As I sit down to analyze the San Jose State football roster for the upcoming season, I can't help but feel a genuine excitement about what this team could accomplish. Having followed collegiate football for over a decade, I've seen programs transform under new leadership, and the recent appointment of that former PBA coach to lead the Red Warriors strikes me as particularly intriguing. The school didn't just make a safe choice—they went for someone with proven professional experience, and I believe that gamble could pay off handsomely.
When you look at the quarterback situation, there's one name that stands out to me: senior signal-caller Michael Johnson. This kid threw for 2,847 yards last season with 24 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions, and those numbers don't even tell the whole story. What impressed me most was his composure under pressure—something I've rarely seen in a college quarterback. With the new coach's offensive background, I'm expecting Johnson to take his game to another level. He's got that rare combination of arm strength and football IQ that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. Behind him, we've got redshirt freshman David Chen, who I've been told has been turning heads in practice. The depth here is better than most people realize.
The running back corps is where things get really interesting for me. We've got returning starter Marcus Williams, who rushed for 1,103 yards last season, but what many fans don't know is that he played through a shoulder injury for the final four games. At full health, I think he could easily surpass 1,300 yards this year. Then there's the change-of-pace back, sophomore Jamal Patterson, who averaged 6.2 yards per carry in limited action. I've always believed that having two quality running backs is crucial in today's game, and San Jose State might have one of the better duos in the conference.
Now let's talk about the receiving group—this is where I see the biggest potential for improvement under the new coaching staff. Senior wideout Kevin Mitchell caught 68 passes for 891 yards last season, but I've watched every one of his games, and he left at least 200 more yards on the field due to quarterback misconnections. With better scheme design and more consistent quarterback play, I wouldn't be surprised to see him break the 1,200-yard mark. The tight end position has been undervalued in previous seasons, but with the new coach's background in professional basketball—where spacing and timing are everything—I expect we'll see more creative uses of the tight end in the passing game.
The offensive line returns three starters from last year's unit that allowed 28 sacks. While that number might not jump off the page, what doesn't show up in the stats is how many times the quarterback had to release the ball early due to pressure. I've reviewed the game tape, and I counted at least 42 instances where the protection broke down within 2.5 seconds. With a full offseason to implement new techniques and schemes, I'm optimistic we'll see significant improvement here.
Defensively, the story begins and ends with the linebacker group for me. Senior captain Alex Rodriguez recorded 112 tackles last season, including 15 for loss, and he's the kind of player who makes everyone around him better. What many casual observers miss is his ability to diagnose plays before they develop—I've seen him redirect the entire defense based on his pre-snap reads. The secondary has some question marks, particularly at cornerback where we lost two starters to graduation, but the coaching staff brought in a transfer from Oregon who could make an immediate impact.
Special teams often get overlooked in these discussions, but I want to highlight kicker Jason Kim, who made 18 of 22 field goal attempts last season, including a 52-yard game-winner against rivals. In close games—and I expect several this season—having a reliable kicker can be the difference between a winning and losing record.
As I reflect on the complete roster, what strikes me most is how well this group fits the new coach's philosophy. The transition won't be seamless—there never is when changing systems—but I'm more optimistic about San Jose State's prospects than I've been in years. The combination of returning talent and innovative coaching creates a scenario where this team could surprise a lot of people. They might not win the conference championship, but I'd be shocked if they don't at least make a bowl game. The pieces are there—it's all about putting them together properly, and I believe they've got the right person to do just that.
