Brady Hoke walked onto the San Diego State practice field Monday afternoon to open spring practice for the third time since he returned as SDSU’s head football coach.
Hoke will be testing whether the third time is, indeed, the charm.
In 2020, SDSU conducted six of its 15 practices before the coronavirus pandemic emerged and wiped out the remaining workouts.
Last year, the Aztecs’ spring debut was delayed a day by rain and then another week for contact tracing within the program.
This year — at least on the first day — was different.
“It’s so much more relaxed,” senior linebacker Caden McDonald said. “Everyone can wind down a little bit and focus on football.
“We don’t have to worry about trainer handing you the water bottle, having you mask up and standing on a dot (to insure spacing from each other). It’s such a blessing … to worry about just football and not the COVID stuff.”
The news release for the COVID-19 delay a year ago came just minutes before the first practice was to begin.
The news was decidedly different before the team took the field Monday, with the Aztecs officially announcing a new member of the coaching staff two hours before they took the field.
Justin Ena has been hired as SDSU’s new defensive line coach. He replaces Jordan Thomas, who has been hired as assistant defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns.
Ena, a BYU graduate who played four years in the NFL, has 14 years of college coaching experience. All in Utah. He comes from Dixie State, where he was defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
“We’re really happy about what he brings as a football coach, the position itself, as well as a guy who can go out and recruit,” Hoke said.
Ena’s background is primarily with linebackers, but he seemed right at home providing instruction on a blocking drill early in the workout.
Hoke, who still works with the D-line, was right there to make on-field introductions, including a pair of key returning starters — super seniors Jonah Tavai and Keshawn Banks — three experienced reserves — seniors Daniel Okpoko and Nassir Sims and junior Wyatt Draeger — and a linebacker who has been moved to the line — junior Garret Fountain.
There’s also a pair of notable newcomers from the transfer portal — Justus Tavai (Hawaii) and Deven Lamp (Oklahoma State).
“With the winter, the runs in the morning and all the lifting, I think they’re glad to get out and play football,” Hoke said. “It will be interesting to see how they come out tomorrow, if they have that same energy. I would think they would.
“It was a good day, a good day to get out and for some of the new guys to understand how we do things.”
Hoke is looking for daily improvement at every position, but especially along a young offensive line looking to replace three starters.
“When you look at that, we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Hoke said.
The Aztecs have 14 more spring practices to work toward their goals.
Opening observations
The defense was ahead of the offense — the quarterbacks, anyway — on Day 1 of practice.
There were five interceptions — and could have been a couple more — during a passing drill midway through the workout.
Graduate transfer Braxton Burmeister, redshirt freshman Will Haskell and true freshmen Liu Aumavae and Kyle Crum all are competing at the position.
• Junior Jalen Mayden, who switched from quarterback to safety in the offseason, appeared energetic and enthusiastic in his first practice on the other side of the ball.
Mayden is loaded with athleticism. Shortening his learning curve will be his primary task.
“Jalen, go! Jalen, go!” SDSU defensive coordinator Kurt Mattix shouted during a one-on-one drill during the first half of the workout. “You’re thinking. This isn’t a thinking drill.”
• Former SDSU wide receiver Kobe Smith watched the workout from the parking structure adjacent to the practice fields. Smith entered the NCAA transfer portal during the offseason. Could he be entertaining thoughts of returning? That remains to be seen.
• Senior starting center Alama Uluave and redshirt freshman safety New Zealand Williams were the only two players on the spring roster who were not in attendance.
Hoke said both players had class.
Backup center Thomas Mirabella was among those who stepped in for Uluave, whose absence was not too concerning to the coach.
“The good thing is he’s got a ton of snaps,” Hoke said. “It gives those guys (behind Uluave) a chance to get better, which is what they’re trying to do.”
• Cornerbacks Dallas Branch and Noah Avinger participated in drills, but are avoiding contact as they recover from offseason shoulder injuries.
• Asked if any one player stood out to him, Hoke chose one of his defensive linemen, newcomer Tavai.
“He’s strong,” Hoke said. “He’s strong.”
