Trey White gives Aztecs an edge as he eyes encore after breakout season

Picture a dark stage illuminated by a single spotlight, just waiting for someone to step into the limelight.

Trey White was that someone last season for San Diego State, emerging from obscurity as a backup linebacker to national prominence as a starting edge rusher on SDSU’s defensive line.

A player who had never gotten to the quarterback before led the country in sacks midway through the 2024 season.

White’s teammates saw something special coming into the 2024 season, voting him one of three team captains. White finished the year tied for fifth in the country with 12 1/2 sacks and tied for seventh in tackles for loss with 18 1/2.

His single-season sack total ranks third in SDSU history, behind only Mike Douglass (21 in 1976) and Brett Faryniarz (13 in 1987) and tied with Andy Coviello (12 1/2 in 1991).

Among returning players, the 6-foot-2 junior from Eastlake High School is second in the sack category only to Rutgers defensive lineman Eric O’Neill, who had 13 sacks last season at James Madison.

White’s name is on several preseason All-America and all-conference lists. Mountain West media members last month recognized him as the conference’s preseason defensive player of the year.

“We only get to play with 11, but having a Trey White out there it’s like we’re playing with 12 because you have to account for him,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “He changes the math and allows other guys to have one-on-ones that they need to go win.

“He individually is making our O-line and the players he competes against (in practice) day in and day out better. Collectively, he makes our program better because he creates so much havoc and is able to disrupt a game, play in and play out.”

There were growing concerns when the 2024 season ended that key SDSU starters would be lured away, entering the transfer portal by the prospect of “greener pastures” (read: NIL money from bigger programs).

White’s name was most prominent among them. He declined the overtures.

“I had a couple schools reach out to my parents and things like that and we talked about it,” White said in December, when he and four other starters announced they were staying. “In my mind, money isn’t everything. It’s all about the situation and where you can grow the most. I definitely thought I could grow the most here.”

White had 11 sacks in the first six games last season, but only 1 1/2 over the last six after opponents made it a priority to stop him. SDSU started 3-3 only to lose its final six games.

“A year ago, he was just making the transition from off the ball to on the ball,” Lewis said. “His craftsmanship, if you will, his knowledge of tools and how to apply those techniques, were not as deep as his bag is right now in that regard.

“So his ability to refine his craft and continue to grow will help his production be consistent throughout (the season).”

Said White: “I feel like it made me better because it showed what I needed to work on. That helped me to prepare for this season to perfect my craft.”

White’s success this season depends in part on those around him.

SDSU totaled 32 sacks last year. White’s 12 1/2 were more than the combined total (10) of everyone else returning on the roster. Brady Nassar, Krishna Clay and Sam Benjamin, other returning starters on the defensive line, combined for 2 1/2 sacks a year ago.

“When Trey gets one-on-one matchups, he’s pretty tough to defeat,” SDSU defensive coordinator Rob Aurich said. “When the protection slides to him, it kind of neutralizes his superpower at times.

“So, the development of that edge room between Brady, Ryan Henderson, August Salvati and Niles King, those guys can all play, and that’s the room I think we improved the most during this offseason period.”

King transferred in January from Grand Valley State, where he amassed 20 sacks and four forced fumbles over three seasons. He is listed behind Nassar at edge on the preseason depth chart.

SDSU added Salvati over the summer. He comes from Florida Atlantic, where he played in one game last season. In 2023, Salvati played at Texas’ Kilgore College, collecting 29 tackles with seven sacks and two forced fumbles.

“I can raise my level by raising the level of the people around me,” White said. “If the people around me are doing great, I feel like that’s going to help me do even better. So just focusing on getting everybody to know the playbook and the defense that we’re running, just getting everybody up to speed on that will help me have a better year.”