Left tackle Bryce Quigley (78), an honorable mention all-conference selection last year, returns for his senior season in 2013. (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)
Who’s gone
- G Nik Embernate
- G Riley Gauld
- G/C Jimmy Miller
- C Alec Johnson
Projected starters
- LT #78 Bryce Quigley – Sr., 6-foot-5, 295 pounds
- LG #65 Japheth Gordon – RS Sr., 6-foot-3, 295 pounds
- C #73 Jordan Smith – RS So., 6-foot-5, 270 pounds
- RG #56 Nico Siragusa – RS Fr., 6-foot-5, 315 pounds
- RT #64 Zach Dilley – RS Jr., 6-foot-5, 295 pounds
Key reserves
- G/T #70 Arthur Flores – RS Fr., 6-foot-5, 300 pounds
- G/C #74 Austin Maass – RS Fr., 6-foot-4, 270 pounds
- T #75 Kwayde Miller – RS Fr., 6-foot-7, 305 pounds
- T #69 Paul Rodriguez – RS So., 6-foot-7, 285 pounds
- G/T #67 Garrett Corbett – RS Jr., 6-foot-5, 290 pounds
- T #79 Terry Poole – RS Jr., 6-foot-5, 300 pounds
Players to watch
- LT #78 Bryce Quigley – Sr., 6-foot-5, 295 pounds – In just his first season playing offensive line, Quigley had a solid year in 2012 and was an honorable mention all-conference selection. With another offseason to gain strength and improve his fundamentals, look for him to be a dominant force on the left side in 2013.
- C #73 Jordan Smith – RS So., 6-foot-5, 270 pounds – With Johnson and Miller gone, San Diego State will need to find someone to take over the snapping duties in 2013. Often regarded as the quarterback of the offensive line, the center is a very important position that requires considerable knowledge in defensive fronts and schemes. Smith, who saw playing time in 2012 as an extra offensive lineman in short yardage situations, will be the frontrunner for the starting job.
- G/T #67 Garrett Corbett – RS Jr., 6-foot-5, 290 pounds – Corbett entered the 2012 season as a candidate for the starting job at right tackle, but injured his ankle in fall camp and missed the remainder of the year. A versatile lineman who can play multiple positions, look for him to bounce back from his injury and compete with Siragusa for the starting spot at right guard.
2013 Commitments
San Diego State currently has four offensive lineman commits. Lenicio Noble and Braxton Isaac are two junior college transfers expected to sign, while Sergio Phillips and Antonio Rosales are high school commits. Expect all four to redshirt in 2013, as it is extremely difficult for a lineman to learn the offense and compete for playing time right away. Noble, who is expected to join the team in the spring and compete for the starting center spot, is the most likely of the bunch to see the field next season.
Analysis
Last season, San Diego State’s offensive lineman, led by newly hired offensive line coach Mike Schmidt, exceeded expectations and helped the Aztecs rush for over 220 yards per game. Next season, they will need to find replacements for Johnson and Embernate, its most experienced lineman in 2012.
Keep an eye on Smith and Maass in spring practices and fall camp, as they will likely battle to replace Johnson for the starting center spot. Both are skilled linemen, but they will need to get stronger and add weight in the offseason if they want to be effective in 2013. Noble will also be in the mix, but he will need to learn the offense quickly in the spring and gain ground on Smith and Maass if he wants a chance to play next season.
At right guard, Siragusa has a solid chance to win the job in 2013. He impressed the coaches last season, showing flashes of talent throughout fall camp. Although his youth and inexperience might be worrisome, he is one of the strongest offensive lineman and will get a ton of reps in the offseason. He and Corbett will likely be the frontrunners to replace Embernate, but don’t be surprised if some of the other young linemen get reps at the position in spring practices and fall camp.
In their first season as starters on the offensive line, Quigley, Gordon and Dilley played fairly well as a group. All three return in 2013, and will continue to pave the way for an explosive ground attack.
Pass protection will be the main focus for the offensive line in the offseason, as the Aztecs allowed 35 sacks last year, ranking them in the bottom 20 of all Division 1 FBS teams. Expect Quigley and Dilley to improve their fundamentals in the offseason and help San Diego State drastically reduce its total number of sacks in 2013.
Prediction
Quigley will be a first-team all-conference selection in 2013.
2013 Season Preview: Home
2013 Season Preview: Defensive Line
2013 Season Preview: Linebackers
2013 Season Preview: Cornerbacks
2013 Season Preview: Safeties
2013 Season Preview: Special Teams
2013 Season Preview: Wide Receivers
2013 Season Preview: Running Backs
2013 Season Preview: Tight Ends
Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview on the quarterbacks of the 2013 San Diego State Aztecs
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by Hunter Hewitt
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Aztecs For Life | SDSU Blog 
good job as usual, Noble is a center,if he gets in here in spring? I think he will contend, He is very underated, a physical hard nosed player. the question of course learning the assignments. Poole has a ton of talent but just could not learn it fast enough so as you said he had to redshirt.
It is extremely difficult for offensive lineman, especially a center, to come in and play in their first season. If Noble gets here in the spring, it will better his chances, but it will still be a big transition for him.
Hunter-Great job with your updates. We’ve been following you as one of our Alum’s, Austin Maass redshirted last season. Any insight as to what his future may be?
Hunter, What’s the story on the Brunskill kid? In the one on one drills last year, it looked as though he handled the D line guys as well as anyone. Hang in there, Matt
Hence the name, Brunskill does have some skill. He will take at least another year to develop, though, as he is simply too light to play at the Division 1 level right now. I’m guessing he usually went up against other freshman in 1-on-1 drills in practice.
He probably ended the year around 260 pounds, and with a strong offseason will get up to around 275-280 pounds. Look for him to compete for playing time in 2014, which is when he will likely be big enough at around 290 pounds or so.
Hunter-Great job with your updates. We’ve been following you as one of our Alum’s, Austin Maass redshirted last season. Any insight as to what his future may be?
He has a bright future with SDSU. I know the coaches were impressed with his abilities last season, but he needed the redshirt year to get bigger and stronger. I think he will compete with Smith for the starting job at center, and could potentially earn that spot with a strong offseason. If he is not the starter, he will be a key reserve, and his versatility should give him the chance to compete at other offensive line positions throughout his career. It may not be this year, but I would be surprised if he wasn’t a starter at some point in his career with the Aztecs.
Thanks. Good to hear. Keep up the good work. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors!
Thanks!
– omg, I don’t even know what to say, except plsaee shoot for yourself and post the photos more often. These are just the best, Gladys. Also, I want to stay at that artist’s cabin. Send me the info, okay? Thanks 😉
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