SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State football team continued working through the dog days of fall camp, practicing for just around two hours on the on-campus practice facility on Tuesday.
Donning full pads for the third time this camp, the Aztecs went for just under an hour on the practice turf before transitioning for an hour on the practice grass field. Temperatures were in the low-to-mid 80s under sunny sikes.
Following active stretching, the team worked on individual special teams, PAT/field goal and punt drills, with The Old Oil Can competition sandwiched in between. The Aztec ended their turf work with individual position drills. On the grass field, SDSU worked on punting and team situations, including pass, goal line and play-it-outs.
Tuesday was the 11th of 20 practices scheduled this fall before game week begins on Aug. 25 for the Aug. 31 opener against Texas A&M – Commerce.
Progress through perseverance.
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) August 14, 2024
presented by @azteclink_nil #AztecFAST🍢 x #BeTheA1pha🐺 pic.twitter.com/jgn2EsdG9O
Special teams have long been a key to San Diego State’s success. The Aztecs have won five of the nine Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year awards issued since 2015. Those five include three kick returners (Rashaad Penny from 2015-17), two punters (Matt Araiza in 2021 and Jack Browning in 2022) and one kicker (also Araiza in 2021).
“I think right now consistency (is my biggest worry),” associate head coach and special teams coordinator Zac Barton said. “The drop off from NFL players they’ve had here as specialists is the biggest deal. They’ve had some special, special players at the specialist positions. It’s a unique position where you can be so good that nobody else matters. You can make up for a ton of mistakes if you are truly special at that position.”
Barton joined San Diego State in December after spending last season at Kansas, where he served as the Jayhawks’ special teams analyst. In his lone season at KU, the Jayhawks ranked seventh in FBS in special teams grading according to Pro Football Focus, grading just behind CFP playoff teams Alabama, Texas, and Washington. Kansas would go on to earn a selection into the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl to cap off an 8-4 regular season, their best regular season record since 2007. Prior to Kansas, Barton coached the special teams at Kent State from 2018-22 under head coach Sean Lewis and helped the Golden Flashes’ special teams unit to new heights.
“We’ve got a really good group, and we’ve got to find a way to continue that standard and even raise the bar,” Barton said. “I keep telling these guys there’s no second down, we get one shot at getting this thing right. And the urgency when we go out there has to feel like a game.”
Gabriel Plascencia kicked in four games in 2023 to save reps from two-time all-MW performer Jack Browning, who also punted and kicked off for SDSU last year. Plascencia was 4-for-4 in field goal attempts and made both of his PATs last year before shutting down to save his redshirt. Following spring ball, Plascencia was awarded with a scholarship.
“I feel really confident right now,” Plascencia said. “I feel like (improving) my hip mobility has been one of the biggest things for me. I’ve put up at least 40-to-50 pounds more on squats. Improving in the weight room has helped me improve my strength and durability. Working with (long snapper) Ryan Wintermeyer and (punter) Tyler Pastula this summer, stretching and yoga, has all helped me get to a new level compared to I was last year. I feel a lot stronger and a lot more confident, and just ready to have a great season.”
Tickets are on sale for all six Aztec home games, including season tickets, two or three-game mini-plans and single-game tickets.
The Aug. 31 opener against Texas A&M - Commerce is set for 5 p.m. PT.