Aztecs notebook: Fall camp concludes with mock game as SDSU eyes season opener

San Diego State coach Sean Lewis came off the SDSU practice field Wednesday morning with a smile on his face after SDSU completed three weeks of fall camp with a mock game walk-through.

“I’m really pleased with the effort the guys gave,” Lewis said. “We came into it and really wanted to put an emphasis on starting fast. The work that we did leading up to camp, I thought we were further along than we’ve ever been. Starting fast is something that we always preach. To put that into practice in a camp setting for the first quarter of camp directly correlates to how we want to start the season, how we want to start games.”

Lewis said he believes this team is more advanced than a year ago, when he debuted as Aztecs coach, because “the kids did a much better job of retaining and learning and the staff did a much better job of teaching, just with the connection and the continuity that we were able to have.

“Having guys who knew (the system), players and coaches alike, allowed us to get into the material deeper and having established relationships allowed the kids to know that, hey, this staff and these men and women have your best interest at heart. So you’re not going through that awkward, ‘does he mean what he says, does he say what he means? Can I actually trust him?’ There’s a base level of trust that was established in the program that allows us to go forward quicker.”

The Aztecs now pivot into game-week mode in preparation for the Aug. 28 season opener against Stony Brook at Snapdragon Stadium. Several factors pointed the Aztecs toward a 3-9 season a year ago. Injuries along a depleted offensive line was possibly No. 1 on the list. Depth on the line is among the areas bolstered this season.

Lewis was asked how much better he feels than at this time a year ago?

“Significantly,” he said. “A lot of that has to do with the work we’ve done as a staff. A lot of that has to do with personal ownership and accountability the players have taken of this team.”

And so they wrapped up another phase in the run-up to the season.

“The mock game is something that we always do at the tail end of training camp to script out all the crazy, wild things that could happen over the course of a season,” Lewis said.

It all boils down to an 88-play workout in shorts and jerseys.

“This will be great tape,” Lewis said. “We’ve done all these aspects of (situations) in evening walk-throughs, but not where we’re all on the same boundary, we’re transitioning on and off with some packages, end of half, end of game, overtime, a penalty after a score, just working through all that. As we learn from this tape, we’ll start to pivot here to Stony Brook prep.”

The pivot point comes Saturday rather than Monday because SDSU’s opener is on a Thursday night.

Notable

More than 8,000 tickets still remain for the season opener, with more than 3,000 of them on the upper level of the home (west) side.

Snapdragon is entering its fourth year. Attendance for SDSU’s previous openers at the stadium: 2022 vs. Arizona (34,046 announced/26,816 turnstile); 2023 vs. Ohio (23,867/16,831); 2024 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (25,180/18,106).

Students, who return to class next week, receive a free ticket to all athletic events. They can get a mobile ticket to the game beginning Monday at 9 a.m. by going to GoAztecs.com/StudentMobileTix.

• The ESPN preseason top 100 players list published on Wednesday included SDSU junior edge Trey White at No. 36.

White was the highest listed player from a non-Power Four school on a list that included only five Group of Five players.

Wrote ESPN: “White became a hometown star in 2024. After becoming the first underclassman in nearly 20 years to be voted team captain, he erupted for 21.5 tackles for loss with nine run stops and 12.5 sacks from 37 pressures. He didn’t have a lot of help around him, so opponents were able to run away from him late in the season. If a more experienced set of defensive teammates can help him out more, just imagine what he could produce.”

The other Group of Five players listed: No. 48, Jayden Virgin-Morgan, edge, Boise State; 50. Blake Horvath, QB, Navy; 60. Jason Henderson, LB, Old Dominion; 63. Kage Casey, OT, Boise State.

• SDSU cornerback Chris Johnson and White have been named to the 2026 Senior Bowl Top 300 Watch List.

More than 2,000 players from all levels of college football were evaluated by the Senior Bowl scouting department, which is comprised of former NFL Scouts. The list includes only draft-eligible players.

Johnson was among the Aztecs’ leaders last season with 67 tackles. He also had four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and an interception.

White, a junior from Eastlake High School, was tied for fifth in the nation with 12½ sacks.

• Redshirt freshman Kodi Cornelius has returned to the defensive line after working at tight end during camp.