Aztecs quarterback Jalen Mayden eager to go deep as SDSU opens training camp

JULY 28, 2023 8:07 PM
Jalen Mayden’s ever-present smile seemed even wider, if that’s possible, when San Diego State football players stepped onto the practice field Friday afternoon for the first official workout of the 2023 season.
It still hasn’t sunk in that he’s QB1.
A year ago, he was like DB12.
Mayden treats both roles the same.
“It still feels like I’m competing for my job,” Mayden said. “I mean, I am. That’s how you have to attack it. Coming out, it felt just like last year. You’ve got to work for it. I’ve put in so much work. That’s why I’m (mad) when something doesn’t go right. You’ve done this rep after rep after rep.”
The 6-foot-3 Texan switched from quarterback to safety before the 2022 season, then back to QB in midseason because of injuries at the position. He’s been the starter there ever since.
He guided SDSU to wins in five of six games after replacing Braxton Burmeister behind center. He also had at least one interception in each of the last six games, including three picks in SDSU’s Hawaii Bowl loss to Middle Tennessee State.
In the spring, Mayden said, “I really take that to heart. It’s me throwing three interceptions — balls that didn’t even get a chance to touch the receivers’ hands — or I made the wrong read. ... I’m most disappointed in myself and how I played those last two or three games.”
And so he works.
“Rep after rep after rep.”
SDSU’s two-hour practice was longer than usual. Mayden stayed even longer, doing conditioning work and some additional drills until he was satisfied with his day.
Asked what his focus was between the end of spring ball and now, Mayden had a two-word response will be music to the ears longtime Aztecs fans: “Deep balls.”
“Being able to stretch the field vertical,” said Mayden, showiong senior leadership by gathering his receiving corps for voluntary workouts. “Just bring them up here, telling them, ‘get your legs loose,’ As soon as we get out there, we’re going to call some fade balls, get you running, and then it was just deep posts, deep outs, corners. Just pushing the ball vertical.”
He identified establishing “consistency” as the primary objective between now and the Aug. 26 season opener against Ohio at Snapdragon Stadium.
“Sometimes we’re having good parts of practice, then we’ll have a lull,” Mayden said. “We can’t have those lulls. Our defense is always going to give us a challenge. They’re always going to be coming with some type of twist, some type of pressure, so being able to match that, and then go beyond, is what we need to be doing over these next four weeks.”
Asked to assess Mayden’s progress this week, SDSU coach Brady Hoke said, “I think he’s better. I think he’s different. I think he understands the offense. ...
“I like the development he’s had so far. The one thing I told him is he’s got to be more decisive and be a little bit more confident. ... He’s got to not be afraid to make a mistake. You’re going to make a mistake. No one has played a perfect game.”
Mayden will be pushed by the other quarterbacks, most notably backup quarterback Kyle Crum, a redshirt freshman from Riverside County.
Crum’s development was delayed by a broken collarbone last season. Hoke was impressed with Crum’s performance in the spring game, however, something the coach has referenced more than once in recent weeks.
Other than Mayden, SDSU is young at the QB position, though Hoke said, “I think we’re pretty good there.”
Notable
• What did Hoke want to see from the moment the Aztecs stepped on the practice field?
“Attitude, probably as much as anything,” he said after Day 1 was in the books. “We wanted to come out. We wanted to have a tempo. I thought we did that.”
As the weeks unfold, he said, “If we’ll play with good technique, which we have emphasized constantly through the spring and the summer, then we’re going to be able to play the style of football that is going to be fast, it’s going to be physical and our guys are guys are going to do a great job finishing.”
They took the first step.
• Sophomore wide receiver Josh Nicholson landed awkwardly on a deep sideline route and remained on the ground for a few minutes.
He avoided putting weight on his right leg while being helped from the field by two trainers.
Coming out of spring ball, Nicholson was a backup behind Mekhi Shaw for the X receiver position.
• Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jalil Tucker, a Lincoln High School graduate who started his college career at Oregon, did not join his teammates on the field.
“He didn’t report,” Hoke said. “He’s working through some things.”
On May 20, Tucker posted “Let’s rock DAYGO” to his social media to announce his commitment to SDSU. The posts have since been deleted.