The San Diego State University football team kicks off its 2018 schedule with Friday’s non-conference game at 13th-ranked Stanford University. It will be a chance for the youthful Aztecs to make a statement on a national footprint level.
SDSU wrapped up its second week of practice with the team’s annual FanFest intra-squad scrimmage Aug. 18 at SDCCU Stadium. Those in attendance had a chance to watch both present and future Aztec standouts as the team squared off in an offense versus defense format.
The SDSU defense showed it could be something to contend with this season after holding the offense to a scoreless tie.
Following the scrimmage, fans in attendance had a chance to meet selected Aztec players during an on-field autograph session.
Former South County prep standouts Dominic Gudino (Olympian), Luq Barcoo (Castle Park) and William Dunkle (Eastlake) each got a chance to showcase their talent in front of family and friends — and SDSU coaches — gathered at the FanFest scrimmage.
Gudino, a sophomore offensive lineman, is the only returner among the trio. Barcoo is a junior transfer while Dunkle is a freshman.
The three Aztecs are among 24 San Diego County high school alumni on this year’s SDSU fall roster. All three look to be prominent contributors at some point in their college careers.
Barcoo, a 2016 Castle Park graduate who subsequently played two seasons at Grossmont College, led the defense with six tackles in the FanFest scrimmage while recording one forced fumble.
SDSU head coach Rocky Long was complimentary of his team’s defensive showing that included nine sacks and two interceptions in the intra-squad scrimmage but remains ever mindful the Aztecs will be fielding a rather young team for the 2018 campaign.
“These first two weeks (of camp) have been just basically against our defense and going against them trying to implement our offense,” Long explained.
“We’ve got some talented younger guys, but they haven’t played much football. We’re not as sure of what kind of team we are going to put out there like we have in the past, especially early in the season.”
Soaring Eagle
Gudino appeared in eight games, with six starts, as a true freshman last season in helping the Aztecs backfield rush for 3,282 yards and 33 touchdowns.
He earned his first career start in a Sept. 30 game against Northern Illinois University. In doing so, he became the first Aztec true freshman to start on offense since Nick Bawden started at quarterback at Fresno State on Oct. 3, 2013.
Gudino came off the bench to play 32 snaps against Army West Point in December’s Armed Forces Bowl, a 42-35 SDSU loss to the Black Knights.
He called receiving his first career start his most memorable moment last season.
“It was a very surreal feeling to get on the field in that game,” Gudino recalled. “It was very humbling.”
Gudino (6-3, 300) said the biggest difference between high school and college football is the tempo of the game.
“It’s faster, everyone’s bigger and stronger,” he said. “You’ve got to react faster.”
Receiving so much playing time as a freshman, he said, was key to establishing himself at the next level.
“The mental demands and the physical demands of playing college football have made me feel more comfortable coming into each game,” he said. “I’m honestly just buzzed to be a part of this; I consider myself blessed to be a part of this.
“I want to be the starting center, solidify that spot and be the best contributor to the team that I can,” he said.
A first team all-league and first team All-CIF selection, Gudino earned three varsity letters at Olympian while playing both sides of the ball. He logged 97 tackles with 12 tackles for losses as a defensive player.
He helped guide the Eagles to a runner-up finish in the Division II section championship game as a senior.
Paul Van Nostrand, Gudino’s former high school coach, has nothing but positive things to say about the former Olympian standout.
“Dominic is a class act that deserves everything that comes his way,” Van Nostrand said. “High character, student-athlete, workout warrior — on top of that, he is a tough guy who likes the physical part of the game.
“It was a great accomplishment being able to start as a true freshman. Dom has set the bar high for those who want to follow in his footsteps, but then that is what Olympian High School is all about.”
Land of Troy
Barcoo, who earned three letters at Castle Park, played on both sides of the ball for the Griffins at the community college level, logging 35 receptions for 767 yards and seven touchdowns last year while recording three interceptions in two seasons as an all-conference selection.
Barcoo did a little bit of everything at Castle Park. He rushed for 472 yards and six touchdowns his final two seasons with Castle Park while catching 71 passes for 1,314 yards and 15 touchdowns. On defense, he tallied 74 tackles (52 solo stops), four tackles for a loss, five interceptions, nine pass breakups and one blocked field goal.
Castle Park head football coach and athletic director Bernard Ansolabehere also had strong words of support for Barcoo.
“We are all extremely proud of Luq for the work he has done, and the challenges he has overcome to reach his goal of playing at the college level,” Ansolabehere said. “Most importantly, we are proud of Luq for taking care of his education and earning a scholarship, so he can fully realize his great potential.
