Ex-Michigan HC Brady Hoke Replaces Rocky Long as San Diego State's Head Coach
Jan 8, 2020
San Diego State Aztecs defensive line coach Brady Hoke looks on from the sideline during the second half of the NCAA college football game against the Fresno State Bulldogs Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, in San Diego. The Aztecs won 17-7. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)
Brady Hoke is heading back to Southern California. The former Michigan coach is rejoining San Diego State University, where he was head coach for two seasons from 2009-10 before the Wolverines came calling.
Hoke previously led the Aztecs to their first bowl victory at the Poinsettia Bowl in 2010 after going 9-4 that season. He was 13-12 overall at the school.
The 61-year-old replaces retiring coach Rocky Long, who took over the job after Hoke left for the Big Ten.
In many ways, Hoke's departure from San Diego State in 2010 altered the entire course of his career.
An up-and-coming head coach in the college ranks who'd spent time overseeing a variety of defensive position groups at Power Five schools, Hoke had just gotten settled in his second job as a Group of Five coach—leaving Ball State to join SDSU—when Michigan decided to part ways with Lloyd Carr-successor Rich Rodriguez.
On paper, Hoke was the perfect replacement for the Wolverines. He'd been an assistant under Carr from 1995-2002, ascending to associate head coach in his final season before taking the head coaching job at his alma mater, Ball State.
In six years with the Cardinals, Hoke's teams went from barely reaching four wins per year to competing for conference titles in the Mid-American Conference. in 2008, his last year before leaving for San Diego State, Hoke's team went 12-2, knocking off both Navy and Indiana before ultimately falling to Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl—a game Hoke didn't coach in.
A quick turnaround at San Diego State, where the Aztecs went from four wins in his first season to nine wins a year later, put him near the top of the list for Michigan when it came time to replace Rodriguez.
But Hoke didn't last much longer than his predecessor in Ann Arbor. After finishing his first season with 11 wins and a Sugar Bowl victory, Hoke's teams nosedived, winning fewer games each year until he was fired after a five-win 2014 season.
The Ohio native would bounce around the sidelines for a few years in the NFL and college ranks before he landed back at SDSU as a defensive line coach on Long's staff in 2019.
A decade after he first got to San Diego, Hoke has another opportunity to mold the program as he sees fit, the latest stop on his path to redemption after falling from grace in Michigan.
Ryan Agnew Throws 3 TDs as SDSU Crushes Central Michigan in New Mexico Bowl
Dec 21, 2019
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO - DECEMBER 21: Wide receiver Jesse Matthews #45 of the San Diego State Aztecs scores a touchdown against the Central Michigan Chippewas during the New Mexico Bowl at Dreamstyle Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
San Diego State earned its first bowl victory since 2016 with a 48-11 win over Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday.
Ryan Agnew threw two touchdowns to help the Aztecs build an early 20-3 advantage, while the country's No. 4 scoring defense took care of the rest in an easy win at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jordan Byrd led a rushing attack that totaled 223 yards on the ground as San Diego State finished 10-3 for its fourth 10-win season in five years.
Central Michigan (8-6) couldn't end on a high note, but Jim McElwain still performed one of the best coaching jobs in the country after taking over a squad that went 1-11 last season.
Notable Stats
Ryan Agnew, QB, SDSU: 18-of-31, 287 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
San Diego State Surprises with Offensive Explosion
The Aztecs entered the game averaging just 19 points scored per game, going four straight without even scoring 20.
The offense wasn't a problem in this one.
Jesse Matthews was the star early on, scoring two first-half touchdowns including one for 74 yards.
We see why @SDSUFootball gave Jesse Matthews a scholarship. Former walk-on has 3 rec for 111 yds and 2 TDs in 1st half of New Mexico Bowl. #Aztecs lead 20-3.
