Former San Diego State University football great and NCAA all-time leading rusher Donnel Pumphrey has joined the SDSU
football staff as a graduate assistant coach. Pumphrey will assist with the cornerbacks, SDSU head coach Brady Hoke announced.
Pumphrey starred with the Aztecs from 2013-16, helping the program to a 37-17 record, back-to-back Mountain West titles (2015-16) and four bowl appearances, while playing in all 54 games over that span. Pumphrey finished his career with a NCAA FBS-best 6,405 rushing yards, while also leaving college ranked fifth in all-purpose yards (7,515), tied for eighth in overall touchdowns (67) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (62).
Pumphrey earned a number of accolades that included a twotime Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (2015-16), three-time first-team all-MW pick (2014-16) and three-time SDSU most valuable player (2014-16). He finished his career as the only player in NCAA FBS history with at least 5,000 rushing yards (or 6,000 yards) and 1,000 receiving yards. He also has SDSU career records in all-purpose yards (7,515), 100-yard rushing games (33), overall touchdowns (67), rushing touchdowns (62), overall points (402) and rushing attempts (1,059).
As a senior in 2016, Pumphrey rushed for a then school-record 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns enroute to finishing in a tie for 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Pumphrey was a finalist for the Doak Walk Award (top running back), semifinalist for the Maxwell Award (offensive player of the year) and Walter Camp Player of the Year, first-team All-America selection by Walter Camp and Sports Illustrated, and a second-team All-America pick by Associated Press, AFCA, USA
Today and The Sporting News. Pumphrey was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. SDSU finished with a school record 12 victories last season, one of only 10 programs with at least 12 wins.
The Aztecs played five teams who reached double-digit victories in 2021, securing wins over Pac-12 champion/Rose Bowl participant Utah (10-4), University of Texas San Antonio (12-2) and Air Force (10-3).
SDSU finished the 2021 season ranked 25th in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. It was the third time in program history San Diego State made the final AP Top 25 poll (also 1977 (16th) and 2016 (25th)).
The Aztecs open Snapdragon Stadium against the University of Arizona on Sept. 3.
