Meet the Aztecs: 2012 Signing Class

Meet the Aztecs: Q&A with Malcolm Jackson

/ Hunter O. Hewitt / 1 Comment

Photo Credit: Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations

The eighth in a daily series of Q&A’s with the 2012 signing class.

Malcolm Jackson is a 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive lineman from Spring Valley, Calif. A local product, Jackson played on both sides at nearby Mount Miguel High School. San Diego State hopes Jackson and other local commits will help with the process of building a “recruiting fence” around San Diego. Ideally, local talent will want to follow Jackson’s footsteps and stay close to home by attending SDSU.

A solid athlete, Jackson has the versatility to play both defensive end and defensive tackle. He will likely work both positions early on in training camp until the coaches decide where he fits best. He will wear No. 93 for the Aztecs.

GoAztecs.com player profile
Rivals recruiting page

 

Q: Why did you choose SDSU?
A: It’s close to home and it’s an upcoming program. We are moving to the Big East and I want to be a part of the tradition here. 

Q: How were the summer workouts for you?
A: At first they were really difficult, but I’m starting to get used to it all.

Q: Have you picked your major yet?
A: I’m majoring in Hospitality and Tourism.

Q: What are you most excited for leading up to your first semester at San Diego State?
A: I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a chance to play in a game.

Q: What do you like to do during your spare time?
A: I like long walks on the beach.

Q: Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
A: I like the Miami Dolphins. They’re the best team in the NFL. Ever since I was six years old I have liked them. I was playing Madden and I liked using Ricky Williams so I always played with them.

Q: Is there any athlete that you look up to or try to model your game after?
A: At first it was Joey Porter until he retired. Now I like Cameron Wake.

Q: If you weren’t a football player, what sport would you be playing?
A: Is chess considered a sport? I think I would be a chess player.

Q: Since you are from San Diego, what is your favorite thing about the city?
A: I like going to restaurants and movies.

Q: What is your most memorable sports moment from high school?
A: In my game against Point Loma I got a fumble recovery and scrambled for 36 yards and led to a touchdown that play.

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

Meet the Aztecs: Q&A with Derek Largent

/ Hunter O. Hewitt / Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations

The seventh in a daily series of Q&A’s with the 2012 signing class.

Derek Largent is a 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker from Manhattan Beach, Calif. He played at Mira Costa High School, where he was an outside linebacker and a tight end. After high school, Largent played one season at El Camino Community College before coming to San Diego State. In his one season at El Camino Community College, Largent was a first-team all-Northern Conference selection.

Largent has a unique combination of size and athletic ability, and could make an impact on the field immediately. To demonstrate his athletic ability, Largent performed a standing backflip after singing the SDSU Fight Song in front of all his teammates one night during training camp. He will enter the 2012 season as a sophomore, and he will have four years of eligibility to play three seasons. He will wear No. 50 for the Aztecs.

GoAztecs.com player profile
Rivals recruiting page

Q: Why did you choose SDSU?
A: I chose SDSU because it’s close to home. They have a great program. When I took my visit, all the coaches were great and I met some players that were awesome. I’m glad that I came here. Nothing compares to this.

Q: How were the summer workouts for you?
A: The workouts were great. It’s definitely different from junior college. I’ve never thrown up during a workout before and it happened to me here two consecutive days, so that’s how they were.

Q: Have you picked your major yet?
A: I chose to be a business major with an emphasis in finance. I want to be a business owner, mainly so I could be my own boss.

Q: What are you most excited for leading up to your first semester at San Diego State?
A: I’m really looking forward to getting the pads on and getting to play at the Division 1 level. That’s pretty huge and exciting for me.

Q: What do you like to do during your spare time?
A: I like to play video games. The latest one I’ve been playing is Arma 2, it’s a military simulator for a computer.

Q: Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
A: Since I grew up in Los Angeles, I’d have to say the Lakers and Dodgers are my two favorite teams that I like to support.

Q: Is there any athlete that you look up to or try to model your game after?
A: I like watching Tom Brady play. He’s not really the biggest guy on the field but he’s a psychopath and he’s awesome.

Q: If you weren’t a football player, what sport would you be playing?
A: I’d be playing baseball. It was the first sport that I played and I had a good time with it but football just ended up working out better. I played all four years in high school.

Q: What has the transition from junior college to a Division 1 football program been like for you?
A: So far it’s been pretty huge. I expect the game to be a lot faster than junior college football. There’s a lot more discipline and rigidity in regards to the schedule. In junior college I was on my own for a lot of stuff, but now it’s very serious in terms of weights and running. 

Q: What do you like so far about the city of San Diego?
A: I like that it barely ever gets below 70 degrees during the day. The beach is close by, there’s good food and good people.

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

Meet the Aztecs: Q&A with Kendrick Mathis

/ Hunter O. Hewitt / 2 Comments

Photo Credit: Ernie Anderson/Aztec Media Relations

The sixth in a daily series of Q&A’s with the 2012 signing class.

Kendrick Mathis is a 6-foot-1 defensive back from Ventura, Calif. He played on both sides of the ball at Buena High School, excelling at safety and quarterback. Mathis often ran when he was under center, and tallied 10 rushing touchdowns during his senior season. On the defensive side of the ball, he had 36 tackles along with six interceptions and one forced fumble.

Due to his impressive versatility and ability to play multiple positions, many schools recruited Mathis as an athlete because they were unsure of where he would line up on the field. At San Diego State, he will likely play either the Warrior or Aztec position. He will wear No. 32 for the Aztecs.

GoAztecs.com player profile
Rivals recruiting page

 

Q: Why did you choose SDSU?
A: I chose SDSU because I felt very comfortable here. Out of all the coaches I met, I liked the staff here the most.

Q: How were the summer workouts for you?
A: They were hard. Definitely the hardest workouts I’ve ever done. Coach Hall definitely knows what he’s doing so I have no problem with working this hard.

Q: Have you picked your major yet?
A: I picked criminal justice. I might want to try to work in a crime lab.

Q: What are you most excited for leading up to your first semester at San Diego State?
A: I’m most excited for the first game against Washington.

Q: What do you like to do during your spare time?
A: I like to get some sleep because I usually don’t get enough sleep at night. I also like to try and spend some time with my family.

Q: Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
A: I like the Los Angeles Lakers. I also like the Oakland Raiders, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Dallas Cowboys.

Q: Is there any athlete that you look up to or try to model your game after?
A: I looked up to my cousin Eric Turner. He played in the NFL. He went to UCLA and he was the second pick in the draft and played for the Raiders. I have always wanted to play safety since I was a little kid because of him. I also like Patrick Peterson, Darrelle Revis, and Charles Woodson.

Q: If you weren’t a football player, what sport would you be playing?
A: I would probably be playing basketball. I played it since I was a little kid, and I played it in high school until my senior year.

Q: What is your most memorable sports moment from high school?
A: My most memorable moment was my first touchdown run on varsity. It was my sophomore year on a sweep to the outside.

Q: How much do you know about the 3-3-5 defense and what about it are you most excited for?
A: I know that the Aztec gets to play freely a lot and fly to the ball. I’m definitely most excited for that because I will be able to come up and fill the hole, almost like a linebacker.

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS