Head coach Rocky Long and the Aztecs have finished two weeks of spring practices. (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)
Aztec fans,
With the second week of San Diego State’s spring football in the books, here are some newsworthy notes and things to keep an eye on:
Quarterback “competition”
Junior quarterback Adam Dingwell has likely secured his spot as the starter in 2013. (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)
After promoting an open quarterback competition heading into spring football, it seems that head coach Rocky Long has already given returning starter Adam Dingwell the nod.
Dingwell has received a large majority of the first-team reps so far, and Long expects this trend to continue. Like I have said before, it is very unlikely that Dingwell is not the starter in 2013.
The coaches will now use the rest of spring practices to determine who they feel most comfortable with as the backup quarterback. I see this as a competition between Jake Bernards, Chad Jeffries, and Matt Morin, with Bernards ultimately earning the backup role due to his experience and knowledge of the system.
Need a refresher on the Aztecs quarterback situation? Check out the pre-spring season preview on the quarterbacks.
Surprise at tight end
After losing three tight ends, the Aztecs desperately needed someone to step up this spring, and sophomore Robert Craighead has done just that.
After being moved to the defensive line in 2012 because of the depth at tight end, Craighead was asked to move back to his original position. It was a smart move by the coaching staff, and Craighead has risen to the occasion with two solid weeks of practice.
With the emergence Craighead, I see the tight end position shaping up as follows:
Junior Adam Roberts and Craighead will see the most playing time in 2013. Sophomore Aaron Boesch, the most athletic option at the tight end position, will likely be used on special teams and in various passing situations. Either Dominique Bierria or incoming freshman David Wells will see playing time in 2013 as a special teams contributor and a reserve tight end.
Need a refresher on the tight end position? Check out the pre-spring season preview on the tight ends.
Additional Notes
- Cornerbacks J.J. Whittaker, Pierre Romain and Mahbu Keels have split time with the first-team defense. If Whittaker can stay healthy, I expect him and King Holder to be the starters in the 2013.
- Sophomore Dan Kottman, who was Sam Meredith’s primary backup at defensive tackle in 2012, underwent surgery to repair a damaged shoulder. Although Kottman is expected to be healthy by the start of the season, look for junior Kenny Galea’i to step up as Meredith’s backup.
- The Aztecs have still not found a backup running back to starter Adam Muema. I expect Chase Price and De’Saan Hardwick to separate themselves in the coming weeks, but the competition will likely last through fall camp.
- Long has said that Bryce Quigley, Japheth Gordon and Zach Dilley have pretty much secured their starting spots at left tackle, left guard and center, respectively. Right guard Nico Siragusa and right tackle Terry Poole are currently working with the first-team offense.
That’s it for this week, Aztec fans. Stay tuned for more in-depth updates in the next two weeks, as I will be in San Diego from March 12-23 and will be able to attend some practices and the spring game.
In case you missed it:
2013 SDSU Spring Football Update: Week 1
2013 SDSU Spring Football Preview: Top 10 story lines
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by Hunter Hewitt
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