If senior Joe Gray wins the quarterback job and eliminates the two or three shaky plays each game that hampered him last year, SJSU could be decent. But there doesn't appear to be enough there defensively, especially up front, to beat many good teams. – Jimmy Durkin

Editor's note: This is the 14th in a series previewing each opponent BYU, Utah and Utah State will face this season.


The matchup

BYU at San Jose State, Nov. 6

9:30 p.m. MDT, TV: CBS Sports Network

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Spartan Stadium, San Jose, California


Three years ago, BYU marched into San Jose, California, looking for a victory over the Spartans and limped out on the losing end.

Times have changed, at least for San Jose State. While BYU recorded its first of three straight 8-5 seasons in 2012, the same year the Cougars lost 20-14 on the road to the Spartans, San Jose State has gone just 9-15 under third-year coach Ron Caragher.

The Spartans also are coming off a season in which they struggled offensively, averaging just 19.3 points per game, and ranking 116th nationally. San Jose State has yet to solidify its starting quarterback this season.

This lends itself to the expectation that BYU, under the leadership of senior quarterback Taysom Hill, should be an overwhelming favorite to avenge its previous loss to the Spartans. There's plenty of time between now and when BYU and San Jose State face off again, though, for injuries and attrition to rear their heads.

The Deseret News caught up with Jimmy Durkin, who covers San Jose State football for the San Jose Mercury News, to discuss expectations for the Spartans in 2015.

DN: What needs to happen for the San Jose State offense to get back on track following a rough 2014 season?

JD: They have to score in the red zone. SJSU moved the ball fairly well offensively last year, but was downright awful in the red zone. Their scoring percentage of 66.7 percent (26 of 39) was second to last in the country and they had just 17 touchdowns on those trips. Former All-American kicker Austin Lopez had a bad season, making just half of his field goals, to further their red zone and scoring issues.

It was so bad that they had one game, a 13-0 loss to Hawaii, in which they had 462 yards, 24 first downs, didn't punt the whole game and yet got shut out. (They had five empty red zone trips in that game alone). If they can improve that red zone scoring, they could easily move to the middle of the pack offensively in the Mountain West.

DN: What are the expectations for the Spartans this year? Does the team have the pieces in place to potentially beat BYU, again, like it did in 2012?

JD: There aren't many and no. This figures to be another transitional year for San Jose State. The Spartans recruited well in February, although ESPN four-star WR Kanya Bell has already been booted from the team for assaulting a female. It would be asking a lot to see immediate dividends from this class, with 2016 a more realistic year to expect improvements.

That said, if senior Joe Gray wins the quarterback job and eliminates the two or three shaky plays each game that hampered him last year, SJSU could be decent. But there doesn't appear to be enough there defensively, especially up front, to beat many good teams.

DN: Who are the players to watch on offense?

JD: Utility man Tyler Ervin is their best player. He's been a cornerback, running back and slot receiver during his time at SJSU, plus their primary kick returner (four career return touchdowns). He was the team's co-starter at running back in 2012 but was injured and didn't play against BYU. Last year he led the team in rushing despite starting the year as a receiver, a position that led to a big highlight play when he burned Auburn for a 75-yard touchdown catch. He's as fast as they come and a home run threat every play.

Wide receiver Tyler Winston is another good one. He was the MW Freshman of the Year in 2013 and SJSU's leading receiver last year, although he averaged just 8.9 yards per catch. The Spartans needs to find ways to get him down the field more.

Gray is the presumed favorite at quarterback, although, since SJSU closed all but one of its spring practices, nobody really has a clue.

DN: Who are the players to watch on defense and special teams?

JD: The secondary is loaded and led by senior cornerback Jimmy Pruitt and junior cornerback Cleveland Wallace III (a former transfer from Washington). BYU fans may remember Pruitt's fourth-quarter goal line interception of Riley Nelson in 2012.

Pruitt was a wide-eyed true freshman then but has turned into the anchor of a secondary that led the nation in fewest passing yards allowed last season (although a porous run defensive also helped).

Linebacker Christian Tago is another strong player, although his freshman season in 2013 might have been a little better than last year.

The best story on the team belongs to senior linebacker Jared Leaf. He hasn't suited up for a game since playing sparingly for Hawaii in 2012. He sat out 2013 after transferring and was slated to be a starter last year before suffering second- and third-degree burns when his apartment caught on fire. He's recovered and again pegged as a starter. If he can be as good as they expected before the fire, he can make a big impact.

On special teams, it's Ervin again. As mentioned, he has four career return TDs (three kickoffs, one punt, which came last year). He can be dynamic. Lopez, the kicker, also can be if he reverts to who he was as a freshman (17 of 17 on field goals) and sophomore (22 of 27).

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DN: What major question marks does the team need to solve in fall camp?

JD: Quarterback is the obvious. Gray is still battling juniors Malik Watson and Kenny Potter for the starting job. They'll also need to find some defensive line playmakers after losing Travis Raviti (UDFA of the Philadelphia Eagles) and several others from a D-line that struggled last year.

They also need to prove they are a united and disciplined team, which they haven't exactly shown themselves to be so far in Ron Caragher's first two years. If things don't shape up, Caragher could easily end up on the hot seat.

Email: bjudd@deseretdigital.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd

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