Beefed-up, improved O-line one reason for Aztecs’ optimism

San Diego State’s offensive linemen were making their way off the practice field recently as SDSU coach Sean Lewis stepped to the microphone to speak with the media.

SDSU has 16 offensive linemen on the roster. Lewis, who stands 6-foot-7. sees eye-to-eye with half of them. In fact, he looks up at 6-8 Christian Jones, Cam May and Joe Borjon as well as 6-9 Ashdon Wnetrzak.

Most of the Aztecs’ linemen weigh nearly 100 pounds more than their coach. Only three players — all true freshmen — are lighter than 300 pounds.

“That’s a helluva lot of mass that’s going to kick some ass this year,” Lewis said. “I’m pretty fired up by that.”

Indeed. The contrast between last year and this year is striking along the O-line.

“Night and day,” Lewis said.

The projected starters on the offensive line from tackle to tackle — Jones, Kalan Ellis, Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, Bayo Kannike and Borjon — average 340 pounds apiece. At 6-4, Ulugalu-Maseuli is the shortest one in the group.

Backups Saipale Fuimanono, Cam May and Mason Baker are similarly sized. Baker, a 6-7, 380-pound sophomore nicknamed “Yeti,” is the only underclassmen among them.

By midway through the 2024 season, injuries and player departures left the Aztecs without enough linemen for two full units for practice. It showed in games, with inconsistency — false start penalties were a particular problem — that was perhaps the biggest reason SDSU’s offense never found its footing

The Aztecs had nine scholarship linemen last year. There are 15 scholarship players in the O-line room this year, including half a dozen freshmen developing for the future. SDSU opens its season Aug. 28 against Stony Brook at Snapdragon Stadium.

Lewis credited the efforts of offensive line coach Mike Schmidt and the recruiting staff as well as community members who stepped forward with NIL money.

“We have the resources that are needed to go get the big bodies that are at a premium,” Lewis said. “The good Lord only made so many people that are big, fast and strong with the size of the talent that we’ve accumulated.”

Jones, Ulugalu-Maseuli and Borjon all are senior returning starters.

Schmidt has been pleasantly surprised by Kannike, a senior transfer from Utah Tech who has improved his consistency during spring and fall camp.

And Schmidt was downright giddy during the spring portal period, when the Aztecs added Ellis. Schmidt coached him during the 2021-22 seasons, when both were at Syracuse.

Ellis made an impact as a true freshman in 2021 for the Orange, starting in five of the nine games he played at both left and right guard. In 2022, Ellis played 11 games, with nine starts at left guard.

Things went sideways from there. Ellis redshirted in 2023 after suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury to his foot. He was a coaching change casualty in 2024, dismissed from the team when Dino Babers was fired and replaced by Fran Brown.

Ellis remained at Syracuse, spending the past school year regaining his health and fitness while completing a degree in sociology.

SDSU is fortunate to have such depth. Returning starter Tyler McMahan left the team after spring practice for personal reasons. Junior Dallas Fincher, a Michigan State transfer competing to start at guard, suffered a season-ending hip injury during fall camp.

Schmidt has a high bar set for the remaining players.

The Aztecs rushed for 3.6 yards a carry last season, and haven’t averaged more than 5 yards in the run game since the 2016-17 seasons, when they averaged 5.7 and a school-record 5.8 yards, respectively.

“It’s really important if we do that,” Schmidt said of the 5-yard goal. “The other thing is we’ve got these big bodies. You look at us the way we’re built, we should be able to run the ball.”

That, in turn, should benefit the passing game.

“You can help protection a lot by running the ball effectively,” he said.

Jones, a three-year starter at left tackle, believes a stronger bond among the players this season will produce better results.

“As a team, I feel as though we’re a lot more bought in,” Jones said. “Guys are hanging out together more. Both sidelines are connected a lot more. Dudes just doing things outside of football, having an actual brotherhood and connection. … I think that’s a huge advantage we’re going to have coming into this year compared to last year.”