Noah Avinger Season 2023

HONORS
* 2022 Mountain West Fall All-Academic Team
* Mountain West Freshman of the Week
- Sept. 27, 2021 for game vs. Towson

An athletic DB with good instincts ... Has played 25 of a possible 26 games since arriving as a true freshman in 2021 ... Enters his third season as the projected starting boundary cornerback.

JUNIOR SEASON (2023)
Missed season due to injury.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2022)
Was named a preseason third-team all-Mountain West selection by Athlon Sports ... Started five games and played in all 13 ... Had 36 tackles (25 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, an interception, and three pass breakups in 380 defensive snaps  ...  Logged a career-high eight tackles (seven solo) with a pass breakup in a start against Arizona in the opener on Sept. 3, playing in 57 of the team’s 75 snaps ... Earned the start once again Idaho State on Sept. 10, but did not record a stat in 16 snaps ... Came off the bench to make a solo tackle in 17 snaps at No. 14/15 Utah on Sept. 17 ... Played 15 snaps vs. Toledo on Sept. 24, where he made a solo tackle ... Registered two tackles (one solo) in 26 snaps at Boise State on Sept. 30 ... Came up with three tackles (one solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss, in 22 snaps off the bench vs. Hawai’i on Oct. 8 ... Logged four tackles (two solo), including a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup in 31 defensive snaps at Nevada on Oct. 22 ... Had a good game in 39 reserve snaps at Fresno State on Oct. 29, making five tackles (four solo) with an interception ... The interception was his first of the season and second of his career ... Earned  his third start of the season (first since Sept. 10) against UNLV on Nov. 5 and came up with two solo tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in 29 snaps ... The forced fumble came on the opening kickoff and was the first of his career ...  Started again vs. San José State on Nov. 12 and came up with an assisted tackle in 33 snaps ... Earned this third straight start at New Mexico on Nov. 18, making five tackles (three solo) in 26 snaps ... Came up with three tackles (two solo) in 49 snaps off the bench vs. Air Force on Nov 26 ... Had a solo tackle in 21 snaps off the bench in the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl against Middle Tennessee on Dec. 24.

FRESHMAN (TRUE) SEASON (2021)
Played in 12 games with three starts ... Had 15 tackles (10 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups ... Started the opener against New Mexico State (Sept. 4), becoming the first true freshman Aztec cornerback to start since Leon McFadden in 2009 and just the third true freshman to start on defense since 2009 (also S Tariq Thompson in 2017) ... Finished with five tackles (four solo) in 36 snaps ... Came off the bench the following game at Arizona on Sept. 11, registering a solo stop in 30 snaps ... Had a pair of solo tackles in 25 snaps in a reserve role against Utah on Sept. 18, including the final drive in regulation and all three overtimes with sixth-year senior Tayler Hawkins nursing an injury ... Was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week on Sept. 27 for his play against Towson (Sept. 25) when he came up with three tackles (two solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup in just his second career start as a true freshman ... The interception led to a Jordan Byrd rushing touchdown to put the Aztecs up, 35-14, early in the third quarter ... The interception was one of the keys to a third quarter that saw SDSU outscore Towson, 24-0, and limit the Tigers to just four total yards ... In all, Towson had just 13 yards of total offense against San Diego State in the second half ... The ½ tackle for loss and pass breakup were also the first of his career ... Logged a solo tackle in 10 snaps off the bench against New Mexico on Oct. 9 ... Played eight statless snaps off the bench at San José State on Oct. 15 and some time on special teams ... Came off the bench for 18 snaps at Air Force on Oct. 23, recording a fumble recovery on a Trenton Thompson tackle ... The recovery led to a Matt Araiza 51-yard field goal ... It was the first fumble recovery of his career ... Played on special teams against Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Logged 15 snaps on defense at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 without recording a stat ... Had a pass breakup in 19 snaps off the bench against Nevada on Nov. 13 ... Earned the start at UNLV on Nov. 19 where he made three tackles (one solo) in 24 snaps ... Did not play for the first time of his career against Boise State on Nov. 26 ... Played a statless snap and some time on special teams vs. Utah State on Dec. 4 in the Mountain West Championship game ... Did not play in the Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl against No. 25/24 UTSA on Dec. 21.

HIGH SCHOOL
Was a four-year letter winner at Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif. … Was a two-time all-state selection and two-time all-Trinity League pick … Did a little bit of everything for the Friars, working as a cornerback, wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner … According to MaxPreps, amassed 65 tackles (39 solo) with five interceptions over the last two contested seasons in 2018-19 (2020 season was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic) … Also caught 24 passes for 377 yards (15.7 avg.) and two touchdowns … A scholar-athlete and member of the honor roll at SHS … Also ran track at Servite HS, specializing in the 100 and 200 meters … A consensus three-star recruit by Rivals, 247sports and ESPN … Received a scout grade of 88 by 247sports and 78 by ESPN … Rated as the 40th-best cornerback in the 2021 signing class by 247sports and the 46th overall recruit in the state of California.

PERSONAL
Noah Capone Avinger was born Sept. 28, 2001, in Long Beach, Calif. ... Son of Skinner and Nicole Avinger ... Picked San Diego State over offers from Oregon, Utah, Arizona State, Washington State, Oregon State, Arizona, Boston College, Kansas, Boise State, Brigham Young, Colorado State, Hawai’i, Utah State and UNLV … Brother, Lucky, is a running back with the Aztecs, while his twin sister, Asia, played on the SDSU women’s basketball team before transferring to Georgia ... Is majoring in business ... Enjoys fishing and swimming in his spare time.

CAREER BESTS
Tackles: 8 vs. Arizona (9/3/22)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0 at Nevada (10/22/22)
Interceptions: 1 at Fresno State (10/30/22), vs. Towson (9/25/21)
Pass Breakups: 1, five times
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. UNLV (11/5/22)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 at Air Force (10/23/21)