Welcome to the tenth post in our twelve-part recruiting breakdown series. Today will look at the #10 team in our rankings, San Jose State. To learn more about the small but talented class the staff put together, see below.

Recruits signed: 32High school: 15Transfers: 17Offensive: 18Defensive: 12Special Teams: 2Number of 3-stars per 247 rankings: 12Players with a rating over 85: 6Players with a rating over 82: 6Breakdown by state (excluding transfers):California: 12Arizona: 1Colorado: 1Hawaii: 1247 Rankings (subject to change)Recruiting: 127Transfer: 88Overall: 124Makes quick throws all over the field from the shotgunFires strong short passes and displays more touch on deep throwsEyes are actively searching the field as he goes through his progressionsSmooth footwork, nice throwing mechanicsReaches top speed as he’s hitting the holeEffortless change of direction while runningRarely goes down on the first hitSolid in pass protectionElectric straight-line speed and finds another gear after the catchProficient in short passes as well as deep balls over the middle of the fieldGreat releases at the line of scrimmage and sets up defenders wellIdeal in the slot with his quick change of directionGood at adjusting his routes when tracking the ballReliable hands when the ball comes his wayDeep-ball specialist who creates separation on double movesWilling blocker on outside runsGreat at stretching the field down the seam, taking the top off the defenseAble to get open with slight change of direction moves and long stridesReliable hands, especially making catches on the runCombines sturdiness and speed after the catch, making him touch to bring downNoticeable game speed, jumping out in front of plays to blockLocks on to defenders, not letting go until the play is overAt his best as a run-blocker, driving players out of the playVersatile enough to play anywhere along the line, but profiles best on the interiorJumps into his stance off the snapSolid in pass protection, moving well laterallyDoes a great job pulling on run playsSkilled at combo blocks, where he can utilize his mobilityUnleashes his power easily due to good leverageMobile at the line of scrimmage, pulling or rolling out to make blocksExecutes his assignment well every playProjectable frame with room to add weight at the next levelSound footwork moving backward and laterallyDisplays plenty of strength to push back defendersStays level with defensive linemen to square up on blocksCalm, steady demeanor in pass protectionQuick burst at the line of scrimmage to get in the backfieldGreat at wrapping up quarterbacks to ensure he completes the playUses a variety of rush moves, but his best may be a swim moveSolid speed in short distances to chase down scramblersRelentless rusher on the inside, forcing his way into the backfieldDisplays great play recognition to get into position to stop running backsSheds blocks and throws linemen around as he rushes the QBAble to fight off double teams to blow up plays before they can get goingScans the field well in coverage, moving into position to make a playTakes good angles to the ball to make textbook tacklesConstantly moving on the field, able to cover a lot of groundAt his best with plays in front of him, whether that’s run support or zone coverageHigh-motor player who is quick off the snapBlend of power and speed consistently gets him in the backfieldDisplays nice instincts to track down where the play is goingMostly plays in a 4-3 but could translate to a 3-4 scheme as wellHigh-energy player off the edge, determined to cause havoc in the backfieldSpeedy rusher, racing into action before tackles can reactStrong tackler, pulling players down even by grabbing their legsAble to step into run support as well, closing up gaps around the line of scrimmagePlaymaker on both sides of the ball with his athleticismGreat hands and tracks the ball well on passesEasy change of direction will aid him at cornerbackAbility to see the field while staying in constant motion

San Jose State’s recent 2026 haul is small, but it’s also cleanly themed: skill guys who’ve produced (Clark, Olmande, Vernon, Hill), a QB with legit frame and leadership traits (Rolovich), and a four-deep OL intake meant to keep the Spartan identity sturdy while the portal does the “instant roster” work.

The catch is the conference context: by the mainstream team-grade stacks, SJSU’s class lands 8th in the Mountain West (behind the UNLV, New Mexico, Nevada, Boise-type tier). MW Connection’s own wrap-up tiered SJSU lower in the league’s 2026 pecking order, which basically translates to: good players, not a volume class, and not the league’s highest-ceiling star power.

But there’s a “right idea” feel to it; especially for a program that wins by stacking functional pieces and developing them. You can see it in the regional footprint (9 Californians in the early group) and the way the staff diversified body types: a true outside receiver with proven touchdown production (Clark), a longer target who can live in intermediate windows (Olmande), a tackle/core-body group (Latu, Wilhelm, Notarianni, Parks), and a defensive front that’s more motor + violence than glamour (Letuligasenoa, Jennings).

And if you want the conference “underrated” stamp: one league recruiting roundup also tagged Courshawn Hill as a 2026 MW sleeper.

(high school players only)

Mike: Clark, Letuligasenoa

Vic: Clark, Letuligasenoa

Mike: Rolovich, Mitchell, Lotoaniu

Mike: Letuligasenoa, Hill

Mike: Wide Receiver, Offensive Line

Vic: Offensive Line, Linebackers

Here is the list of transfer players San Jose State signed. We are moving away from commenting on their film, as it’s often many years outdated by this point, and frankly, it’s become too time-consuming. Jack is doing a tremendous job commenting on transfer players in his transfer tracker. Instead, this section will comment on the class as a whole in terms of attempting to address needs and overall philosophy.

QB Luke Weaver
RB Tyler Jacklich
WR Dominique McKenzie
WR Jordan Anderson
WR Jeremiah McClure
WR Anthony Ivey
OL Iki Tupou
OL Vaka Taukeiaho
OL Brian Tapu
DT Jayland McGlothen
DL Ian Shewell
LB Aizik Mahuka
DB Pierce Walker
DB Isaiah Buxton
DB Brian Dukes Jr
K Trajan Sinatra
LS Dylan Aguilera

The Spartans didn’t have many holes to fill on their roster, but they did need to address key positions. First and foremost, they needed to find a new starting quarterback, which they accomplished. Then a set of wide receivers was brought in, and the hope is that one of them becomes the next great WR they are known for producing in their system. On the defensive side, San Jose State had to bring in replacements for starters at defensive line, linebacker, and defensive back, and accomplished that, at least on paper. The coaching staff has prioritized portal adds and hopes to hit on players once again.

San Jose State’s class is one of the smallest ones among the twelve teams, both in high school recruits and total players added. That is part of the reason they are lower in the rankings. They may not have secured as many talented individuals as some of their peers, but their roster is still improved due to the new players. In the past few seasons, the Spartans have been able to find players at important positions who fit their system well. This has been mostly done on the transfer portal side, but to build sustainability, they will need to do more on the high school side as well. They will need to hit on a number of players to bounce back in the 2026 season.

Previous: Boise State, UNLV, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State, New Mexico, Utah State, Nevada, Wyoming