SDSU FOOTBALL NAMES CAPTAINS FOR 2016 CAMPAIGN
Alex Barrett, Damontae Kazee, Calvin Munson, Donnel Pumphrey and Nico Siragusa will lead the Aztecs this season
Source: goaztecs.com press release
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
August 24, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State Football has named Alex Barrett (Mesa, Ariz.), Damontae Kazee (San Bernadino, Calif.), Calvin Munson (St. Charles, Mo.), Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas) and Nico Siragusa (Chula Vista, Calif.) as its captains for the 2016 campaign, head coach Rocky Long announced today.
Kazee was recently named a preseason second-team All-American by SI.com and is the preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. Kazee had eight interceptions in 2015, which tied for the second most in the nation, the most in Aztecs' Division I era (since 1969) and in Mountain West history. He was named a second-team USA Today All-American, an honorable-mention Sports Illustrated All-American, the MW Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-MW pick.
Barrett came up with 62 tackles a year ago with 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions (one for a touchdown) and seven quarterback hurries. Barrett backed a defense that finished among the top 10 in FBS in each of the four main categories, including fifth in total (287.3), seventh in scoring (16.4) and rushing (108.7), and 10th in passing (178.6). Barrett was also an all-MW first-team pick.
Munson led SDSU in multiple categories in 2015, including tackles (98), tackles for loss (15), sacks (9.5) and fumble recoveries (2, tied), while adding two interceptions (both returned for a touchdown), two forced fumbles and seven quarterback hurries. Munson was also a Phil Steele Magazine third-team All-American and an all-Mountain West first-team pick.
The preseason offensive player of the year, Pumphrey rushed for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns on 309 attempts (5.3 avg.), while leading the team with 28 catches for 416 yards and three touchdowns en route to being named a Sports Illustrated Honorable-Mention All-American, the MW Offensive Player of the Year and an all-MW first-team selection for a second straight season. He was one of just four players in all of FBS to lead his team in rushing yards and receptions.
Siragusa anchored an offensive line that helped the Aztecs rush for a school-record 3,226 yards and have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in program history (Pumphrey and Chase Price). He was also a first-team all-MW selection by the league's media and coaches last year.
SDSU is coming off an 11-3 season where it tied a school record for the most wins in a single year, finished with a 10-game winning streak (second-longest active FBS streak heading into 2016), won the MW title (20th conference title in program history) and beat Cincinnati, 42-7, in the Hawai`i Bowl.
The Aztecs kick off the 2016 season at Qualcomm Stadium against New Hampshire on Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m. PT.