That quick-strike @SDSUFootball offense? Aztecs score in one play, a 74-yard TD pass from Ryan Agnew to Jesse Matthews for a 20-3 lead (2nd, 5:26). Drive took 13 seconds. Longest play of season for SDSU.
The points were easily a season-high, Byrd rushed for a season high and Agnew was as effective as we have seen him all year. Freshman TJ Sullivan also scored an impressive touchdown on his first career catch.
San Diego State will lose some key players to graduation, including Agnew, but a loaded defense and playmakers such as Matthews and Byrd could help the squad in 2020.
Central Michigan Unable to Solve SDSU Defense
We knew going in San Diego State had an elite defense, and this game proved it even more.
Central Michigan was able to sneak in a few big plays to keep things close, including 66-yard rushing touchdown by Kobe Lewis and a 61-yard reception by Kalil Pimpleton. However, these were few and far between.
Central Michigan has two plays totaling 127 yards against the @SDSUFootball defense. The Chippewas' other 41 plays in the game have also totaled 127 yards.
Dormady was held to 11-of-26 passing in what was arguably his worst game of the season, with only the Wisconsin loss coming close. Jonathan Ward had over 1,000 yards on the year but was held to 26 yards on 2.9 per carry Saturday.
With five total turnovers, it was a game to forget for this team.
Central Michigan should be happy to make it this far, but the offense will need to show more in big games if the program is going to take the next step.
Rashaad Penny Is a Superstar RB Prospect Not Getting the Hype He Deserves
Nov 28, 2017
BR Video
Saquon Barkley deserves all of his draft hype, but there's a superstar at San Diego State who deserves more attention.
Just how good is Rashaad Penny? Watch above as Bleacher Report Lead NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller breaks down the young running back's potential.
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4-Star WR J.R. Justice Commits to San Diego State over USC, Arizona
Jun 26, 2017
Wide receiver J.R. Justice announced Monday he has committed to the San Diego State Aztecs:
The San Diego native is the No. 73 wideout in the 2018 recruiting class and ranks 18th at the position in the state of California, according to Scout.
Justice had 46 receptions for 932 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior for St. Augustine High School, per MaxPreps. Scout's Greg Biggins provided a brief scouting report for the 6'3", 200-pound pass-catcher:
Justice can play on either side of the ball but will play WR for the #Aztecs, big, physical 6-3 kid who runs well and has nice upside to him
Securing Justice's commitment is a big coup for San Diego State, which has just three recruits committed to its 2018 class so far. Scout ranks the Aztecs 78th nationally, a year after they finished 70th.
San Diego hasn't finished with a losing record under head coach Rocky Long, and the team went 11-3 in both 2015 and 2016. Getting recruits of Justice's caliber will help the Aztecs maintain that level of success and potentially become the best Group of Five team in FBS.
And practically speaking, wide receivers Mikah Holder and Quest Truxton and tight end David Wells will graduate after the 2017 season, leaving San Diego State down three of its best receiving options for 2018.
Justice could make an immediate impact when he arrives for the Aztecs next year.
Donnel Pumphrey NFL Draft 2017: Scouting Report for Philadelphia Eagles' Pick
Apr 29, 2017
San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey rushes with the ball against Houston during the first half of the Las Vegas Bowl NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, in Las Vegas. San Diego State won 34-10. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Measurables
Height
Weight
40 Time
Arm Length
Hand Size
3-Cone
5'8 1/4"
176 lbs
4.48s
N/A
N/A
N/A
POSITIVES
The NCAA’s all-time leading rusher, Donnel Pumphrey had tremendous collegiate production. He finished his career with 1,059 carries for 6,405 yards and 62 touchdowns, adding 99 catches for 1,039 yards and five receiving touchdowns. Pumphrey’s success comes from his speed and acceleration. He has excellent vision and understanding of defensive leverage, and he can burst through an open hole. He has good patience on his outside runs, allowing his blocks to develop before he explodes. He has the lateral quickness to make defenders miss, and that translates to his route-running ability as well. He shows soft hands and a good catch radius for his size, and he can catch the ball through contact. He consistently breaks linebackers down in space and can turn and run after catching the football. His receiving ability is good enough that a team may look to move him to the slot because of his size limitation at running back.
