San Jose State University senior Brett Foley is one of the tight end candidates prepared to fill the void left by 2018 first-team All-Mountain West selection Josh Oliver. Foley increased his playing time as the season progressed and he finished with three catches, one of them a touchdown in the UNLV win.
The fifth-year senior, who saw most of his previous action on special teams and was a reserve linebacker, moved to tight end a year ago. The move looks like it paid off.
"We're putting in a lot of attention to detail so far. Although we had the athletes last year, I don't think we put together as much as we would have liked to," said the former Archbishop Mitty High grad. Besides he and Oliver, there were Billy Humphreys, Derrick Deese, Jr., Jackson Parks, and Jackson Burrill capable of playing the position.
"What we want to do and prove to ourselves and the offense that we can be dominant and be counted on in order to help us win ball games."
Foley is likely to be one of the many Spartans contributing to special teams play when the season begins Thursday, August 30 against Northern Colorado. Special teams coordinator Fred Guidici literally needs a roster with a complete list of names this spring. He is looking to identify a new punter, new placekicker, new kickoff specialist, long snapper, holder, coverage defenders and a group of return specialists.
Quarterback Josh Love was the Spartans' holder two seasons ago. Defensive back Zamore Zigler has San Jose State experience returning kickoffs. There is a veteran punt protector group of Foley and offensive linemen Jack Snyder and Troy Kowalski. And, a lot of hopefuls.
"Development of the 'big four' – punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return, plus we have all new specialists," said Guidici about his primary goal this spring. He faced a somewhat similar challenge when he first joined the Spartans for the 2012 season that turned out to be one of the best in school history capped by a Military Bowl win.
"I want to see a lot of confidence going on in the spring and the summer. So, going into training camp, we are solidified in those positions, that it is not up in the air and we're ready to go the first day of training camp in August."
Defensive lineman Duane Tuitasi didn't see any action on special teams a year ago unless it was in a PAT-field goal situation after an opponent touchdown. With his off-season conditioning program, the former rugby from Brisbane, Australia by way of Golden West College, might find himself more extra playing time on special teams.
"I had to drop weight so I could move faster. At the moment I am faster, but I still have to work on the playbook," said Tuitasi, who was 320 pounds at the start of the calendar year and now is closer to a solid 290.
For Tuitasi and Foley, they are two more of the 29 Spartans named Academic All-Mountain West for the 2018 season.
"When I came here (In July 2018), my initial goal was to get on the (team bulletin) board for 3.0 and I did. Then the Mountain West thing came along," said Tuitasi, a business marketing major.
"…San Jose State just got ranked as the most underrated school academically in the nation. Having athletes that focus on the other aspect of (student) life, arguably the more important aspect of life, is something we really pride ourselves in," said Foley, now a two-time conference academic award honoree.
The Spartans continue the second week of spring practice Thursday, March 14, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The team's first full-contact scrimmage is Saturday, March 16, in CEFCU Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The scrimmage is open to the public and there is no admission charge.