June 27, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
2017 SDSU Football Preseason Accolades
The San Diego State football team has been picked by college football publications Lindy's Sports and Street & Smith's to win the West Division of the Mountain West in 2017. Street & Smith's predicts the Aztecs will play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Miami (OH), while Lindy's Sports has marked contests against Stanford (Sept. 16), Boise State (Oct. 14) and at Hawai'i (Oct. 28) as "Games to Watch" this season.
Both publications tabbed senior running back Rashaad Penny (Norwalk, Calif.) as a first-team all-MW selection as a running back, while Lindy's Sports all selected him first-team All-Purpose, the fourth-rated All-Purpose player in FBS and the sixth-rated NFL talent in the Mountain West. Street & Smith's named Penny the MW's "Heisman Hopeful", and the conference's "Top NFL Prospect."
Lindy's Sports chose SDSU senior offensive lineman Antonio Rosales (Tucson, Ariz.) as "Best Run Blocker in the Mountain West," junior kicker John Baron II (Temecula, Calif.) was tabbed the "Eighth-Rated Kicker in FBS" and freshman wide receiver Collin Andrews (Chula Vista, Calif./Olympian HS) was selected as "SDSU's Top Newcomer." Meanwhile, Street & Smith's listed junior safety Parker Baldwin (Siloam Springs, Ark.) as the "Best Athlete in the Mountain West."
Additionally, Rosales, Baron II, Baldwin and senior tight end David Wells (Clovis, Calif.) were each named first-team all-MW by Lindy's Sports, with junior defensive end Noble Hall (Las Vegas, Nev.) and junior linebacker Ronley Lakalaka (Kalihi, Hawaii) receiving second-team all-MW honors. Street & Smith's tabbed Lakalaka and Wells as first-team all-MW selections.
In 2016, Penny ranked second on SDSU in rushing yards (1,018) and total touchdowns (16). The senior recorded 11 rushing touchdowns on 136 attempts (7.5 avg.), adding 15 receptions for 224 yards (14.9 avg.) and three scores. He was one of only nine players in the country to record at least 11 rushing touchdowns and three receiving TDs, while being the only player in that group with a kick return touchdown as well.
Overall, Penny tied for second in the nation in kick return touchdowns (2), fourth in kick return average (31.2), 26th in total touchdowns (16) and 29th in all-purpose yards per game (133.3). The senior also became the second kick returner in MW history to win the league's special teams player-of-the-year award twice (also 2015), and was a first-team all-MW selection as a kick returner for the second consecutive season.
Rosales, the Aztecs' only returning starter on the offensive line, helped SDSU set program records in rushing yards (3,680), rushing touchdowns (34), rushing yards per carry (5.8), points (493) and field goals (21) last season. In addition, he blocked for a team that had the first 2,000-yard rusher (Donnel Pumphrey) and 1,000-yard rusher (Penny) in NCAA history.
Baron II earned first-team all-MW honors a year ago with a school-record 21 field goals, including 19 straight from 50 yards or less to end the season. SDSU's first Lou Groza Award Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Semifinalist since 2003, Baron led the team with 109 points while setting a school record (10th nationally) in field goal percentage (.913), 20th in points per game among kickers (8.50), 20th in field goals per game (1.50) and 35th in points per game (8.50).
Wells finished third on the Aztecs with 25 receptions for 294 yards and four touchdowns in 2016. His four scores tied for 22nd most in the nation among tight ends en route to earning second-team all MW honors.
Baldwin recorded 66 tackles (37 solo), three tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and seven pass breakups despite only starting the final eight games of the season. His 66 tackles were third most on the 11th-best defensive team (total defense) in the country last season. Hall finished 2016 with 26 tackles (12 solo), six tackles for loss, three sacks, a pass breakup and five quarterback hurries. The junior is expected to play defensive end this year after starting all 14 games last season at defensive tackle.
Lakalaka ranked second on the team with 73 tackles (37 solo) in 2016, to go along with three tackles for loss, two interceptions, a sack, a pass breakup and five quarterback hurries. Meanwhile, Andrews tallied four receptions for 45 yards and 32 rushing yards in the SDSU spring game.
The Aztecs are coming off an 11-3 season, culminating with a No. 25 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll as well as the Amway Coaches Poll. It is just the second time in program history SDSU has been ranked in the final AP poll (also 1977). In addition to a victory over Wyoming in the MW Championship game, 27-24, the Aztecs defeated Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl, 34-10, to tie a single-season school record and become the first team in program history to have back-to-back 11-win seasons.
SDSU is accepting new account deposits on 2017 season tickets through the Aztec Ticket Office, while current season-ticket holders can also renew their tickets for the 2017 campaign. 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.