“Luq has always had great talent, but his work ethic and perseverance are what is truly special about him. Luq represents many of the best qualities of the community that he comes from, and I am humbled and honored to call him a fellow Trojan.”
Big man on campus
Dunkle, one of 10 freshmen on the SDSU fall roster, stands above the crowd at six feet, five inches tall and 355 pounds.
A three-time all-league selection, All-CIF pick and two-time captain at Eastlake, he led the Titans to a 10-3 record in 2017 (with a runner-up finish to El Camino in the Division I section finals) after the team finished just 2-9 the previous season.
Usually the biggest player on the field, he understandably received a lot of exposure during the college recruitment phase, earning three-star recruit status by 247sports and two-star recruit status by Rivals.
Before signing with SDSU, he also received scholarship offers from UCF, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State, Illinois, UNLV, UTEP and South Dakota.
He is the nephew of Castle Park alumnus Freddy Dunkle, who played at San Diego State from 2004-07.
The younger Dunkle joins a legion of former Titans playing at the next level.
Eastlake head coach John McFadden said the EHS program is “very proud” of his move to next level.
“I have talked to him a few times, and he says it is the hardest thing he has ever done, and he loves it,” McFadden said. “Billy has more potential than most any lineman I’ve ever coached; he will have great success with the hard work SDSU coaches and staff will put him through. The Titan family will be there for him all the way through his journey.”
Locals only
Heading the list of San Diego County prep standouts on the current Aztec roster are senior quarterback Christian Chapman, a graduate of Carlsbad High School, and sophomore safety Tariq Thompson, an alumnus of St. Augustine High School.
Chapman passed for 1,873 yards and 13 touchdowns in leading the Aztecs to a final 10-3 record and a berth opposite Army in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2017. Thompson registered 63 tackles and five interceptions, including one pick that went for a touchdown.
The SDSU roster features just 14 seniors this season, among them fullback Chad Woolsey (Rancho Bernardo).
Juniors among area returners include cornerback Garrett Binkley (Ramona) and linebacker Troy Cassidy (Carlsbad). Cassidy turned in 31 tackles last season.
The SDSU sophomore class includes offensive lineman Zachary Thomas (Carlsbad), safety Will Stricklin II (Mission Hills) and fullback Grady Vazquez (Ramona).
Notable newcomers include freshman kicker/punter Matt Araiza (Rancho Bernardo), freshman quarterback Carson Baker (Helix), freshman cornerback Rashad Scott (Helix), freshman receiver Jesse Matthews (Christian), freshmen linebackers Josh Bornes (San Marcos) and Andrew Alves (St. Augustine), freshman defensive lineman Cameron Thomas (Carlsbad), and freshmen receivers T.J. Sullivan (Mt. Carmel) and J.R. Justice (St. Augustine).
Araiza, the section’s three-time Kicker of the Year, starts his SDSU career after making 37 of 48 field goal attempts in high school with a longest kick of 53 yards. He also averaged 41.7 yards on punts as a Bronco.
The 37 career field goals set a new CIF record.
Baker, who provided one of the offensive highlights during FanFest with a 35-yard completion to Justice, passed for 2,749 yards and 37 touchdowns last season while rushing for 330 yards and five touchdowns for the 2017 CIF Open Division champion Highlanders.
Scott racked up eight interceptions, 11 pass deflections and one sack as a defensive force for Helix in 2017, scoring three times on picks and once on a kick-off return. He totaled 1,104 all-purpose yards as an offensive weapon, including 450 catches for 534 yards and eight touchdowns as a receiver.
Matthews proved equally adept in the scoring department as a senior with 57 catches for 888 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 35 tackles to go with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense.
Transfers entering the program include sophomore defensive lineman Joah Robinett (San Marcos) and junior cornerback Nolen Harris (Patrick Henry).
Harris previously played at San Diego Mesa College after recording four interceptions and two fumble recoveries during his varsity career at Patrick Henry while Robinett started two games as a true freshman at Oregon State in 2016 before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury.
Redshirt freshmen include quarterback Mark Salazar (Rancho Bernardo) and long snapper Cameron King (Cathedral Catholic). Salazar completed three of eight passes for 32 yards at FanFest.
Former St. Augustine head coach Richard Sanchez joins the SDSU coaching staff this season as an assistant coach with the team’s secondary/special teams units.
Friday’s game at Stanford kicks off at 6 p.m. PT.
The Aztecs will host Sacramento State in their home opener on Sept. 8. The non-conference contest, which will feature the annual SkyShow fireworks extravaganza, is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
The Sacramento State roster features Point Loma alumnus D.J. Lacy as a senior receiver.
