When San Diego State backup quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. walked in for his exit interview last December, SDSU offensive coordinator Matt Johnson said: “How can I help you be a better quarterback?”
Emanuel smiled.
“I’m going to be completely honest with you,” Emanuel said. ”I want to switch positions.”
Then it was Johnson’s turn to smile.
He was like, ‘For real?’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir,’ ” said Emanuel, who moved to wide receiver coming into spring camp. “This was all on me. He allowed me to come up with the decision on my own, and they’ve been very supportive all the way.”
Emanuel reached the end zone twice when he started at quarterback in the New Mexico Bowl.
He had a 72-yard touchdown run and a 69-yard carry, SDSU’s two longest rushing plays of the season. He rushed 11 times for 170 yards against North Texas, all in 1 1/2 quarters, before exiting with a shoulder injury.
San Diego State quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr., center, runs down the field during the New Mexico Bowl game against North Texas at the University Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (Jessica Baca / Albuquerque Journal)
The performance made it even more apparent that the Aztecs had a playmaker in their midst who has to get on the field.
“He gives you a lot of position flex,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “We’ve kind of entered this era of football of positionless players defensively, because you’ve got to be able to match and defend everything week in and week out.
“You want to have offensive weapons that are very much the same way. … Bert gives you some of that flexibility with his size and strength.”
What could fans see this fall?
“I think they got a glimpse of it during the bowl game,” said Emanuel, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior from Houston. “My speed, for sure. I feel like that’s a great attribute that God blessed me with, just the ability to get out there and run. Coach (Lewis) has always said, ‘Fast guys run fast.’ So I feel like that’s something I’ve got in my bag.”
Though he has been a quarterback virtually since he started playing football when he was 6 years old, Emanuel said it wasn’t that difficult to put it aside and change positions.
Emanuel actually broached the idea of changing positions last year with his father during the season. And who better to ask? A position switch certainly benefited Bert Emanuel Sr., who was a standout quarterback at Rice before playing eight years in the NFL at receiver.
Emanuel said his father told him not to rush things.
“So when I finally came to the decision, he was supportive of me, and he’s been helping me along the way,” Emanuel said.
Through four of SDSU’s 15 spring practices, Lewis said he has been impressed with Emanuel’s hand-eye coordination and “natural ball skills.” The coach noted Emanuel’s body control, ability to track the deep ball, fit and frame the ball in space and his physical presence.
The biggest challenge?
“The craftsmanship,” Lewis said. “He’s in a race to refine his technique to where his physical traits are, and then learning the technique and approach and not just trying to rely on size and bullying people when it comes to blocking. There’s a proper approach to knowing where the block point is going to be. … There’s a nuance to it all, and there’s a lot of space that he has to learn how to operate out on the edge.
“He probably feels like he’s drinking through a fire hose right now. That’s OK. That’s good. That helps stimulate growth.”
Emanuel’s progress at the new position promises to be among the top storylines for the Aztecs during the spring and into the fall, though he said he didn’t do this to step into the spotlight.
“I’m not a guy that’s me, me, me,” Emanuel said. “I’m always for the team.”
Said Lewis: “It’s one of those exciting stories that we’ll figure out what it is. He will have every opportunity to make an impression. … We’ll be able to utilize his talents in a lot of different ways.”