Javion Kinnard had no intention of coming to California. Ever.
“I’ve got no business in California,” Kinnard, who grew up in Nashville, told anyone who would listen. “I’ll never go out there.”
Never say never.
The 5-foot-8, 175-pound sophomore running back originally committed to Ole Miss, decommitted and then went to Colorado State last year. Kinnard hit the transfer portal after a coaching change at CSU, and San Diego State is the better for it.
“It’s crazy how I ended up here,” Kinnard said after Tuesday morning’s practice. “And I remember my very first day out here, I couldn’t stop smiling.”
Adding another talented player to the offense put a smile of the faces of SDSU coaches, too.
“On film, his explosive playmaking skills popped,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “As a true freshman, to have returns for touchdowns, speed in space, you really saw those traits.
“Day in and day out in the building, he conducts himself with the seriousness that he approaches his work with. He has the willingness to work on the areas of his game that aren’t just natural, like the pass-protection piece of it. Having the willingness to do that is phenomenal.”
San Diego State coaches have been impressed with Colorado State transfer Javion Kinnard in spring drills. (SDSU athletics)
Kinnard’s biggest impact for Colorado State was as a punt returner, where he had a 91-yard return for a touchdown that helped him earn all-Mountain West honors at the specialty. He was the No. 5 running back as a true freshman before injuries to some of those ahead of him provided an opportunity in the backfield. Notably, he had more receptions (18 for 228 yards) than rushes (12 for 56 yards) last season.
The receiving piece could really play for the Aztecs, adding a dimension to the offense that hasn’t been seen since DJ Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny were in the backfield.
SDSU senior running backs Lucky Sutton (1,297 yards, 10 TDs) and Christian Washington (563 yards, 4 TDs) combined to approach 2,000 yards rushing last season, though they totaled only 12 total catches for 48 yards.
Kinnard provided glimpses of his talent from the moment he stepped on the SDSU practice field this spring. Those watching Saturday’s scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium got a first-hand look.
His biggest play came early in the workout, when Kinnard took a handoff and disappeared momentarily amid the crush of players at the line of scrimmage before bursting through the middle and running for a 64-yard touchdown.
He makes defenders miss with quick cuts and spins and keeps his legs moving for extra yardage. Kinnard was most of the offense on one late drive that ended with his 5-yard TD run.
“He’s a really serious kid when it comes to his ball,” Lewis said. “He just has a good spirit about him. He’s fun to be around.”
He also isn’t one to shy away from competition, which explains why Kinnard had no reluctance to join an already talented SDSU running backs room.
“He’s a competitive kid,” Lewis said. “He showed a willingness to compete, knowing that’s a part of life. He doesn’t come from much, and he knows that this is a great avenue, a great path to not only change his life but his family’s life.”
Kinnard believes he has the talent to challenge Sutton and Washington for carries, but that hasn’t been his primary motivation.
“I’ve been learning from them instead of using as me trying take their spot,” Kinnard said. “But, also, as a team, we’re going to all need each other. … I just keep my head down and learn as much as I can from guys like Lucky that do everything right. I want to help the team out, help win a Pac-12 championship. I want to know what it feels like to win.”
Post-scrimmage thoughts
Lewis said he thought quarterbacks Jayden Denegal and Stone Saunders both did a good job in the scrimmage.
“Obviously, they’re at two different places in their journey, for where they are,” Lewis said. “Denegal’s (first-team) crew started slow, but had the resiliency to find their footing and finish strong. Stone did it with both the pass and the run. I thought they both took positive strides that day and have been good, consistent, in parts of what we’ve been doing all the way through.”
While Saunders, a sophomore transfer from Kentucky, has performed well since his arrival, Denegal is secure as the returning starter, Lewis said, given the senior’s experience starting 12 games last season and his performance this year during 10 spring practices.
• Standouts in the scrimmage include senior transfer linebacker Sione Hala (Weber State), who seems to be mentioned whenever practice assessments are made, and senior transfer defensive lineman Gavriel Lightfoot (Colorado).
“He did a great job,” Lewis said. “He played really physical and did a really good job handling all the environment and the communication. Lightfoot really flashed and showed some physicality inside, which was great to see.
• Lewis said senior quarterback-turned-wide receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. “continues to get better and better in the new receiver role, which is cool.”
• Lewis also mentioned sophomore tight ends Ryan Wolfer and Jackson Ford, saying “their diverse skill set adds a different element to what we’re going to be able to do this year.”
Spring Game details
SDSU provided additional details on the Spring Game and family fair scheduled for May 2 at the SDSU practice fields. The event begins at 1 and the scrimmage starts at 2 p.m. on the grass field. Family and fan activities will take place on the adjacent turf field.
Admission is free, but fans who RSVP at GoAztecs.com/FBSpringGame will be entered to win one of five jerseys autographed by Lewis and one of six Aztec football game experiences.
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter. For adults, there will be a beer garden, food trucks and discounted SDSU merchandise for sale. An autograph session will follow the scrimmage.
Afterward, Lewis is scheduled to throw out the first pitch at 5 p.m. for the SDSU baseball team against Nevada at Tony Gwynn Stadium.