NEGATIVES
His durability will be a question for teams, as he has over 1,100 career touches at a slight frame of 5'8" and 176 pounds. While injuries haven’t been an issue for him yet, his body has already taken a lot of abuse and it will only increase in the NFL. He was a three-down back in college, but players his size simply aren’t three-down backs in the NFL. Pumphrey's game is void of any power because of his size. He is able to run between the tackles, but any solid contact stands him up. His balance can look worse than it is, because at times he is tripped up easily due to his small stature. On runs between the tackles, he can look to bounce outside too often and will be driven back by solid contact. He profiles as a third-down back in the NFL because of his receiving ability, but his blocking ability will need to improve. He lacks the functional strength to take on incoming rushers and hold them at bay for very long.
PRO COMPARISON: Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns
FINAL GRADE: 5.50/9.00 (Backup Caliber—Round 6)
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Hawaii Bowl 2015: Preview, Predictions for Cincinnati vs. San Diego State
Alex Ballentine
Dec 6, 2015
San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey gets past Air Force defensive back Brodie Hicks during the first half of the NCAA Mountain West Championship football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The Cincinnati Bearcats and San Diego State Aztecs can trade in their evergreens and jingle bells for palm trees and ukuleles. They're headed to Hawaii for Christmas.
The Aztecs and Bearcats will meet on Dec. 24 with an opportunity to cap their winning seasons on a high note.
The bowl game represents a chance for both programs to turn recent bowl struggles around. For all the success that Rocky Long has brought to the San Diego State program as head coach, they are just 1-3 in the postseason under his guidance.
Tommy Tuberville has had similar struggles in turning the Bearcats into a postseason player. Despite 9-3 seasons in his first two years at the school, they are 0-2 in bowl games.
Matchup
Cincinnati (American) vs. San Diego State (Mountain West)
Location
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
TV
ESPN
Date
December 24, 2015
Start Time
8 p.m. ET
So which one of these teams has the best shot at ending its slump? Here's a look at what to expect from both teams and how this game should shake out.
What to Expect from the Cincinnati Bearcats
Stopping the Bearcats comes down to one basic question. Can you force Gunner Kiel into making mistakes?
Cincinnati loves to air it out with the former Notre Dame quarterback. He has 316 attempts this season despite playing in only 10 games. When Cincinnati has been successful this season, Kiel is making good decisions and throwing the ball well.
For the season Kiel is 206-of-316 for 2,777 yards and 19 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
The ability to hurt teams in the air is made apparent when looking at where they rank nationally in metrics like Football Outsiders' S&P+, along with FEI:
Record
7-5
S&P+ Rush Rank
60
S&P+ Overall Rank
21
FEI Overall Rank
58
S&P+ Rush Defense Rank
121
S&P+ Pass Defense Rank
62
However, Kiel is much like the Bearcats team as a whole. He—and by extension his team—suffers from inconsistency.
That's how you get a team that barely beat both Miami from Ohio and the Miami from Florida. Kiel can show up like the quarterback who picked apart Tulsa to the tune of 386 yards and two touchdowns in one game or like the quarterback who showed up the next week to go 8-of-15 for 84 yards and two interceptions against South Florida.
As the numbers show, the real concern for the Bearcats will be on the defensive side of the ball. Tuberville's squad has struggled mightily at times this season—especially with stopping the run.
The Bearcats give up a whopping 5.02 yards per carry. And it's a big reason they give up 30 points per game.
It's a weakness that could continue to haunt them into the bowl game.
What to Expect from the San Diego State Aztecs
Under head coach Rocky Long, the Aztecs have developed a clearly defined identity. They're going to run the ball effectively and stop the opposing offense from running the ball.
