2025 Opponent Offseason Storylines: San Jose State's made key retentions not often seen at the G5 level
When determining who on Texas’ 2025 schedule won the transfer portal, it’s safe to say San Jose State won’t be considered a winner as far as imPorts go. The Spartans welcomed a kicker, a reserve corner from Washington, and a wideout from Cal who missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury. But Ken Niumatalolo‘s program kept some of its best players as the SJSU moves on without All-American wide receiver Nick Nash.
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Nash did everything for SJSU last year, earning unanimous All-American honors in a year where he caught an FBS-leading 16 touchdowns. He hauled in 104 passes for 1382 yards during his standout season, and passed for two scores.
Even so, the Spartans went 7-6. And without Nash, things will look different. But SJSU did retain key pieces on its offense and defense.
Starting quarterback Walker Eget is still in San Jose and is set to embark on his redshirt senior season with the Spartans without Emmett Brown there to create competition. Eget took the reins and finished the year with 2504 yards and 13 touchdowns. While he’s not going to be on a draft board anytime soon, keeping some level of continuity at the QB position is a decent-sized victory at the Group of Five level.
With him returns leading rusher Floyd Chalk, who rushed for 721 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
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These retentions were key as far more left the program than joined it via the portal. And by the way, those numbers should reveal something about Niumatalolo: he’s not just an option coach. Despite 16 years as Navy’s head coach, the Spartans aren’t running the option. Just look at the fact that they passed for 4183 total yards last year and had an All-American wideout.
On defense, two of the Spartans’ leading tacklers will line up in Austin on Sept. 6. Jordan Pollard led SJSU in tackles last year with 115 in 13 games. He added 14 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, an interception, and three passes defended. Also returning is starting defensive back Isiah Revis, who had 72 tackles and two interceptions last season. More returners include linebacker Noah McNeal-Franklin and defensive lineman Gafa Faga. There were some significant portal losses like Robert Rahimi, but the Spartan defense, which admittedly wasn’t all that great, will have some veteran players back from a bowl team.
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Texas should be able to handle a team that recorded its third straight winning season, but it will have to handle some veteran players in order to do so.
