San Jose State wraps spring practice with showcase featuring new faces

SAN JOSE — Year two of San Jose State football head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s tenure was in full swing Saturday afternoon when the Spartans hosted their annual Spring Game at CEFCU Stadium.

The game itself was a glorified practice that ended with a scrimmage. Niumatalolo’s biggest takeaway from the event was that no Spartans were injured.

“That was the number one goal,” Niumatalolo said.

Niumatalolo believes the Spartans are in a better spot this spring compared to a year ago, when San Jose went on to finish 7-6 overall.

“I’m really happy with where we are at right now,” Niumatalolo said. “We feel like offensively, we’re going to be way better than last year.”

Quarterback Walker Eget is the sole returning starter this offseason. Going into 2024’s Spring Game, Eget was in a “neck and neck” competition with Emmett Brown, who transferred to Coastal Carolina this offseason.

“Walker clearly established himself as the starter, so it’s such a difference from last year,” Niumatalolo said.

Nonetheless, Niumatalolo has put an emphasis on improving the Spartans’ running attack this  season.

Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann said the head coach has asked the offense to focus on ball security and physicality along the offensive line, believing those aspects could both improve in the offense’s second year under Stutzmann.

Despite losing All-American receiver Nick Nash, Stutzmann is confident in the potential of this year’s offense. New additions to the wide receiver room such as Purdue transfer Leland Smith, Danny Scudero and returning junior Matthew Coleman, who is considered the room’s leader, give the Spartans hope.

“We got some shiny new toys, they’re some speedsters,” Stutzmann said.

On Saturday afternoon, Smith was one of two Spartans to get into the end zone during the scrimmage, scoring from the 2-yard line on a quick screen.

The only other Spartan to score was true freshman quarterback Tama Amisone, the former Kapolei High (Hawaii) star who ripped off an impressive 55-yard touchdown run.

“He’s a great change-up for what Walker is,” Stutzmann said of Amisone. “Tama, he is a twitchy, fast athlete. He’s growing in the pass game, but he’s got to develop a little more as a passer.”

Amisone and senior Xavier Ward are 2A and 2B on the depth chart behind Eget, according to Stutzmann, who gave a strong vote of confidence to Eget.

“He’s growing into himself, everybody knows he’s a leader on the offense,” Stutzmann said of Eget.

Eget went 8-for-12 passing, with his final throw being the touchdown to Smith. Amisone wound up going 5-for-12, but he did throw the largest completion of the day, a 49-yard pass to wide receiver Roy Gardner.

“It feels great but it comes with a lot of pressure,” Eget said on being named the starter this offseason. “I’ve been given the keys to the car but I have to make sure the car is running well.”

On the defensive side, Eget’s former high school teammate and current roommate, linebacker Brady Van Bennekum, stood out with an interception and an almost pick-6 that got called back by an offsides penalty.

“He’s got a knack for the ball,” Eget said of Van Bennekum. “He got me twice this spring.”

Defensive coordinator Derrik Odum has been pleased with Bennekum’s spring, specifically with his ability to make big plays. Bennekum is near the top of the “Big Play Board” this spring, according to Odum.

“He’s definitely a guy that finds the ball and looks to make and finish plays,” Odum added.

Offseason transfer Runye Norton got the other interception on a highly contested jump ball.

“He’s really started to flourish and understand the nuances of the defense,” Odum said of Norton.

Norton’s teammate Kejuan Bullard Jr. has seen Norton’s growth since he transferred from El Camino College.

“He came in being new to the system, coming in with all of us, and we all know the system, I feel like he picked it up pretty fast and he’s been working hard to get on the field,” Bullard said.

Multiple members of the defense did not participate and were seen on the sideline without pads. This included linebacker Taniela Latu, safety Larry Turner-Gooden, linebacker Noah Mcneal-Franklin, linebacker Dylan Lee and linebacker Zane Carter.

Offensive lineman Nathan Balestrieri was also on the sidelines without pads.

Sophomore kicker Mathais Brown went 4-for-4 on field goals, including 53-yard and 46-yard kicks. He was also 2-for-2 on PATs.