It's an approach that has worked wonders.
While the Bearcats suffered a bit of a letdown from back-to-back 9-4 seasons, San Diego State continued its upward trend with its first 10-win season under Long, including a Mountain West title.
Here's a look at their profile using the same metrics as Cincinnati:
Record
10-3
S&P+ Rush Rank
82
S&P+ Pass Rank
79
FEI Overall Rank
55
S&P+ Rush Defense Rank
3
S&P+ Pass Defense Rank
75
The metrics might not love the Aztecs running game in terms of efficiency, but it is effective from a sheer volume standpoint. They've rushed for over 3,000 yards this season and are No. 15 in rushing yards per game.
A lot of that has to do with Donnel Pumphrey. The junior is ninth in rushing this season with 1,554 yards on the season.
Pumphrey doesn't do it all on his own, though. San Diego State also benefits from consistent quarterback play. As GoAztecs Stats notes, the Aztecs hold the current streak for most pass attempts without an interception:
#AztecFB has now gone 196 passes without throwing an interception, extending the longest active streak in the country.
Quarterback Maxwell Smith has been effective in leading the offense without turning the ball over all season. He finished the season with 13 touchdowns to two interceptions. However, backup quarterback Christian Chapman played in the Mountain West Championship Game and went 9-of-14 for 203 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
Where Long's team really excels, though, is on the defensive side of the ball. The Mountain West champions allow just 3.2 yards per carry and force teams to be one-dimensional.
Prediction
Dec 5, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs linebacker Jake Fely (left) celebrates with linebacker Calvin Munson (54) after a sack of Air Force Falcons quarterback Karson Roberts (right) during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory
Looking at the matchup, this game has the potential to be a close one. At least in the first half.
San Diego State's defense is strong overall but has a secondary that can be exposed. Kiel has had some rough spots this season, but he certainly has the tools to take advantage of those weaknesses.
Even the Aztecs' weakness can be a strength, though. Their secondary might get beat occasionally, but it's also No. 5 in the nation in interceptions with 20.
The Bearcats' hopes to win this game relies on him jumping out to a lead against a secondary that excels at capitalizing on bad decisions.
If Cincinnati fails to jump ahead, it means that the team is going to have to trust the defense to stop the run over the course of four quarters. Given the numbers surrounding this game, that's not a good bet to make.
The Aztecs have come a long way since starting the season 1-3. Long commented on his team's resolve after winning the Mountain West Championship Game.
"I was concerned, visions of the early season were coming back to me as we dropped punts and caused fumbles we didn't recover," said Long, according to Kirk Kenney of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "You get very concerned. Did I have any concern that our players would stop playing? None whatsoever."
That sounds like a team that is ready to outplay an opponent over the course of four quarters. Expect the Aztecs run game to take over late and put the game away.
Prediction: San Diego State 34, Cincinnati 21
Statistics via cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.
San Diego State Aztecs vs. Air Force Falcons Betting Odds, College Football Pick
Dec 1, 2015
San Diego State quarterback Maxwell Smith (17) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wyoming Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego State owns the recent rivalry with Air Force, winning the last five meetings straight up, covering the last six. The Aztecs hope to extend that dominance over the Falcons when the teams meet in the Mountain West Championship Game Saturday night on San Diego State's home field at Qualcomm Stadium.
Point spread: The Aztecs opened as 3.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).
College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 36.2-32.4 Aztecs
Why the San Diego State Aztecs can cover the spread
SDS rides an eight-game winning streak into this conference title game after completing a perfect conference season with a 31-14 victory over Nevada last week. That game was tied at 14-14 late into the second quarter before the Aztecs scored the last 17 points to secure the victory and push the spread as 17-point favorites.
San Diego State outgained the Wolf Pack 408-263, piling up 320 yards on the ground.
The Aztecs have now outgained and outrushed each of their last eight opponents, most of them by large margins, going 7-0-1 ATS along the way.
