These Aztecs players put special effort into special teams

San Diego State special teams coordinator Zac Barton calls junior safety Max Garrison a psychopath.

He means it in a good way.

“He has no regard for his body whatsoever,” Barton said. “Last year, before they fixed his shoulder, every time he hit somebody, his shoulder came out of its socket.

“He would just throw it back in and keep going. That man is a psychopath. When he goes in, I’m afraid for him and the other people.”

Said Garrison: “It was a numbing pain, but I learned to play through it. … I’m happy I got it fixed.”

It takes a special person to play special teams.

Barton made sure to point that out last month while speaking at an SDSU season-ticket holder event aboard the USS Midway museum.

“These guys don’t get enough credit,” he said. “I don’t know if people really understand that on (special) teams. … Where else do you ask guys to run 65 yards downfield and slam into another human being? Last time I checked, they don’t do that in tennis. I can’t play tennis. No offense.”

Barton talks about the unselfish nature of “teams.”

“They don’t care about anything other than helping the team win,” he said, mentioning linebackers DJ Herman and Brady Anderson and safeties Josh Hunter, Jelani McLaughlin, Deshawn McCuin and Garrison, and afraid he’s leaving someone else out who is worthy of recognition.

They are backups at their respective positions who see the field in between the times the offense and defense are on the field.

Barton can get emotional talking about his guys, especially when it comes to Herman.

“Talk about somebody who cares about Aztecs football, somebody who cares about his university, somebody who cares about his teammates,” Barton said.

Where does one become so inspired? Barton mentions Herman’s father, himself a former college football player and wrestler.

“Meet DJ’s dad for about five minutes and you see the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” Barton said. “Somebody shakes your hand and looks you in the eye and your hand hurts afterward. It gives you a pretty good indication what DJ has grown up with. And wrestling isn’t an easy sport. I’m sure he has been held to that standard his entire life.”

Herman is on all five special teams units, when the Aztecs kick off or punt, when they’re receiving the ball or trying to kick a field goal/extra point.

He was selected this season by his teammates as one of six team captains. It’s the first time a special teams player has been so recognized in 15 years.

“I hold myself to a really high standard of being a top-tier guy,” said Herman, a senior from Las Vegas. “The team comes first, and I’m here to play my role.”

SDSU’s linebacking corps included starters Caden McDonald, Michael Shawcroft and Seyddrick Lakalaka four years ago when Herman arrived as a freshman.

He is now in the linebacker mix with Mister Williams and Anderson, behind starters Tano Letuli and Owen Chambliss.

While he would enjoy more playing time on defense, Herman has found fulfillment.

“It’s a different breed out there on special teams,” Herman said. “Playing kickoff and running down there and knocking people’s heads off takes a lot of guts in my opinion. Not a lot of people can put that on the line, and I’m willing to do that.”

Every so often, a special teams player emerges from obscurity. Herman found his way into the box score last year when he passed for a first down to wide receiver Ja’Shaun Poke following a fake punt against Washington State.

“A little pop pass,” Herman said. “Got a little stat in there for 21 yards. That meant a lot to me.”

Garrison, like Herman, saw special teams as the quickest way to get on the field.

“I got a shot as a freshman when I wasn’t supposed to be a travel (squad) guy,” said Garrison, a junior from Pasadena. “That gave me a great appreciation for it, knowing I can make a difference in the game.

“It’s been more about the team. It’s bigger than yourself. Everybody wants to play offense or defense and be the star, but special teams is kind of those unsung heroes. I’ve made it my personality … playing my heart out.”

Said Barton: “We should be affecting the game in a positive manner every time we go out on the field. Not only because we’re better than (opponents) talent-wise but because we care more. Guys show that to me every day.”