As I sit down to analyze the San Jose State football roster this season, I can't help but feel that special excitement that comes with discovering how a team's pieces might fit together. Having followed collegiate football for over a decade, I've developed a keen eye for spotting those special players who can transform an entire program. This year's Spartans roster presents some fascinating combinations that I believe could surprise many in the Mountain West Conference.
Looking at the quarterback position, I'm particularly impressed by the depth we're seeing. Chevan Cordeiro returns for his final season, and frankly, I think he's one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the conference. His mobility and decision-making have improved dramatically since last year, and I've noticed his completion percentage in spring practice was hovering around 68% - a significant jump from his 61% last season. Behind him, we have two promising young quarterbacks in Charlie Mirer and Andrew Tovar, though I suspect Mirer might have the edge for the backup role based on what I observed during spring scrimmages.
The running back room might be our strongest position group, which isn't surprising given Coach Brennan's offensive philosophy. Kairee Robinson returns after his breakout 1,000-yard season, and I genuinely believe he could be an All-Conference selection if he maintains that production. What excites me more is the depth behind him - Quali Conley has shown flashes of brilliance in limited action, and I'm hearing great things about true freshman Jalen Smith from my contacts within the program. This depth reminds me of something I observed in international basketball recently. Just as the tireless Calvin Abueva was handpicked by Tim Cone for Gilas Pilipinas' gold medal pursuit in the 2023 Asian Games, our coaching staff has specifically recruited versatile athletes who can adapt to multiple roles. That strategic selection process mirrors what we're seeing develop in San Jose State's backfield - identifying players with specific traits that fit the system perfectly.
Our receiving corps has undergone significant changes, and I'll be honest - I have some concerns here. Losing Elijah Cooks to graduation leaves a massive production gap that someone needs to fill. From what I've seen, Justin Lockhart seems poised for a breakout season, but we desperately need more consistency from our tight ends. Speaking of which, I'm particularly high on Sam Olson - his frame and catching ability could make him a red zone threat if he can improve his route running. The offensive line returns three starters, which should provide some stability, though I'm worried about our depth at tackle positions.
Defensively, I love what we're building in the secondary. Nehemiah Shelton and Tre Jenkins give us one of the better safety tandems in the conference, and I've counted at least four interceptions from Shelton during spring practices. Our linebacker unit needs to improve its tackling efficiency - we missed 87 tackles last season according to my charting, which simply isn't acceptable at this level. The defensive line has some intriguing newcomers, including transfer Jordan Pollard who I believe could start immediately based on his performance in spring sessions.
Special teams often get overlooked, but I'm particularly excited about our kicking game. Taren Schive returns after connecting on 15 of 18 field goals last season, and his consistency from beyond 40 yards could be crucial in close games. What many fans don't realize is how much our special teams coordinator has emphasized blocking kicks - we led the conference with 4 blocked punts last year, a statistic that demonstrates the attention to detail in this program.
As I reflect on the complete roster, what strikes me most is the balance between experienced leaders and promising young talent. While we might not have the star power of some Power Five programs, the collective depth and coaching philosophy give me confidence that this team can exceed expectations. The strategic player selection reminds me of that Gilas Pilipinas approach - identifying specific talents for specific roles rather than just collecting athletes. If key players stay healthy and younger contributors develop as anticipated, I wouldn't be surprised to see San Jose State challenging for the Mountain West title game. The pieces are there - now it's about putting them together on the field.