Former East County high school standouts continue to make an impact on this year’s San Diego State University football team. Christian High School alumnus Joel Alesi, a junior punter with the Aztecs, recently earned recognition as the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week.
Former East County high school standouts continue to make an impact on this year’s San Diego State University football team. Christian High School alumnus Joel Alesi, a junior punter with the Aztecs, recently earned recognition as the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week.
In an Oct. 4 game against Nevada – a 51-44 SDSU overtime victory–Alesi punted four times for 201 yards, averaging 50.3 yards per attempt. Two of his punts finished inside the 20-yard line and the 10-yard line, including the final one on the one-yard line to pin Nevada with 23 seconds remaining in regulation with the score tied at 44.
The ex-Patriot standout tied a career high in the following game with a 56-yard punt against Air Force, a 27-20 Aztec victory on Oct. 10. He was named as a candidate for the national Ray Guy Award on Oct. 25.
The Ray Guy Award, named after the former Oakland Raider, goes to the nation’s top collegiate punter.
The list of 85 punters will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists on Friday, Nov. 8; a national body of Football Subdivision sports information directors, coaches, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will select the top three finalists on Nov. 25.
The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Dec. 12, at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time on ESPN.
Alesi, whose longest punt in high school is listed at 70 yards, enters Saturday’s key MW-West Division game at San Jose State Stadium with an overall 41.7 punting average. He punted just twice in the Aztecs’ 35-30 victory against New Mexico last Saturday, averaging 36.5 yards.
Besides Alesi, other players with East County connections on this year’s SDSU squad include junior defensive lineman Sam Meredith (Helix), sophomore tight end Robert Craighead (El Capitan), freshman linebacker Micah Seau (Bishop’s), freshman defensive lineman Malcolm Jackson (Mt. Miguel) and sophomore wide receiver Kene Anigbogu (Helix).
Meredith, who started all 13 SDSU contests in 2012 when he earned All-MW honorable mention selection, has seen the most action of the bunch. In seven games, the former prep East County Defensive Player of the Year, had collected 14 tackles, including six solo stops, one tackle for a loss, one pass break-up, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick.
Craighead, who ranks second on the team’s depth chart, enters Saturday’s game with five catches for 32 yards.
Seau, a Spring Valley resident who helped Bishop’s to an undefeated season and Coastal League title, wears jersey No. 55 in honor of his late uncle Junior Seau, a former Chargers great. He enters Saturday’s game with five tackles in seven games.
Red and black
SDSU saw its record improve to 4-4 overall (3-1 in conference) after defeating New Mexico. The Aztecs are in third place in the MW-West Division standings, one game behind San Jose State (5-3 overall, 4-1 in conference) and two games behind 16th-ranked Fresno State (8-0 overall, 5-0 in conference).
