June 1, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
2016 SDSU FOOTBALL PRESEASON ACCOLADES
San Diego State junior Rashaad Penny (Norwalk, Calif.) has been named a preseason second-team All-America selection by Athlon Sports. Penny made the second team as a kick returner.
Penny was joined on the preseason all-MW first team by seniors Alex Barrett (Mesa, Ariz.), Damontae Kazee (San Bernardino, Calif.), Calvin Munson (St. Charles, Mo.), Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas) and Nico Siragusa (Chula Vista, Calif.), while senior Kyle Kelley (Irvine, Calif.) landed on the second team.
The magazine also projected the Aztecs as the West Division winners, but falling to Boise State in the MW Championship game, and playing Brigham Young in the Poinsettia Bowl. Overall, SDSU is ranked 36th by Athlon Sports.
San Diego State also was chosen as the top running back unit in the MW and 25th nationally, and each of the top defensive units - defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs - in the league. The Aztec offensive line, meanwhile, was slated to be the second best with the overall team being selected online as a "Group of 5 Team to Watch."
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.
Penny garnered second-team All-America honors and was named a preseason MW first-team pick after returning 24 kicks for 804 yards (33.5 avg.) and three touchdowns. He was one of five players last year in FBS play to have at least three kick return touchdowns, ranking second in the nation in kick return average (33.5) and being named the MW Special Teams Player of the Year. He also added 368 rushing yards and four scores on 61 attempts (6.0 avg.) and eight catches for 120 yards (15.0 avg.) and another score.
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 backed a 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). Barrett joined Kazee and Munson on the postseason defensive all-MW first team by the coaches and media as well.
Kazee had eight interceptions in 2015, which tied for the second most in the nation, the most in SDSU's 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.
Munson led San Diego State in multiple categories in 2015, 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-MW first-team pick.
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 also was deemed a "Group of 5 Player to Know."
Siragusa, meanwhile, anchored an offensive line that helped the Aztecs 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.
Kelley had 24 tackles (15 solo) last year, including nine tackles for a loss of 47 yards, 7.5 sacks for 44 yards, a team-high eight quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a blocked kick in 14 games. He was named to the USA Today 2015 All-Bowl Team and the Associated Press 2015 All-Bowl Team after recording career highs of nine tackles (six solo), 3.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss for 25 yards in SDSU's 42-7 win over Cincinnati in the Hawai'i Bowl. The 3.5 sacks set a Hawai'i Bowl record, were tied for the third most in a game in program history and were tied for the 10th most in a game last year.
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.
Lindy's Sports College Football National 2016 Preview
National Ranking
36th
Predicted League Finish
Second
Predicted West Division Finish
First
Projected Bowl Game
Poinsettia Bowl vs. Brigham Young
2016 Preseason All-America Team
Second Team
KR - Rashaad Penny, Jr.
2016 Preseason Mountain West Team
(SDSU athletes listed only)
First Team
RB - Donnel Pumphrey, Sr.
OL - Nico Siragusa, Sr.
DL - Alex Barrett, Sr.
LB - Calvin Munson, Sr.
DB - Damontae Kazee, Sr.
KR - Rashaad Penny, Jr.
Second Team
DL - Kyle Kelley, Sr.
Top FBS Units
25th (running backs)
Top MW Units
First (running backs)
First (defensive line)
First (linebackers)
First (defensive backs)
Second (offensive line)
Top Coaches in the MW
2. Rocky Long