Why the Air Force Falcons can cover the spread
Air Force lost its second MWC game of this season back in October to Colorado State, then won its next five games in a row, including recent back-to-back upsets of Utah State and Boise State. And with a little help from elsewhere, the Falcons won the Mountain Division. Last week, with a spot in the conference championship game already in pocket, Air Force lost at New Mexico 47-35.
The Falcons, perhaps a bit disinterested, fell down to the Lobos 34-14 midway through the third quarter, rallied to 40-35 with three minutes to go but couldn't quite complete the comeback.
Prior to last week, though, Air Force had outgained five foes in a row, each by at least 140 yards, covering five spreads in a row, and had outrushed seven opponents in a row, five of them by at least 180 yards.
Smart pick
Air Force owns an edge on offense, but San Diego State owns the edge on defense. Also, the Aztecs have held the Falcons to about half their average rushing output each of the last two meetings. The smart money here sides with San Diego State.
Betting trends
San Diego State is 6-0 ATS in its last six games against Air Force.
Air Force is 1-5 ATS in its last six games after losing as a favorite.
San Diego State is 8-0 SU and ATS in its last eight games.
All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.
San Diego State's Adam Muema Outshines Khalil Mack in Idaho Potato Bowl
Dec 21, 2013
The headlines coming into this Saturday's Idaho Potato Bowl centered on Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, but on Saturday afternoon, it was San Diego State Aztecs running back Adam Muema who may have helped his NFL future the most.
Coming into the game, Muema flew under the radar nationally thanks to an injury-plagued front half of the season, but he managed to finish with 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season.
That led to rumors, including a tweet from Muema (that was later deleted) indicating he was leaving early for the NFL.
If the junior was on the fence about leaving for the NFL, a 230-yard and three-touchdown performance en route to a 49-24 win over the Mack-led Buffalo Bulls may have put him over the edge.
Coming into the game, it was Mack—who had 94 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and the NCAA record for forced fumbles in a career (16)—who was supposed to showcase himself for the NFL scouts on hand.
Instead, he ended up being a non-factor thanks to game-planning by the Aztecs. Some would say he received the Jadeveon Clowney treatment in this one, as he was simply schemed out of the game for the most part.
Other than a knockdown of a pass in the flat and a few stops on short-yardage situations, Mack's name wasn't called much during the action on the field.
Muema, on the other hand, was a steady force all game long and came through when his team needed him the most.
After Buffalo cut the Aztecs' lead to 14-10 in the second quarter, Muema capped off a five-play, 65-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to put SDSU up 21-10 with 1:06 remaining in the first half.
It was the first of four unanswered touchdowns that led to a 42-10 Aztecs advantage that Buffalo couldn't overcome in the second half.
Muema had a balanced day, with 13 carries for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He followed that up with 15 more carries, 134 yards and a 30-yard touchdown in the second half.
One game won't make or break someone's NFL future, but going up against a fellow NFL prospect and outshining him will make scouts and general managers take notice.
So will being mentioned in the same sentence as some guy named Marshall Faulk:
If Muema wasn't sure of his NFL prospects before this game, he made people take notice of his skills on Saturday.
Buffalo vs. San Diego State Betting Odds: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Prediction
Dec 12, 2013
The San Diego State Aztecs and Buffalo Bulls have taken similar paths this season and will fittingly meet in Boise on December 21. Both teams got off to slow starts early in the season but found momentum and tore through conference play before having their hot streaks broken to end the season.
After getting off on the wrong foot at 0-3, the Aztecs finished the season 7-2, including an impressive overtime win over Boise State. Junior running back Adam Muema leads the way for San Diego State’s offense that averages 422 yards and 28 points per game. With a field-goal point spread, a close game can be expected.
And San Diego State’s experience in close games will help it in the waning moments. The Aztecs had eight games decided by a touchdown or less, including four that went to overtime. San Diego State finished with a 6-1-1 record against the spread in those close games.
