SAN JOSE — Yr two of San Jose State soccer head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s tenure was in full swing Saturday afternoon when the Spartans hosted their annual Spring Recreation at CEFCU Stadium.
The sport itself was a glorified observe that ended with a scrimmage. Niumatalolo’s greatest takeaway from the occasion was that no Spartans have been injured.
“That was the number one goal,” Niumatalolo mentioned.
Niumatalolo believes the Spartans are in a greater spot this spring in comparison with a 12 months in the past, when San Jose went on to complete 7-6 total.
“I’m really happy with where we are at right now,” Niumatalolo mentioned. “We feel like offensively, we’re going to be way better than last year.”
Quarterback Walker Eget is the only returning starter this offseason. Going into 2024’s Spring Recreation, Eget was in a “neck and neck” competitors with Emmett Brown, who transferred to Coastal Carolina this offseason.
“Walker clearly established himself as the starter, so it’s such a difference from last year,” Niumatalolo mentioned.
Nonetheless, Niumatalolo has put an emphasis on bettering the Spartans’ working assault this season.
Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann mentioned the pinnacle coach has requested the offense to concentrate on ball safety and physicality alongside the offensive line, believing these features may each enhance within the offense’s second 12 months underneath Stutzmann.
Regardless of dropping All-American receiver Nick Nash, Stutzmann is assured within the potential of this 12 months’s offense. New additions to the vast receiver room resembling Purdue switch Leland Smith, Danny Scudero and returning junior Matthew Coleman, who is taken into account the room’s chief, give the Spartans hope.
“We got some shiny new toys, they’re some speedsters,” Stutzmann mentioned.
On Saturday afternoon, Smith was one among two Spartans to get into the tip zone throughout the scrimmage, scoring from the 2-yard line on a fast display screen.
The one different Spartan to attain was true freshman quarterback Tama Amisone, the previous Kapolei Excessive (Hawaii) star who ripped off a powerful 55-yard landing run.
“He’s a great change-up for what Walker is,” Stutzmann mentioned of Amisone. “Tama, he is a twitchy, fast athlete. He’s growing in the pass game, but he’s got to develop a little more as a passer.”
Amisone and senior Xavier Ward are 2A and 2B on the depth chart behind Eget, in response to Stutzmann, who gave a robust vote of confidence to Eget.
“He’s growing into himself, everybody knows he’s a leader on the offense,” Stutzmann mentioned of Eget.
Eget went 8-for-12 passing, along with his last throw being the landing to Smith. Amisone wound up going 5-for-12, however he did throw the biggest completion of the day, a 49-yard go to vast receiver Roy Gardner.
“It feels great but it comes with a lot of pressure,” Eget mentioned on being named the starter this offseason. “I’ve been given the keys to the car but I have to make sure the car is running well.”
On the defensive aspect, Eget’s former highschool teammate and present roommate, linebacker Brady Van Bennekum, stood out with an interception and an nearly pick-6 that received referred to as again by an offsides penalty.
“He’s got a knack for the ball,” Eget mentioned of Van Bennekum. “He got me twice this spring.”
Defensive coordinator Derrik Odum has been happy with Bennekum’s spring, particularly along with his potential to make massive performs. Bennekum is close to the highest of the “Big Play Board” this spring, in response to Odum.
“He’s definitely a guy that finds the ball and looks to make and finish plays,” Odum added.
Offseason switch Runye Norton received the opposite interception on a extremely contested soar ball.
“He’s really started to flourish and understand the nuances of the defense,” Odum mentioned of Norton.
Norton’s teammate Kejuan Bullard Jr. has seen Norton’s development since he transferred from El Camino Faculty.
“He came in being new to the system, coming in with all of us, and we all know the system, I feel like he picked it up pretty fast and he’s been working hard to get on the field,” Bullard mentioned.
A number of members of the protection didn’t take part and have been seen on the sideline with out pads. This included linebacker Taniela Latu, security Larry Turner-Gooden, linebacker Noah Mcneal-Franklin, linebacker Dylan Lee and linebacker Zane Carter.
Offensive lineman Nathan Balestrieri was additionally on the sidelines with out pads.
Sophomore kicker Mathais Brown went 4-for-4 on subject objectives, together with 53-yard and 46-yard kicks. He was additionally 2-for-2 on PATs.
