SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State football team has named seniors Jesse Matthews (San Diego/Christian High), Patrick McMorris (Santa Ana, Calif.), Jonah Tavai (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Alama Uluave (Laie, Hawaii) as its captains for the 2022 campaign. The quartet was chosen in a team vote on Saturday.
A former walk-on, Matthews led the Aztecs last year in catches (57), receiving yards (642) and receiving touchdowns (9), the most by an Aztec since Vincent Brown had 10 in 2010. Matthews particularly shined down the stretch, recording 37 catches for 465 yards and seven touchdowns over his final four games, including 11 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns against No. 24/25 UTSA in the Frisco Bowl en route to earning offensive MVP honors. Matthews has been named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List, and a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league media, Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports.
McMorris, who last month was named the MW preseason co-defensive player of the year, started all 14 games for the Aztecs last year at safety. The 2021 MW first-team selection had a team-high 90 tackles (53 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, a team-best four interceptions for 61 yards, nine pass breakups and a 15-yard fumble recovery in 2021. McMorris has landed on three preseason watch lists, including the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (college defensive player of the year), the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List (most outstanding defensive player) and the Senior Bowl Watch List, and is a preseason first-team all-league selection by four publications.
A two-time honorable-mention all-MW pick (2020-21), Tavai had 47 tackles (23 solo) last year, including 14 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries in 14 starts. Tavai ranked sixth in the MW in sacks and seventh in tackles for loss. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked second in the league in quarterback pressures (sacks/hits/hurries) (61, T-7th in FBS) and hurries (40, T-8th in FBS), and tied for fifth in hits (11, T-21st in FBS). Tavai has also been named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, and a preseason first-team all-league pick by the MW media, Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports.
Uluave started all 22 games the past two seasons for the Aztecs at center. Uluave was an honorable mention all-league pick in 2021 after allowing just six pressures (two hits, two hurries and two sacks) in 409 passing chances, according to Pro Football Focus. Additionally, Uluave played the most snaps on the team (953). So far this preseason, Uluave has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation's top center, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, and a preseason first-team all-MW pick by the league media, Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports.
Season tickets and single-game tickets for all seven 2022 San Diego State football home games for the inaugural season at Snapdragon Stadium are still on sale. Many options are available and a virtual 3D seat map of Snapdragon Stadium allows fans to take a tour of the seats before reserving season tickets. Members will have several benefits such as priority access to on-site parking and the flexibility to resell or donate any games they're unable to attend. For more information on season tickets, call (619) 283-7378 or email seating@snapdragonstadium.com.
Student tickets will once again be free and can be claimed on a first-come, first-serve basis the week of each home game. More information for student tickets can be found at GoAztecs.com/StudentTickets.
The Aztec home games include Arizona (Sept. 3), Idaho State (Sept. 10), Toledo (Sept. 24), Hawai'i (Oct. 8), UNLV (Nov. 5 for Homecoming Game), San José State (Nov. 12) and Air Force (Nov. 26).
SDSU (12-2) finished with a school-record 12 victories last season, one of only 10 programs with at least 12 wins. Only four teams had more victories than San Diego State, including national champion Georgia, and CFP teams Alabama and Cincinnati. The Aztecs played five teams who reached double-digit victories in 2021, securing wins over Pac-12 Champion/Rose Bowl participant Utah (10-4), UTSA (12-2) and Air Force (10-3).
SDSU, which 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, finished the 2021 season ranked 25th in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. It was the third time in program history San Diego State made the final AP Top 25 poll (also 1977 (16th) and 2016 (25th)). The Aztecs were also ranked in every CFP poll in 2021.
Aztec Football Names 2022 Team Captains
