Patrick McMorris Season 2022

Entering 2022 season

HONORS
* 2021 Mountain West First Team
* Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
- Nov. 28, 2021 for game vs. Boise State

Impressed the coaching staff in his first college camp in 2019 ... Strong and athletic, who continues to get bigger in the weight room ... Slid into the signature Aztec position in the 3-3-5 defense after learning behind two-year starter and two-year all-Mountain West selection Dwayne Johnson Jr. and then earned first-team all-MW honors in 2021 in his first season as the starter ... Enters the 2022 season as the projected starting Aztec.

SENIOR SEASON (2022)
Has received numerous preseason accolades, including being named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, each for the most outstanding defensive player ... Also was chosen as the Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year ... Also has been named a preseason first-team all-MW selection by the league’s media, Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and Lindy’s Sports ... Picked as “SDSU’s No. 4 player” by Athlon Sports and a “SDSU Player to Watch” by Lindy’s Sports.

JUNIOR SEASON (2021)
Was named a first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league’s coaches and media ... Joined Nat Berhe (2013) as the only player to play the ‘Aztec’ position since the start of the 3-3-5 defense at San Diego State in 2009 to earn first-team all-MW accolades, while Berhe (2012) is the only other ‘Aztec’ to even make a second team over that span ... Started the team’s 14 games after entering the year with one career start ... Had a team-high 90 tackles (53 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, a team-best four interceptions for 61 yards, nine pass breakups and a 15-yard fumble recovery ... Ranked in a tie for second in the Mountain West in interceptions (4, T-14th in FBS), third in interceptions per game (0.29, T-34th in FBS), tied for fourth in total passes defended (INT + PBU) (13, T-20th in FBS), fifth in total pass breakups (11, T-23rd in FBS) and seventh in passes defended per game (0.93, T-41st in FBS) ... Led the team with 37 tackles on passing plays ... Started for the second time of his career in the opener against New Mexico State on Sept. 4, making seven tackles (five solo), 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup ... The seven tackles tied a career high (also his first start at Nevada on Nov. 21, 2020) and were the second most on the team (Noah Tumblin, 8) ... Came up with four tackles (two solo) and his first career interception in his third career start at Arizona on Sept. 11 ... The interception was returned 16 yards and led to a Matt Araiza field goal ... Played 55 of the team’s 58 snaps as he was named the team’s defensive player of the week ... Was off to a good start against Utah on Sept. 18 when he had five tackles (three solo), 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup before being ejected for targeting early in the second quarter ... Played just 24 snaps before being ejected ... Made a career-high eight tackles (five solo) with a pass breakup against Towson on Sept. 25, playing all 60 snaps on defense ... The eight tackles were also the most on the team ... Registered four tackles (one solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss, in 61 of the team’s 62 defensive snaps against New Mexico on Oct. 9 ... Was one of three to be named a defensive player of the game ... Had a big game in another start at San José State on Oct. 15, making a career-high 12 tackles (six solo) and a career-best three pass breakups ... The 12 tackles and three PBUs each were game highs ... Ended up logging 81 snaps in the game ... Registered seven tackles (six solo) in 47 snaps in a start at Air Force on Oct. 23 ... The seven tackles tied Michael Shawcroft for the most on the team ... Was named one of the team’s defensive players of the game ... Had seven tackles (six solo) in all 81 defensive snaps against Fresno State on Oct. 30 and recovered his first career fumble (for 15 yards) ... Had four tackles (two solo) and a tackle for loss at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... Was the only Aztec to play all 68 defensive snaps in the game ... Had four tackles (three solo) and a pass breakup in a start, playing all 65 snaps against Nevada on Nov. 13 ... The PBU came on Nevada’s final play of the game, a fourth-and-2 situation with 42 seconds remaining ... Tied a career high with 12 tackles (six solo) while playing all 63 snaps at UNLV on Nov. 19 ... Led the team in tackles for the fourth time this season (and career) ... Also added a pass breakup ... Was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Boise State on Nov. 26 when he had five tackles and two interceptions in all 77 defensive snaps ... Helped the Aztecs hold Boise State to its fewest points (16) in a game since scoring seventh in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl ... Became the first San Diego State player with two interceptions in a game since Luq Barcoo had two vs. Fresno State on Nov. 15, 2019 ... Both interceptions gave the Aztecs the ball in Boise State territory and SDSU’s best starting field position (41 and 43) ... The second interception and 19-yard return gave San Diego State the ball on the Bronco 43-yard line, which led to a Jordon Brookshire rushing touchdown and the final score of the game in the 27-16 victory ... Was chosen as one of SDSU’s defensive players of the game ... Had four tackles (two solo) and an interception returned 25 yards against Utah State on Dec. 4 in the Mountain West Championship game ... It was his third interception in the last two games and fourth of the season (and his career) ... Played 70 of the 74 snaps in the game ... Registered seven tackles (three solo) with a pass breakup in a start against No. 24/25 UTSA on Dec. 21 in the Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl, playing all 66 snaps.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020)
Played in seven games with one start, recording 10 tackles (six solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup ...  Logged statless time on special teams vs. UNLV on Oct. 24 ... Played late on defense at Utah State on Oct. 31 without recording a stat ...  Logged statless time on special teams against San José State on Nov. 6 ... Played his most extensive snaps on defense against Hawai’i, making two tackles with his first 0.5 tackles for loss ... Had a breakout game in his first career start at Nevada on Nov. 21, making seven tackles (five solo) with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup ... Entered the game with three tackles for his career in 13 games ... Did not play at Colorado on Nov. 28 ... Played on special teams against Colorado State on Dec. 5, making one assisted tackle ... Did not record a stat on special teams at No. 14/16 Brigham Young.

TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON (2019)
Played in nine games in his true freshman season, mainly on special teams with just three snaps on the defensive side of the ball ... Had one solo tackle ... Logged special teams snaps in the opener with Weber State and at UCLA, but did not find the stat sheet ... Did not play at New Mexico State, against Utah State, at Colorado State or vs. Wyoming ... Came back to play on special teams at San José State, at UNLV, vs. Nevada, vs. Fresno State, at Hawai’i and vs. Brigham Young ... Saw time on special teams against Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl and then played three defensive snaps late, making one solo tackle.

HIGH SCHOOL
Spent one season at Santa Ana High School, where he led the team to a 10-3 record and 5-0 league mark en route to a conference crown … Ran for 1,801 yards and 23 touchdowns on 141 carries (12.8 avg.) in 2018, while catching 17 passes for 375 yards (22.1 avg.) and another two scores, according to MaxPreps … On the defensive side, recorded 99 tackles and two interceptions, while returning eight punts for 187 yards (23.4 avg.) on special teams … Spent his previous two years (2016-17) at Godinez High School in Santa Ana, Calif., where he rushed for 2,287 yards on 354 carries (6.5 avg.) and 28 touchdowns, caught 28 passes for 272 yards (9.7 avg.) and two touchdowns, and had 53 tackles, five interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup … A three-star recruit by 247sports, receiving a grade of 80.

PERSONAL
Patrick Allen McMorris was born Oct. 18, 2001 in Santa Ana, Calif. ... Son of Patrick McMorris and Lucy Guerrero ... Picked San Diego State over Cal Poly, Sacramento State and Weber State ... Is majoring in criminal justice.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 12 at UNLV (11/19/21), at San José State (10/15/21)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0 at Hawai’i (11/6/21), at Nevada (11/21/20)
Interceptions: 2 vs. Boise State (11/26/21)
Pass Breakups: 3 at San José State (10/15/21)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 vs. Fresno State (10/30/21)