May 24, 2016
2016 SDSU FOOTBALL PRESEASON ACCOLADES
SAN DIEGO - Five San Diego State football players have been named to the preseason all-Mountain West team in the Sporting News college football preview magazine. The five selections - seniors Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas), Nico Siragusa (Chula Vista, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic HS), Damontae Kazee (San Bernardino, Calif.), Calvin Munson (St. Charles, Mo.) and Alex Barrett (Mesa, Ariz.) - are the most in the league by the magazine (next highest is Boise State with three preseasons picks).
Sporting News also has SDSU winning the West Division of the MW once again and playing in the Las Vegas Bowl vs California, a team that San Diego State hosts on Sept. 10.
The Aztecs are coming off an 11-3 season where they tied a school record for the most wins in a single year, finished with a 10-game winning streak (second-longest active FBS streak heading into 2016), won the MW title (20th conference title in program history) and beat Cincinnati, 42-7, in the Hawai`i Bowl.
Last year, Pumphrey rushed for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns on 309 attempts (5.3 avg.), while leading the team with 28 catches for 416 yards and three touchdowns en route to being named a Sports Illustrated Honorable-Mention All-American, the MW Offensive Player of the Year and an all-MW first-team selection for a second straight season. Pumphrey was also deemed the league's "Top NFL Prospect" by the magazine.
Siragusa, meanwhile, anchored an offensive line that helped SDSU rush for a school-record 3,226 yards and have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in program history (Pumphrey and Chase Price). He was also a first-team all-MW selection by the league's media and coaches last year.
Kazee, Munson and Barrett led a San Diego State defense that finished among the top 10 in FBS in each of the four main categories, including fifth in total (287.3), seventh in scoring (16.4) and rushing (108.7), and 10th in passing (178.6).
Kazee had eight interceptions in 2015, which tied for the second most in the nation, the most in the Aztecs' Division I era (since 1969) and in MW history. He also added 75 tackles (team-high 58 solo stops), seven pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, eventually being named a second-team USA Today All-American, a honorable-mention Sports Illustrated All-American, the MW Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-MW pick. Kazee was also chosen as the "Best Athlete" by the magazine.
Munson led SDSU in multiple categories last year, including tackles (98), tackles for loss (15), sacks (9.5) and fumble recoveries (2, tied), while adding two interceptions (both returned for a touchdown), two forced fumbles and seven quarterback hurries. Munson, who was recently named to the 2016 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, was a Phil Steele Magazine third-team All-American and an all-Mountain West first-team pick.
Barrett came up with 62 tackles a year ago with 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions (one for a touchdown) and seven quarterback hurries. Barrett joined Kazee and Munson on the defensive all-MW first team by the coaches and media as well.
San Diego State head coach Rocky Long, who was named the MW Coach of the Year last season for the league-leading third time of his career and has more coach-of-the-year awards than the rest of the active MW coaches combined (2), was called the league's "Best Coach" by the magazine.
Following the Aztecs in the west are Nevada (Arizona Bowl), Fresno State, UNLV, San Jose State and Hawai`i. Like last year, Boise State was the publication's MW favorite and is projected to beat the Aztecs in the MW Championship game. SDSU, however, defeated Air Force, 27-24, in last year's title game.
San Diego State kicks off the 2016 campaign at Qualcomm Stadium against New Hampshire on Sept. 3.
SDSU is accepting new account deposits on 2016 season tickets through the Aztec Ticket Office. Additionally, current season-ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2016 season. Fans can purchase tickets through GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting Qualcomm Stadium's Window E between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.
2016 College Football Sporting News
2016 Preseason Mountain West Team
(SDSU athletes listed only)
First Team (only team)
RB - Donnel Pumphrey, Sr.
OL - Nico Siragusa, Sr.
DL - Alex Barrett, Sr.
LB - Calvin Munson, Sr.
DB - Damontae Kazee, Sr.
Best Athlete
DB - Damontae Kazee, Sr.
Top NFL Prospect
RB - Donnel Pumphrey, Sr.
Best Coach
Rocky Long
Predicted League Finish
First (West Division)
Bowl Projection
Las Vegas Bowl vs. California