Updated on Jan. 10, 2024
Demetrius Sumler enters his seventh year coaching the Aztec cornerbacks and ninth year overall on the San Diego State staff. After spending two seasons as a graduate assistant, he was elevated to a full-time assistant coach on May 3, 2018.
In 2023, the Aztecs recorded 11 interceptions (3rd in MW), with four coming from Sumler’s cornerbacks along with a 125.99 pass efficiency defense which ranked fourth in the conference.
Noah Tumblin had a breakout season leading the conference in passes defended (T-7th in FBS) and pass breakups (12, T-9th) while ranking as the highest graded coverage CB in the Mountain West according to Pro Football Focus. He was ultimately named an all-Mountain West second team selection while fellow cornerback Dez Malone earned an honorable mention.
In 2022, San Diego State’s defense was in the national rankings once again with help from Sumler’s cornerback room. The Aztecs ranked third in FBS in red zone defense (0.69), 15th in total defense (322.7), and 19th in scoring (20.5). Of the team’s 13 interceptions, eight came from CBs led by Dallas Branch’s three and Dez Malone’s two. The duo would go on to earn all-Mountain West honorable mentions.
With Sumler’s assistance in 2021, SDSU led the Mountain West with 17 interceptions, which was tied for fifth in the country. In addition, the Aztecs topped the conference in pass efficiency defense (118.01) and third-down conversion defense (.318), finishing eighth nationally in the latter statistic. Under Sumler’s tutelage, Tayler Hawkins garnered all-MW accolades for the second year in a row, earning second-team honors after posting two interceptions and eight pass breakups in the secondary. The Aztec cornerback finished fifth in the league with an average of 1.2 passes defended per game, which was tied for 15th nationally.
During a 2020 campaign that was delayed and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sumler was part of an SDSU staff that coached the Aztecs to a No. 3 national ranking in total defense. The Scarlet and Black yielded a conference-best 283.5 yards per game while leading the MW in pass efficiency defense (115.2). In addition, the Aztecs occupied the second spot in the league in both pass defense (185.2) and passes intercepted (8).
Individually, Sumler coached the dynamic all-conference tandem of Hawkins and Darren Hall that season, as Hall merited first-team accolades, while Hawkins received honorable mention. Hall, who earned a spot on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List in 2020 as the nation’s best defensive back, was a fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Under Sumler’s direction, he registered 38 tackles, including a team-high 31 solo stops, to go with two tackles for loss, three interceptions and six pass breakups. Hawkins, meanwhile, tied Hall for third on the Aztecs with 38 tackles (24 solo), adding one interception and three pass breakups.
In 2019, Sumler helped coach an SDSU defense that ranked second nationally in both scoring defense (12.7) and rush defense (75.4), fourth in interceptions (18), fifth in total defense (287.8) and sixth in pass efficiency defense (110.25).
That season, Sumler oversaw the emergence of Luq Barcoo who joined forces with Hall to comprise one of the most prolific cornerback duos in college football. Barcoo recorded nine interceptions to go along with 16 pass breakups, 55 tackles (43 solo) and five tackles for loss. Barcoo’s nine interceptions were tied for the most in the country, and were the most in a season by an Aztec in the program’s Division I history (since 1969) and the second most overall. Barcoo also led the nation in passes defended per game (1.92) and total passes defended (25), tied for the FBS lead in interceptions per game (0.69) and tied for second in pass breakups (13).
For his efforts, Barcoo was a semifinalist for the Paycomm Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back), and was a second-team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Walter Camp and Phil Steele Magazine, and a third-team honoree by the Associated Press. An all-MW first-team selection, Barcoo was also named the Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy (outstanding player) for the defense.
Hall, meanwhile, came into his own with a fantastic sophomore season in 2019, recording 49 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery for a touchdown, one interception and 16 pass breakups. Hall ranked in a tie for fifth in FBS in total passes defended (17) and a tie for sixth in passes defended per game (1.42) en route to being named an honorable-mention all-MW selection.
In 2018, Hall was the co-recipient of SDSU Outstanding Freshman, along with running back/kick returner Jordan Byrd. Hall was also named Mountain West Defensive Player of Week on two occasions in 2018 after helping the Aztecs to victories over Eastern Michigan and Boise State. Against EMU, Hall came through with a crucial interception in overtime that led to John Baron’s game-winning field goal before making a career-high nine tackles at Boise to go with an interception, sack and forced fumble.
As a player, completed his final season of eligibility at Central Washington in 2012, where he helped the Wildcats to their seventh Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) title in 10 years en route to earning first-team all-conference honors on offense. That season, he tied the program’s single-game record with five rushing touchdowns in a homecoming victory over Simon Fraser.
A three-year letterwinner at Colorado where he played in 36 games for the Buffaloes from 2007-09, making 14 starts. Over his career at Colorado, he rushed 199 times for 714 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 19.8 rushing yards per game. He also notched 45 receptions for 333 receiving yards to average 7.4 yards per carry. He was the team’s Gold Group Commitment Award winner in 2008 and 2009, given by the coaches to the player committed to all-around excellence. He was also named the Fred Casotti Award winner as a sophomore as the most improved offensive back during spring practice.
He graduated from Colorado in 2011 with his bachelor’s degree in economics.
A four-year letterwinner at San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic High School in football, where he graduated as the No. 48 running back in the nation (and the No. 98 overall prospect in California) according to Rivals.com. He completed his prep career as the San Diego area’s all-time leading rusher with 5,696 yards, as well as scoring a combined 67 career touchdowns.
THE DEMETRIUS SUMLER FILE
Position: Cornerbacks Coach
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Education: Colorado (2011)
Family: Demetrius and his wife Marissa have a daughter, Annalisa, and a son, Demetrius Jr.
CAREER IN FOOTBALL
AS A COACH
2018-present: San Diego State (cornerbacks)
2016-17: San Diego State (graduate assistant)
AS A PLAYER
2012: Central Washington
2006-09: Colorado