As San Diego State’s starting wide receivers get healthy, Aztecs students get some seasoning – San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego State’s three projected starting receivers have been sidelined for most of training camp with various injuries.

The silver lining for SDSU wide receivers coach Lanear Sampson? There is a chance to develop depth behind the starters.

“What it does for the other guys is give them a chance to get on the court and get more reps,” Sampson said. “We always talk about opportunity. One guy goes down, it’s a next-man-up mentality.

“We have to keep bringing the others. You can learn in the meeting room. You can watch film and all that stuff, but giving them real work on the field (is invaluable).”

Senior transfer Ja’Shaun Poke and Mehdi Shaw have dealt with leg injuries and junior transfer Louis Brown IV suffered a concussion early in training camp.

All three players are expected to be full when Game Week arrives and assume their starting spots for the Aug. 31 season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce.

Several players from the supporting cast managed to make an impression at last week’s Fan Fest game.

Redshirt freshman transfer Jerry McClure (6 catches, 92 yards, TD) and Baylin Brooks (5 catches, 100 yards) led the way. Sophomore Mikey Welsh, redshirt freshman Jordan Napier and true freshman Will Cianfrini (Carlsbad High) also had receptions.

The highlight was a 26-yard touchdown pass McClure caught from quarterback Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson.

The 6-foot-2 McClure, a graduate of Mater Dei Catholic High School, appeared in two games at UCLA last year, redshirted and entered the transfer window after the season. He is excited to play for his hometown team.

“It was a great experience to be at home in the area that I’m really familiar with,” McClure said, adding: “I feel like it brings out a different kind of person in me, a happy person, which is really good. good for on and off the field.”

That’s a good thing given the uptempo nature of SDSU’s “AztecFAST” offense.

“It was a little wild for us at first,” McClure said. “Going that fast, not everyone was used to it.”

Sampson expected the pace of the game to be the biggest challenge for the receiving corps, as with the other position groups of the offense.

“They’re not used to the pace we’re playing at,” Sampson said. “So obviously getting them in shape, being able to process quickly mentally and physically and being able to do what we need them to do. … (You have) about three seconds. That’s all you got. Don’t get confused. Go in and out of breaks. The urgency of the route. Path depth. All of that is important because it all fits (together).”

While McClure came home for a fresh start in a familiar environment to launch his college career, Bennett wanted a new setting to cap off a solid career.

The 6-foot-3 Bennett played the past four years at Portland State, where he racked up 110 catches for 1,291 yards and four touchdowns. The experience gives Bennett, who is also closer to home after growing up in Simi Valley, the maturity to handle whatever comes his way. It made the adjustment to the offensive style smoother for him than for others.

“Through my time there, I learned a lot about ups and downs and adversity,” Bennett said. “There’s a lot of things that are thrown at you while you’re playing and when I was there I was able to learn to manage the game really well through all the things you go through.

“In the spring, it was definitely an adjustment period. At this point, we have acclimatized. Expectations are higher, for sure. We are expected to work hard every day, regardless of how our bodies feel.”

Bennett said he expects to make a difference in contested catches. Off the field, he hopes to mentor younger players like Cianfrini and another true freshman, Ben Scolari.

“I know I can use my leadership ability to help guys when they’re dealing with the same things I dealt with when I was younger,” he said.

Sampson said he likes the mix of receivers in his room. They can stretch the field or stretch for a first down. They can lead by example. They can point the way

“They’re very athletic,” Samson said. “They all have their niches. We didn’t all bring the same receiver. … They have a few weeks before the first game and they will be ready for it.”

Now all the receivers have to do is figure out who is going to throw them the football.

A decision on SDSU’s starting quarterback is expected Monday.

Originally published: August 16, 2024 at 5:03 p.m