Aztecs Hold Third Practice on Saturday

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State football team wore half pads for the first time in fall camp on Saturday at the Aztecs’ on-campus practice facility. After two days with helmets and no pads, the squad donned shoulder pads for the two-hour workout.

San Diego State ran position drills, team execution drills, skelly, situational drills and various special teams sets, splitting time on both the practice grass and turf field. The day ended with 11-on-11 play with emphasis on tempo.

Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Eric Schmidt has enjoyed the energy through the first few days of fall camp.

“I really like the energy; I like the enthusiasm,” said Schmidt. “ It’s still a work in progress, but the guys understand the work that needs to go in for us to be successful and they’re all committed to doing it right now.”

Schmidt became SDSU’s defensive coordinator in December, right before serving as Washington’s special teams coordinator and the EDGE position on defense as the Huskies defeated No. 3 Texas in the CFP Semifinal game before falling to top-ranked Michigan in the CFP National Championship. Statistically, UW led the Pac-12 in interceptions (5) and punt return defense (1.83), ranked third in team passing efficiency defense (122.64), and fifth in turnovers gained (18). Individually, two of Schmidt’s EDGE rushers earned all-Pac-12 in Bralen Trice (first team) and Zion Tupuola-Fetui (honorable mention). The duo combined for 69 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and 16 quarterback hurries.

Schmidt added, “our strength and conditioning staff has done a great job with these guys as far as work capacity and getting them to a point where they can come out here and understand and be ready for how we practice.”

Redshirt freshman linebacker Owen Chambliss enjoys the camaraderie and competition in the linebacker room and feels they have picked up the 4-2-5 defense quickly.

“(The guys in the linebacker room) get along great together,” said Chambliss. “We’ll always watch our film together, talking about different sets in the scheme and different plays we can set up against any team. Then, off the field we’ll go bowling or hang out and play (College Football 25), whatever it might be to spend time together.”

Chambliss came to The Mesa after spending his true freshman season at the University of Utah where he utilized his redshirt season. A Corona, Calif. native, he helped his Centennial High School team to a CIF Championship in 2021 earning first team all-CIF honors, league MVP, first team all-section and second team-LA Times. In his senior season, he recorded 43 tackles (3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks) and five interceptions including a pick-six.

Sophomore linebacker Tano Letuli echoed Chambliss and mentioned the hungry mentality amongst the defense.

“It’s a starving mentality, and everyone is just hungry to learn and showcase what our defense can do,” said Letuli. “We all support each other both on and off the field not only through fall camp but throughout the summer and spring sessions as well.”

Letuli returns home after a year at Army West Point where he recorded 12 tackles in 11 games as a true freshman last season. A converted running back, he prepped at nearby Cathedral Catholic High School rushing for 259 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. He went to Army as a three-star prospect and ranked as the No. 149 prospect in California by 247 Sports.

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.