San Diego State has been poring through the transfer portal ever since it opened a week ago.
SDSU had more than two dozen players enter the portal. That, combined with graduation losses, has the Aztecs searching for replacements at several positions of need.
Three starters were lost along the offensive line, so that has been the biggest point of emphasis.
In recent days, SDSU has added the signing of O-line transfers Matthew Montgomery (Western Illinois), Dennis Jones (Texas Southern) and Isaac Lucas (Ball State). That was after getting a two-fer on the line in twins Charlton and Mercer Luniewski from Michigan State.
SDSU also added safeties Jalen Thomeson (Ohio), Solomon Davis (Oregon) and Isaiah Green (Portland State) and cornerbacks Caleb Ricks (Idaho) and Jason Oliver (Sacramento State) to replace a similar number of players lost in the secondary.
The Aztecs lost seven players along the defensive line. So far they have located three replacements — Tuaoa Tauili-ili (Portland State), KaiWallin (Oregon State) and Nate Henrich (Gannon University).
Wide receiver is one position to keep an eye on over the next week. SDSU had five receivers enter the portal. So far, Marshel Sanders (College of the Sequoias) is the only transfer signed.
On Saturday, SDSU announced the signing of Colorado State transfer running back Javion Kinnard, a 5-foot-8, 175-pounder from Nashville, Tenn. Kinnard had only 12 carries for 56 yards across seven games for the Rams as a true freshman. Interestingly enough, he had 18 receptions out of the backfield for 228 yards and one touchdown.
Kinnard rushed for more than 2,600 yards and 31 touchdowns at Nashville’s Pearl-Cohn High School. He added more than 1,500 receiving yards and another 13 touchdowns.
SDSU’s most notable signing so far is Kentucky transfer quarterback Stone Saunders, who set Pennsylvania high school passing records for yards (13,719), completions (781) and touchdowns (204).
The Aztecs are expected to look for one more quarterback out of the portal. That would them five QBs when spring practice begins in March.
New homes
Several SDSU players who transferred out have ended up with Power Four programs, including edges Trey White (Texas Tech) and Ryan Henderson (Texas A&M).
Others are linebacker Owen Chambliss (Nebraska), safety Dwayne McDougle (Nebraska), tight end Arthur Ban (Arizona) and punter Hunter Green (Washington). Safety Dalesean Staley also is expected to end up at Nebraska.