By Christian Vieyra (@thecvieyra)| Photo Courtesy of SJSU Athletics
With kickoff for San Jose State football against Sacramento State just 30 days away, the Spartans started their first day of preseason practice Monday.
SJSU’s head coach Ken Niumatalolo, who is entering his first season as team’s leader, said the plan for the Spartans this fall camp is to get better everyday.
“Our motto right now is just taking it one day at a time,” senior offensive lineman Marist Talavou said.
Niumatalolo believes the offense has progressed lightyears from the first spring ball practice.
Senior defensive linemen Soane Toia said he believes this summer allowed the defensive side to gel off the field.
“We got like 45 new guys, but then we see each other every day, so I feel like I’ve known these guys for a long time,” Toia said.
Although there has been lots of change with coaches and players leaving, one constant has remained for Toia. His near daily battles with Talavou during one-on-one drills.
“Marist (Talavou) is the only person I go against every day,” Toia said. “Just so we can sharpen each other.”
Sometimes Talavou wins, other times Toia wins. The competition between the two has been going on for the last two seasons.
Talavou said when he wants the best look, he lines up against Toia.
“That’s not to say our other guys aren’t better, but just between me and him, head honcho to head honcho, if you want the best you gotta play against the best,” Talavou said. “When it comes to one-on-ones everyone’s like ‘I wanna go against Marist (Talavou)’ or ‘I wanna go against Soane (Toia),’ but no one ever really steps in because me and him are the only ones that can really take on each other like that.”
Toia said he believes Talavou is the best offensive lineman he’s lined up against and vice-versa.
“(Toia) is the hardest guy that I’ve ever blocked against in my football career,” Talavou said. “Harder than Auburn and harder than USC.”
In another battle, three players will use this fall camp to prove why they should be the starting quarterback.
Just like spring ball, both junior Walker Eget and sophomore Emmett Brown are still competing for that starting spot, but the June transfer from Sam Houston University, junior Xavier Ward, has now entered the fray.
Ward previously spent some time with Spartan’s offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann in 2021 at Washington State, so the offense isn’t completely new to him.
Ward and Brown were also teammates at Washington State in 2022.
“They’re all really good. They all bring different things to the table and they all have great leadership qualities,” Niumatalolo said regarding the quarterbacks. “Everything starts with the quarterback. There’s no great team that doesn’t start with a great quarterback and I really feel good about the prospects.”
Niumatalo said he thinks the answer for the starting QB will reveal itself over time.
“I think it’s just gonna play itself out,” Niumatalolo said. “If coach Stutzmann feels comfortable, like ‘Hey, this is our guy’ whenever that time is we’re gonna go with him.”
With the uncertainty at that position along with this being a new era for SJSU football, the 2024 Mountain West Football Preseason Poll has the Spartans predicted to finish 10th in the conference.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it doesn’t really matter what anybody thinks, what matters is what we think and what we know we can do,” Toia said. “It’s just up to us. We know who we are.”
Talavou said he is just excited to see the offseason work put on display, “especially come August 29.”
