As a longtime follower of San Jose State football and someone who's analyzed countless roster changes over the years, I've got to say this current lineup has me genuinely excited. When the school made the official announcement and handed the reins to the former PBA coach, I'll admit I was skeptical at first. Having watched how different coaching philosophies transform programs, I wasn't sure how his particular style would translate to our squad. But after diving deep into the current roster and depth chart, I'm starting to see the method behind what initially seemed like madness.
Let's start with the quarterback situation because honestly, that's where every meaningful conversation about this team begins. We've got Nick Starkel returning for his final season, and I'm firmly in the camp that believes he's one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the Mountain West. Last season he completed 64.3% of his passes for 2,174 yards with 17 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions before that unfortunate injury. What makes him particularly valuable this year is his understanding of the new offensive system that our former PBA coach is implementing. Behind him, we've got Nick Nash who showed flashes of brilliance in those emergency appearances last season, completing 58.9% of his passes in limited action. I actually think Nash might be better suited for some of the creative play designs we're seeing in practice, but Starkel's experience gives him the clear edge for now.
Moving to the running backs, this is where I see the most dramatic improvement from last season. Tyler Nevens is listed as the starter after rushing for 593 yards last season, but I'm particularly intrigued by Kairee Robinson who averaged an impressive 5.8 yards per carry in his limited opportunities. What I love about Robinson is his explosive capability - he had that 75-yard touchdown run against New Mexico that completely changed the momentum of the game. The depth here is actually quite remarkable with Shamar Garrett and Quali Conley providing legitimate options that could start for many other Mountain West programs. I counted at least four running backs on this roster who I believe could be productive starters, which gives our new coach tremendous flexibility in designing offensive schemes.
The wide receiver corps might be the strongest position group on the entire team, and that's not something I say lightly. Isaiah Hamilton and Jermaine Braddock return as the established veterans, but what really excites me is the emergence of some younger players. Charles Ross has been turning heads in practice with his route-running precision, and I've heard from multiple sources that his catch percentage during spring drills was around 87% against first-team defenders. That's the kind of performance that can't be ignored when constructing the depth chart. The former PBA coach seems to favor a receiver-heavy approach, which makes sense given his background, and I'm predicting we'll see more four-receiver sets than we've seen in previous seasons.
When we look at the offensive line, there are legitimate questions about depth that concern me more than I'd like to admit. Jaime Navarro anchors the unit at left tackle, but behind him the experience drops off significantly. The second-string offensive line has a combined 12 starts between all five players, which is alarmingly low for a program with postseason aspirations. I'm particularly worried about how they'll handle the blitz packages that teams like San Diego State and Boise State are known for bringing. If this unit stays healthy, they could be serviceable, but one or two injuries could derail the entire offensive scheme.
Defensively, the story begins with the defensive line where Cade Hall returns after his spectacular 12-sack season last year. Hall might be the best defensive player in the conference, and I'm convinced he'll be playing on Sundays next year. What's interesting is how the new coaching staff is experimenting with his positioning - sometimes lining him up as a traditional defensive end, other times moving him inside on passing downs to create mismatches. This flexibility is something I haven't seen utilized to this extent in previous seasons, and it speaks to the innovative approach of our new coaching leadership. The linebacker unit features Kyle Harmon who led the team with 78 tackles last season, but I'm keeping my eye on Alii Matau who the coaching staff seems particularly high on despite his limited game experience.
The secondary features Nehemiah Shelton at cornerback, and I've got to say I love his physical style of play even if it sometimes draws penalty flags. His 11 pass breakups last season led the team, but what doesn't show up in the stats is how often quarterbacks simply avoid throwing to his side of the field. At safety, we have Jay Lenard who recorded 3 interceptions last season, but I'm concerned about the depth behind him after the graduation of two key seniors. The defensive backfield might be the unit most affected by the coaching change, as the former PBA coach brings a completely different philosophy about coverage schemes and blitz packages.
Special teams often gets overlooked in these analyses, but I'm particularly impressed with the kicking game. Matt Mercurio made 15 of his 18 field goal attempts last season, including a 48-yard game-winner against Nevada that showcased his mental toughness. What many fans don't realize is that he also handled kickoff duties with 38 of his 67 kicks resulting in touchbacks. That kind of leg strength is a strategic advantage that I hope the new coaching staff recognizes and utilizes effectively.
Looking at the complete picture of this roster, I'm cautiously optimistic about what this team can achieve. The former PBA coach brings a fresh perspective that seems to be energizing the program, and the depth chart shows legitimate talent at most key positions. There are certainly areas of concern, particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary depth, but the strengths at quarterback, defensive line, and special teams provide a solid foundation. Having followed this program through multiple coaching transitions, I can say this one feels different - there's a sense of purposeful direction that hasn't always been present in previous eras. If the key players stay healthy and the new systems take root quickly, I believe this roster has the potential to exceed the modest expectations that many external analysts have set for them. The pieces are there - it's now about how the coaching staff assembles them into a cohesive unit that can compete in what appears to be a wide-open Mountain West conference this season.
