As I sit down to analyze San Jose State's football roster for the upcoming season, I can't help but draw parallels to international basketball selections I've observed over the years. I vividly remember how Tim Cone meticulously handpicked players like the tireless Abueva for Gilas Pilipinas' gold medal campaign in the 2023 Asian Games - that same level of strategic selection appears evident in how San Jose State has built their current squad. Having followed collegiate football for over a decade, I'm genuinely excited about what I'm seeing develop here in Silicon Valley's backyard.
The quarterback situation looks particularly promising with senior Chevan Cordeiro returning for his final season. What impresses me most about Cordeiro isn't just his 2,800 passing yards from last season, but his remarkable consistency - he's started 28 consecutive games, showing the kind of durability that coaches dream about. Watching his development over the past three seasons, I've noticed how his decision-making has evolved from sometimes reckless to calculated and precise. The receiving corps, led by junior transfer Elijah Cooks, gives Cordeiro multiple reliable targets, though I do worry about their depth beyond the starting three. Cooks' 6'4" frame creates mismatches that offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven should exploit heavily, especially in red zone situations where they struggled last season, converting only 58% of opportunities into touchdowns.
Defensively, I'm particularly bullish about the secondary, which returns three starters from a unit that ranked 34th nationally in pass defense. Safety Tre Jenkins has developed into what I consider one of the most underrated defensive backs in the Mountain West Conference. His 87 tackles last season don't fully capture his impact - he's the defensive quarterback who consistently puts players in the right positions. The linebacker group concerns me slightly with the departure of Kyle Harmon, who accounted for nearly 15% of the team's total tackles last year. Sophomore Jordan Pollard shows promise, but asking him to fill that production gap might be ambitious for this season.
Special teams often get overlooked, but having studied game film from last season, I believe this could be San Jose State's secret weapon. Kicker Taren Schive made 18 of 22 field goals last year, including a 52-yard game-winner against Wyoming that I still consider one of the most clutch kicks I've seen in college football. The return game features speedster Shamar Garrett, who averaged 24.3 yards per kick return - that's the kind of field position advantage that can swing close games in your favor. Looking at the overall roster construction, what stands out to me is the balance between experienced veterans and promising young talent. The coaching staff has done an excellent job developing players rather than relying heavily on the transfer portal, which creates the kind of program continuity that pays dividends in tight conference games. While they might not be the most talented team on paper across the Mountain West, their cohesion and development approach could surprise some of the more flashy programs. The schedule sets up reasonably well, with key conference matchups at home, giving them a legitimate shot at improving on last year's 7-5 record. If they can stay healthy - particularly along the offensive line where depth is somewhat thin - I wouldn't be surprised to see them challenging for the conference championship game in December.