Why Buffalo can cover the spread
Buffalo sputtered to start the year as well, with losses to Ohio State and Baylor. Considering both will be playing in BCS bowls, that rough start doesn’t look nearly as bad now. The Bulls’ defense, led by star linebacker Khalil Mack, grew into a dominant force from there. Buffalo won seven straight before a loss to Toledo and covered six in a row.
During that win streak, the defense allowed an average of merely 10 points per game. The Bulls match up well with San Diego State, and Khalil Mack will be getting to know Muema early and often.
Smart Pick
While both teams enter the game with seven wins, the difference in the quality of the wins is considerable. Buffalo’s best resume builder is Connecticut, while San Diego State has victories over Boise State and San Jose State, while taking Fresno State to overtime. The Aztecs are used to much stiffer competition and have learned to win tight contests.
Buffalo’s games were decided by an average of 26 points and only had one game decided by fewer than 10 points. If this game comes down to the wire, you can feel confident the Aztecs will find a way to edge out the win.
The past two Potato Bowls played UNDER the total, and three of seven editions of this game (formerly the Humanitarian Bowl) were decided by a single point, according to the Potato Bowl odds history at Odds Shark.
Trends:
Both prior Potato Bowls played UNDER the total
San Diego State is 1-2-1 ATS in bowls since 1998
Note: All spread and odds data powered by Odds Shark follow on Twitter for injury updates and line move updates.
SDSU vs. Ohio State: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
Sep 7, 2013
Ohio State will be looking to further cement itself as one of the nation's top teams when the Buckeyes play host to San Diego State this Saturday.
The No. 3 Buckeyes got off to a solid start with a 40-20 win over Buffalo in the season opener, although things were not all rosy in that contest.
Ohio State was up 23-0 after the first quarter before watching Buffalo make things interesting.
Meanwhile, San Diego State was humiliated on its home field by Eastern Illinois to the tune of 40-19. The Aztecs will be in need of a drastically better performance or they will be completely blown out of the stadium in this one.
When: Saturday, September 7 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
TV Coverage: ABC/ESPN2
Spread: Ohio State -28 (According to Bovada)
SDSU Injuries
Adam Muema, RB, Probable (Ankle)
Dan Kottman, DL, Questionable (Foot)
Calvin Munson, LB, Out (Head)
Derek Lergent, LB, Out (Knee)
Scott Graves, LB, Out, (Bicep)
Ohio State Injuries
CJ Barnett, S, Questionable (Ankle)
Corey Linsley, OL, Doubtful (Foot)
Tommy Schutt, DL, Out Indefinitely (Foot)
Blake Thomas, TE, Out for Season (Neck)
Adam Griffin, CB, Out for Season (Shoulder)
Jamie Wood, DB, Out for Season (Shoulder)
Bradley Roby, CB, Eligible Sat (Disciplinary)
Marcus Baugh, TE, Eligible Sat (Suspension)
Carlos Hyde, RB, Out Indefinitely (Suspension)
Key Storyline: Can Braxton Miller Build the Heisman Hype?
Junior quarterback Braxton Miller entered this season as one of the leading Heisman trophy candidates. He didn't play like that in Week 1.
He was 15-of-22 for 178 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also had 17 carries for 77 yards. These are strong numbers, but they aren't Heisman numbers against an opponent like Buffalo.
Of course, a big reason for that was that he was battling leg cramps for much of the game and came off the field on a couple of occasions. Still, there is no room for excuses when trying to win the Heisman, and if Miller wants to keep his name in contention, he needs to put up some numbers in this game.
Prediciton: Ohio State 45, San Diego State 17
San Diego State looked awful in the opener. I'm sure the Aztecs have better games ahead of them, but that isn't likely to come this week against Urban Meyer's powerhouse squad.
I expect a dominant performance from Ohio State. This game will be all but over by halftime.
