SAN DIEGO -- Four San Diego State football players were named to all-bowl teams following a 38-24 victory over UTSA in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl on Dec. 21. Wide receiver Jesse Matthews and right guard William Dunkle each made ESPN's all-bowl team, while safety CJ Baskerville (USA TODAY) and defensive tackle Jonah Tavai (Bleacher Report) were also honored by other outlets.
Matthews was named the Frisco Bowl's offensive most valuable player after logging 11 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The 11 receptions were the most by an Aztec since DeMarco Sampson had 12 vs. Utah on Nov. 20, 2010, while the 175 yards were the most by a SDSU player since Fred Trevillion had 189 at Fresno State on Nov. 17, 2018. It was the second straight bowl game Matthews was named the offensive MVP (also shared the award with Jordan Byrd at the 2019 New Mexico Bowl). He finished the season with 57 catches for 642 yards (11.3 avg.) and nine touchdowns (most since Vincent Brown had 10 in 2010). Matthews, who recorded 37 catches for 465 yard and seven touchdowns over the final four games of the season, also made Bleacher Report's all-bowl second team.
On Matthews, ESPN's Anthony Treash wrote "Matthews finished second to only (Alabama's Jaxon) Smith-Njigba in total explosive receptions (15 or more yards) among all pass-catchers during the bowl season with six in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. He was ultra-strong at the catch point, as he caught all four of his contested targets. Of all the pass-catchers who received at least 10 targets in a bowl, Matthews joined Smith-Njigba as the only other player who generated a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted."
Dunkle joined Matthews on the ESPN team. The first-team all-Mountain West selection played all 80 snaps on offense, dominating the line of scrimmage in the process. On Dunkle, Treash wrote "Edging out (Tulsa's Tyler) Smith for the made-up Nastiest Run-Blocker of Bowl Season award is none other than Dunkle, who was nearly flawless in that department against UTSA in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. Dunkle posted a 99.1 run-blocking grade while earning more positively graded run blocks than any other lineman in bowl season. He wanted to pancake defenders on every single rep."
CJ Baskerville, meanwhile, was named the bowl's defensive most valuable player after recording a career-high nine tackles (five solo) and his first career interception. Baskerville led the team in tackles for the second straight game in just his fourth start. The interception led to a SDSU touchdown when Lucas Johnson found Tyrell Shavers from 24 yards out. According to Pro Football Focus, Baskerville, who joined Matthews on the Bleacher Report all-bowl second team, posted career-high marks in defensive rating (78.9, min. 10 snaps), pass coverage (78.5, min. 10 snaps), rush defense (70.9) and tackling (85.8). Baskerville finished his true freshman season with 39 tackles (23 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery, despite only starting the final four games and entering the depth chart in October.
Tavai came up with six tackles (three solo), including a sack and two tackles for loss. Tavai finished with five sacks and seven tackles for loss over his final three games. On the season, Tavai logged 47 tackles (23 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries.
On Tavai, Bleacher Report's David Kenyon wrote "Jonah Tavai had a massive impact on the Frisco Bowl, helping San Diego State to a 38-24 win over Conference USA champion UTSA. Tavai recorded six tackles with two for a loss and one sack."
San Diego State finished the season ranked 25th in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll, which was released Tuesday. It is the third time in program history that the Aztecs (12-2) made the final AP Top 25 poll, joining the 1977 squad (16th) and the 2016 team (25th).
Playing in its 99th season of football, SDSU finished with a school-record 12 victories, becoming one of just 10 programs nationally with at least 12 victories this year. Only four teams had more wins than the Aztecs, including national champion Georgia, and CFP teams Alabama and Cincinnati.
SDSU played five teams who reached double-digit victories on the season, securing wins over Pac-12 Champion/Rose Bowl participant Utah (10-4), UTSA (12-2) and Air Force (10-3). San Diego State, which was ranked in every CFP poll in 2021, played all 14 of its games away from its own market, including eight "home games" two hours from campus at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
SDSU kicks off its 100th season of football on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Arizona, hosting its first game at Bashor Field at Snapdragon Stadium.
Four Aztecs Named to All-Bowl Teams
