By Nicholas Orozco (@nickorozco03) – Spear Reporter
Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, safety Tre Jenkins and head coach Brent Brennan attended the Mountain West Conference media day in Las Vegas, Nev. this week. At the start of the media day coverage, Cordeiro was announced as the conference preseason player of the year.
“It feels great. It gives me confidence coming into the year,” said Cordeiro. “I mean, it’s just preseason. I’m focused on what really matters at the end of the season and that’s winning the Mountain West Championship.”
In his first season with the Spartans last year, he headed the conference with 259 completions, 3251 yards and 23 touchdowns. He lead the team to a 7-5 overall record and a bowl appearance.
“Everybody feels good when he walks out onto the field,” said Brennan. “He’s an incredible passer as he just stands in there.”
With the offense looking to their quarterback to lead their team, Cordeiro will be looking downfield to find his newest top receiver, Justin Lockhart. Following last season, Lockhart was ranked 11 and was playing behind number 2-ranked Elijah Cooks who was eventually drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Last season also being his first season with the Spartans, Lockhart would have 36 receptions, go for 578 yards and have one touchdown. Now sliding into a bigger role for the offense the duo looks as a threat to the Mountain West.
“He’s gonna be one of the guys. He’ll take you deep, has a big a body, there are other guys behind him too that are hungry,” said Cordeiro. “I believe in them and they believe in me and that’s all that matters.”
The defense for the Spartans will be led by Jenkins this season, finishing last season with 60 tackles, seven for loss and two interceptions. While continuing to work on his craft and himself, he will also have someone on the field to look for as support in Chase Williams.
“Since he stepped in here last year, he was an immediate impact, immediate leader on our team,” said Jenkins. “The greatest thing about him is his IQ, his knowledge is off the charts.”
Williams finished last season with 40 tackles, two interceptions and three pass deflections.
With a Mountain West championship in 2020, Brennan expresses that the direction the team is heading towards will be very successful.
“We’re moving in a direction where we have a higher expectation than just bowl eligibility,” said Brennan. “I’m excited where we’re at and I’m excited about where we’re going but we still got some work to do.”
In his seventh year at San Jose State, the head coach has a 27-42 record at the helm. Not the greatest of records, however, the program and his team continue to defy the odds. Last season the Spartans were projected fifth in the conference, the team had finished second.
With a new season ahead of the Spartans expectations are high to continue this growth of success, all eyes are on Brennan and Cordeiro to lead.