Oct. 23, 2014
SAN DIEGO - Six San Diego State football players have earned midseason recognition by Phil Steele's College Football Magazine, the publication recently announced.
Four Aztecs were named to the first team, including sophomore running back Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas, Nev.), senior left tackle Terry Poole (Monterey, Calif.), sophomore cornerback Damontae Kazee (San Bernardino, Calif.) and sophomore punt returner Lloyd Mills (Chandler, Ariz.). Additionally, sophomore defensive tackle Alex Barrett (Mesa, Ariz.) and sophomore linebacker Calvin Munson (St. Charles, Mo.) were selected to the second team.
The six players on Phil Steele's midseason all-MW team, five of them sophomores, have helped SDSU to a 4-3 overall record, including a 3-1 mark in the MW. In the midst of its final bye week of the season, San Diego State sits alone in first place of the West Division of the MW and will remain there regardless of this weekend's outcomes.
Pumphrey, who's on the Doak Walker Award Watch List, given out annually to the top running back in the country, has rushed for 989 yards and 12 touchdowns on 144 attempts, averaging 6.87 yards per carry. He leads all sophomores and ranks seventh in the nation in rushing yards per game (141.3). The true sophomore is also fourth in rushing touchdowns, eighth in rushing yards per carry, tied for 10th in points per game (10.3) (T-5th among non-kickers) and 13th in all-purpose yards per game (150.3). He has five, 100-yard games this year in seven contests and is just 11 yards shy of becoming the 15th Aztec to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in school history (20th occasion overall).
Poole, an honorable-mention all-MW pick last year by the MW media and a preseason second-team pick by Phil Steele, has helped SDSU rush for 1,594 yards and 14 touchdowns through seven games. San Diego State currently ranks 12th in the nation in rushing yards per attempt (5.8) and 23rd in rushing yards per game (227.7). Those marks rank second and third, respectively, in the MW. Poole has also backed an offense that has allowed just 10 sacks and 29 tackles for loss. Among the national leaders, the Aztecs rank in a tie for 12th in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.14) and a tie for 28th in sacks allowed per game (1.43).
Kazee, who has made his first seven career starts this season, has compiled 29 tackles (20 solo), eight pass breakups, an interception and a tackle for loss. He ranks second in the MW and tied for 28th in the nation in passes defended (pass breakups + interceptions) per game (1.29). Kazee has all nine of his passes defended over the past four games (eight PBUs and one interception) after recording just three over his first 15 career contests.
Mills, who also plays wide receiver for SDSU, has returned 12 punts for 120 yards (10.0 avg.), including a 67-yard touchdown in the opener vs. Northern Arizona. The 10.0 average per punt return leads the league and ranks 24th in the country. Additionally, Mills is one of 32 players in the nation with at least one punt return for a touchdown. He has also added 12 catches (tied for third team) for 162 yards (third on team) and a touchdown, averaging 13.5 yards per reception, and 105 rushing yards on just three carries (35.0 avg.)
Barrett, meanwhile, has compiled 24 tackles (15 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries and a blocked kick in the first seven starts of his career. He leads the team in sacks and quarterback hurries, is one of three with a blocked kick, ranks second in TFL and is tied for third in PBUs, despite playing defensive tackle. Among the league leaders, Barrett ranks tied for ninth in sacks per game (3.0) and 10th in tackles for loss per game (0.93).
Munson has 45 tackles on the season (26 solo), including 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in the first seven starts of his career. The true sophomore leads San Diego State in TFL and interception yards (90), is tied for the lead in interceptions and forced fumbles, and is tied for second in sacks. Munson's interception long of 64 yards in the opener vs. Northern Arizona is the 16th longest in the country this year, while his 90 total interception yards lead the league and rank 14th in the nation. Additionally, his 0.29 interceptions per game are tied for sixth in the MW.
The Aztecs resume competition on Nov. 1 at Nevada for a 7:30 p.m. PT start. It will be SDSU's fifth road game in eight contests this year. San Diego State will finish its regular season with three home games in four weeks, beginning with Homecoming Weekend and the KGB SkyShow on Nov. 8 against Idaho at 3:30 p.m. PT.
Phil Steele Midseason All-Mountain West Team (SDSU players only)
First Team
RB Donnel Pumphrey, So.
LT Terry Poole, Sr.
CB Damontae Kazee, So.
PR Lloyd Mills, So.
Second Team
DT Alex Barrett, So.
LB Calvin Munson, So.