yards.
Kicker Cooper DeLiva, though not attempting any field goals last weekend, has been steady all this season. The doubts coming into the season has been silenced so far all season long. DiLeva has hit all four attempts on the season with a perfect 2-2 in the 40-49 yard range.
The Aztecs special teams will need another fantastic effort both in kicking, punting and returning if they expect to get by an angry Fresno State team this weekend. Look for the Aztecs to also begin to prepare more polished trick plays from the special teams.
Stock Down
Last weekend the Aztecs defense took a monumental hit. After holding their own against top teams like UCLA, JMU, and most recently Texas State, the whole dam broke against the Beavers in Corvallis.
Oregon State racked up nearly 700 total yards and scored on 10 of 13 possession in the game. It was a butt-whooping from beginning to end and only let up in the fourth quarter when the Beavers brought in their reserves.
Aztecs DC Demetrius Sumler has been praised for his ability to lead a totally new roster on his side of the ball. Despite him being a coordinate for the first time in his career, he has risen to the occasion in the face of much adversity.
Stand out performers like defensive backs Mike Lindsay and Jelani McLaughlin, LBs Riz Hala, DL Gav Lightfoot and more have consistently been over shadowed by the offenses lack of production taking center stage. All of that goodwill was erased in their mind-numbing game last Saturday.
The bend don’t break approach has broken, and will be curious to see if they can quickly rebuild themselves against Fresno State’s power running game. The lack of a bye week for the defense may begin to show.
The SDSU offense ranks near the bottom of all FBS teams in terms of time of possession. This kind of play leaves the defense out on the field and SDSU may be paying the price of that issue. This will need to change in a hurry if this program is looking to earn another bowl berth when this season is done.
No matter how the defense takes the field this Saturday for the Old Oil Can, the motivations of the team will be on full display to see just how they respond after such a demoralizing loss on the road and after the head coach made his thoughts public.
San Diego State will be celebrating Homecoming vs Fresno State on Saturday. Kick-off is 3:00 P.M. and the game can be seen on USA.
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