July 17, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
2014 SDSU FOOTBALL PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Sporting News named San Diego State football senior defensive back J.J. Whittaker (Oceanside, Calif.) and senior offensive lineman Terry Poole (Seaside, Calif.) as first-team all-Mountain West selections for the 2014 season. In addition, head coach Rocky Long is touted as the conference's "best interview."
Whittaker has already earned several awards this summer, including being named to the Thorpe Award Watch List, as well as all-MW accolades from Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and Lindy's Sports. Last season, Whittaker had 32 tackles (24 solo) along with 11 pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and two tackles for loss en route to all-MW honorable mention accolades.
Also a second-team all-MW selection by Phil Steele, Athlon Sports and Lindy's Sports, Poole was an all-MW honorable mention a season ago, and was one of only two Aztecs (Bryce Quigley) to be named to both the all-MW team and the MW Fall All-Academic team in 2013. The senior started 12 games at tackle in his first season on The Mesa.
Sporting News highlighted the return of senior starting quarterback Quinn Kaehler (Pleasant Hill, Calif.), sophomore running back Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas, Nev.) and senior wide receiver Ezell Ruffin (Long Beach, Calif.) as reasons for optimism for the Aztecs this fall, along with a defense that is expected to start seven seniors. Furthermore, SDSU ranks second in the publication's recruiting rankings with 13 three-star recruits out of its 26-player class.
San Diego State returns 12 starters and 35 letterwinners from a team that finished 8-5 overall and 6-2 in Mountain West play a year ago, culminating with a victory over Buffalo, 49-24, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. With its bowl game appearance, the Aztecs became one of only 29 teams in the nation, and one of just five non-BCS schools, to play in a bowl game in each of the last four seasons.
Tickets for all individual home games go on sale to the general public on July 21 at 9 a.m. PT, and are available on GoAztecs.com, by phone (619) 283-7378 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) or in person at Qualcomm Stadium Window "E" (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Season tickets are currently on sale through GoAztecs.com and the SDSU ticket office (619) 283-SDSU. An internet only presale for the KGB SkyShow game on Nov. 8 against Idaho is now available for KGB listeners, SDSU season-ticket holders and Aztec Nation subscribers.