Is SDSU’s depth chart settled heading into Thursday’s season opener against Stony Brook?

Year 2 of the Sean Lewis era at San Diego State feels different from Year 1.

The buzz of excitement that accompanied a new coach and uptempo offense has been replaced with the reservations that greet a new season after a disappointing one.

SDSU opens the season Thursday against Stony Brook at Snapdragon Stadium with significantly higher expectations following last year’s 3-9 finish. Should fans expect a bowl berth?

“That’s the floor of the program standards that we’ve set,” Lewis said. “The players have done a tremendous job competing with us. … This is a much-improved team. They’ve done tremendous work. I’m really excited to cut them loose and let them go play.”

Five of the six players named Saturday as 2025 team captains — senior center Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, junior edge Trey White, linebacker Tano Letuli, senior cornerback Chris Johnson and senior linebacker DJ Herman — are returning standouts on offense, defense and, in Herman’s case, special teams. The sixth captain, junior transfer quarterback Jayden Denegal, earned the honor through the leadership he showed during spring and fall camps.

With virtually every starter returning on defense and several starting positions on offense secured during spring practice, there were not a lot of battles in fall camp.

Lewis was impressed by the competition at three positions.

“The battle at the outside wide receiver position was good throughout,” Lewis said. “(Transfers) Donovan Brown and Myles Kitt-Denton really separated themselves toward the back half of camp. (Transfer) Jacob Bostick has done a really nice job as well. Will Cianfrini has been slowed by injuries a little bit, but when healthy, he has been very, very productive.

“It was a fun battle between Big Joe (Borjon) and Christian (Jones) for the tackle positions. We feel pretty spoiled in that both those guys could play left tackle, but what’s best for the program, what’s best for winning as we go forward?

“It was really interesting to see the guys step up when Jelani Whitmore went down (with a knee injury) at the cornerback position. We knew the key contributor he was going to be at corner No. 3 … Cross-training some guys like (safeties) Eric Butler and Deshawn McCuin at the corner position will provide some depth there if need be. …

“The competition is never-ending. We don’t want to put a label and define any one spot that this is what we’re going to be over the next 14 or 15 weeks as we move through the season. It’s just where we’re starting. We’ve got to continue to improve and compete.”

Here’s a position-by-position look at the Union-Tribune’s depth chart as game week arrives:

Quarterback

First team: Jr. Jayden Denegal

Second team: Jr. Bert Emanuel Jr.

Comment: Denegal earned the job midway through fall camp. Emanuel is too athletic to be standing on the sidelines; it’ll be interesting to see how he is used.

Offensive line

First team: LT Sr. Joe Borjon, LG Gr. Kalan Ellis, C Sr. Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, RG Sr. Bayo Kannike, RT Sr. Christian Jones

Second team: LT Jr. Cam May, LG Sr. Saipale Fuimaono, C Sr. Saipale Fuimaono, C, RG So. Mason Baker, RT Jr. Cam May

Comment: Size, strength and depth create optimism at a position group that had its struggles a year ago. Borjon is ahead of schedule returning from reconstructive knee surgery. Ellis and Kannike played their way into the starting lineup after arriving via the portal.

Running back

First team: Jr. Lucky Sutton

Second team: Sr. Byron Cardwell Jr. or Jr. Christian Washington

Comment: The position group is filled with local talent. Sutton (Cathedral Catholic High School) earned the start and will get the bulk of the carries. Cardwell (St. Augustine High School) and Washington (Helix High School) could make it more running back by committee after Marquez Cooper had 90% of the team’s rushes last year.

Wide receiver

First team: So. Jordan Napier, Sr. Myles Kitt-Denton, Jr. Donovan Brown.

Second team: So. Jerry McClure, Jr. Jacob Bostick, Jr. Mikey Welsh

Comment: Kitt-Denton, who transferred from Northwestern State, emerged in spring practice and Brown, who transferred in from Tulsa over the summer, stood out in fall camp. Sophomore Will Cianfrini (Carlsbad High School) will be in the mix as soon as he’s healthy; junior Nathan Acevedo, a Fresno State transfer, also will get a look.

Tight end

First team: Sr. Seth Adams, R-Fr. Jackson Ford.

Second team: R-Fr. Arthur Ban, R-Fr. Ryan Wolfer

Comment: Adams’ strength is as an additional blocker in the run game. The other three profile as receivers, but they’re all young.

Defensive line

First team: Edge Jr. Trey White, NT Sr. Sam Benjamin, DT Jr. Malachi Finau, Edge Jr. Brady Nassar

Second team: Edge Jr. Ryan Henderson, NT Sr. Teivs Tuioti, DT Jr. Krishna Clay, Edge Sr. Niles King or Jr. August Salvati

Comment: White, the preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, stands to benefit from the addition of transfers King and Salvati.

Linebacker

First team: Jr. Tano Letuli, So. Owen Chambliss

Second team: Gr. Brady Anderson, Sr. Mister Williams or Gr. DJ Herman,

Comment: Chambliss is healthy again after missing half of last season and all of spring camp with injuries, providing perhaps the conference’s best 1-2 punch at linebacker.

Defensive back

First team: CB Sr. Chris Johnson, S Sr. Deshaun McCuin, S Sr. Eric Butler, S Jr. Dalesean Staley, CB Sr. Bryce Phillips

Second team: CB R-Fr. Prince Williams, S Jr. Dwayne McDougle, S So. Jelani McLaughlin, S Jr. Josiah Cox, CB R-Fr. Isaiah Buxton

Comment: Five returning starters make the secondary the most experienced group on the team. McDougle, a transfer from Idaho, is pushing McCuin to start at free safety.

Specialists

First team: K Sr. Gabriel Plascencia, P Jr.  Hunter Green, H Jr. Eemil Herranen, LS Jr. Tyson Chavez. KR Jr. Christian Washington KR/PR So. Jordan Napier

Second team: K R-Fr. Nick Clegg, P/H Jr. Tashi Dorje, LS R-Fr. Connor Poulson, KR/PR Eric Butler, Donovan Brown.

Comment: Plascencia, the preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, was 13-for-14 in field goals last season. Green appears primed to carry on SDSU’s tradition of NFL-caliber punters.