San Jose State football: O-line looks to build off 2022’s growing pains
Star QB Chevan Cordeiro was sacked 42 times last season
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Last season, San Jose State’s young offensive line went through a lot of growing pains.
With games against No. 6 ranked USC, Oregon State, and Mid-American Conference champion Toledo in the first month of the season, the group — which returns five starters — has a chance to quickly demonstrate how far it has come.
“It’s really important to have them back,” SJSU quarterback Chevan Cordeiro said. “They’re the heart of our offense, the reason we do good.” They worked hard this offseason, and I believe they will prove many people wrong this year.”
As the Spartans prepare for their season opener against USC on Aug. 26, their offensive line is one of the most experienced. Last season, however, the group struggled to find its groove.
Last season, Cordeiro was sacked 42 times. Only 11 of the 131 FBC teams allowed more sacks, which ranked third in the Mountain West.
However, with a year of experience under their belts, the offensive line is expected to be significantly improved.
The line is led by tackle Jaime Navarro and center Anthony Pardue, both in their third seasons. They are not only the most experienced of the group, but they were also members of the 2020 team that won the school’s first Mountain West championship. Navarro, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 288 pounds, has been a three-year starter for the Spartans and started every game during their championship run. Last season, Pardue (6-foot-4, 317 pounds) moved from guard to center and started all 12 games for SJSU.
Freshmen tackle Fernando Carmona Jr. (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) and guard James McNorton (6-foot-5, 269 pounds) are also penciled in as starters.
Carmona started every game as a freshman last season, and the former power forward — a highly recruited basketball player out of Las Vegas High — was named to the Athlon Sports All-Mountain West Offense Third Team in June.
McNorton started nine games after transferring from Washington State last season.
Three players who started at least one game last season are competing for the guard position in camp: junior Marist Talavou, sophomore Malik Williams, and sixth-year senior Tyler Ostrom.
“With the chemistry we’ve built over the years and from last season, I’m confident that this will be one of the best offensive lines SJSU has ever seen,” said Navarro.
There is no doubt that the unit will be counted on to do better in 2023, beginning with keeping Cordiero, their star quarterback, on his feet.
Cordiero was sacked at least three times in seven of San Jose State’s 12 games, including seven times in the season opener against Portland State. SJSU still won seven games and went to a bowl game, with Cordiero passing for 3,250 yards and 23 touchdowns. Cordiero, on the other hand, was sacked five times in each of the Mountain West losses to Fresno State, Utah State, and San Diego State.
Spartan fans understand the anguish of losing a quarterback due to poor protection. During the 2021 season, quarterback Nick Starkel was sacked six times against Western Michigan, with the final sack inflicting a left-arm injury that forced him to miss a significant portion of the season.
Aside from making pancake blocks and protecting the quarterback from 230-pound defensive linemen, the offensive line plays a unique role on the team. The offensive line is frequently referred to as the group that keeps things loose during practice and in the locker room.
The Spartans’ offensive line, affectionately known as the “hot boyz,” can be seen dancing around the field or cracking jokes in the weight room.
Former SJSU center Trevor Robbins dubbed the offensive line group the “hot boyz.” The goal of the name was to give the offensive line the image of a fearsome group that connects the offense through character and chemistry.
“We just kind of carry that mantra with us and that sense of pride of being the biggest, baddest SOBs here,” Carmona explained.
“I fully embrace it,” offensive line coach Josh Oglesby said. “We’re the hot boys if they want to be the hot boys.” “I adore it.”
The offensive line could be the Spartans’ offensive X-factor this season. With depth at skill position groups like wide receiver and running back, as well as Cordeiro returning, it will be up to the offensive line to tie everything together.
The group’s shared consistency has made it easier for the rest of the offense to catch up as the season approaches. SJSU head coach Brent Brennan is pleased with where the team is as training camp winds down.
“The offensive line is exciting because those guys played a lot together last year, and I think it’s one of those things where the only way to get good as a group is to play,” Brennan said. “I’m hopeful that those reps back then, and those reps now, will just continue to accelerate their development and really help them become a cohesive unit that can play together and be effective for us, protecting the quarterback and running the football.” That makes me happy.”
