SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State football head coach Brady Hoke has announced the addition of running back Kenan Christon to the program. Christon (USC) is the seventh FBS transfer to become an Aztec since the end of the 2021 campaign, joining offensive lineman Cade Bennett (Oklahoma State), quarterback Braxton Burmeister (Virginia Tech), defensive lineman Deven Lamp (Tulsa), linebacker Cooper McDonald (Washington), tight end Mark Redman (Washington) and defensive lineman Justus Tavai (Hawai'i).
Christon rushed for 443 yards and two touchdowns on 78 carries (5.5 avg.) in two seasons with USC from 2019-20, and added 13 catches for 126 yards (11.5 avg.) and another three scores. Christon saw more action as the 2019 season wore on as a true freshman, rushing for 373 yards and two touchdowns on 68 attempts (5.5 avg.) and adding 11 receptions for 126 yards (11.5 avg.) and three touchdowns. Christon, who also was a sprinter on USC's track and field team, made his collegiate debut against Arizona on Oct. 19, 2019 and ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries off the bench. He followed his debut with 76 yards and a receiving touchdown at Colorado (Oct. 25), 79 against No. 8 Oregon (Nov. 2) and 62 along with 82 receiving yards and two touchdowns at Arizona State (Nov. 9). Christon was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for his play at ASU as his 82 receiving yards were the most by a USC freshman running back since Reggie Bush in 2003. Christon then played in five games in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, rushing for 70 yards on 10 carries (7.0 avg.) and adding two catches.
On the track, Christon had indoor bests of 6.84 seconds in the 60 meters and 21.55 in the 200 in 2000. He also clocked a 10.39 in the 100 in his only outdoor meet and ran a leg of a 39.81 4x100-meter relay before the season was canceled because of COVID.
Christon prepped a nearby Madison High School in San Diego where he made 2018 PrepStar All-Western Region, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State second team and All-CIF San Diego third team as senior running back and cornerback. According to MaxPreps, Christon ran for 3,042 yards and 36 touchdowns over his high school career on 338 attempts (9.0 avg.). He also added 18 receptions for 258 yards (14.3 avg.) and three touchdowns, and was used in the return game. A four-star recruit by ESPN out of high school and three-star recruit by both 247sports and Rivals, Christon chose USC over offers from San Diego State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Washington State, Nebraska, TCU, Northwestern, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Colorado State and Fresno State.
Christon comes to an Aztec program that 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 (12-2), 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.
SDSU opens Bashor Field at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Arizona. Last week it was announced that the 2022 opener will be broadcast nationally on CBS at 12:30 p.m. PT.
For season-ticket information or to secure tickets, submit a Ticket Interest Form at https://snapdragonstadium.com/generalinterest/, call (619) 283-7378 or email seating@snapdragonstadium.com.
Aztecs Add Kenan Christon to Program
