San Diego State’s hometown stars earn captain honors ahead of Pac-12 debut
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The San Diego State Aztecs have voted five players as captains for their first season in the Pac-12 Conference, and to nobody’s surprise, senior linebacker Tano Letuli is the first three-time captain in nearly 20 years.
Another logical pick in the team vote was another hometown player, senior running back Lucky Sutton, who, like Letuli, played at Cathedral Catholic High before heading to Montezuma Mesa.
Rounding out the quintet are senior quarterback Jayden Denegal of Apple Valley, senior defensive tackle Malachi Finau of Los Angeles and senior safety Max Garrison of Pasadena.
The five captains will lead the Aztecs into action for the first time on Sept. 5, when they host Portland State at Snapdragon Stadium in the first of four non-conference games. The Pac-12 opener will be against Texas State on Oct. 3, also at home.
Meet San Diego State’s captains
Tano Letuli makes San Diego State history
The linebacker is so highly regarded that he was voted the first three-time captain since quarterback Kevin O’Connell, who was a four-time captain from 2004-07. O’Connell, now the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, attended La Costa Canyon High in northern San Diego County.
Letuli was one of the leaders on last year’s defense that gave the Aztecs their identity as they finished 9-4 and reached a bowl game for the first time in three seasons. He had 30 tackles, an interception, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups before suffering a right ACL injury in a home win against Wyoming on Nov. 1. He still went on to be named honorable mention All-Mountain West for the second straight year.
He’s also one of five SDSU players to be named to the Pac-12 Preseason Impact List, as well as a first-team All-Pac-12 pick by Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports and Phil Steele Magazine. He was recently included on the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List.
Lucky Sutton brings star power to the captain group
Sutton earned the honor of being named a team captain by turning in the 13th-best single-season performance by an SDSU running back, with a MW-high 1,297 yards, plus 10 touchdowns, in his breakout junior season. He was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back, and a first-team all-conference pick.
Sutton has garnered a slew of preseason honors. He’s been named to the watch lists for the Doak Walker Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Maxwell Award for college player of the year. He’s a preseason All-Pac-12 first-team choice by Athlon, Lindy’s, Phil Steele and Pro Football Network.
San Diego State’s other team captains
Jayden Denegal
Denegal is a repeat captain after making it through all 13 regular-season games in his first year at SDSU despite being hampered by shoulder injuries. He completed 143 of 243 passes (58.8%) for 1,807 yards, nine touchdowns against eight interceptions, and a 126.9 passer efficiency rating.
Denegal had surgery on his non-throwing left shoulder before the New Mexico Bowl so he’d be ready for spring ball. Lindy’s Sports made him a “Player to Watch” and rated him as the “Pac-12’s Strongest Arm.” Denegal made Pro Football Network’s All-Pac-12 third team and Athlon’s fourth team.
Malachi Finau
The Aztecs will rely on Finau’s leadership since he’s one of only two returning starters on defense. He played in all 13 games last year, with nine starts. He had 21 tackles, forced a fumble and had two QB hurries.
His preseason honors include the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List, a “Player to Watch” by Lindy’s and a second-team All-Pac-12 choice by Athlon.
Max Garrison
No list of team captains is complete without a grinder, and Garrison fits the bill. He’s already appeared in 42 games heading into his fifth season at San Diego State and has stood out on special teams by returning three kicks and making 11 tackles. Just as important, he was a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete for the 2025-26 school year.
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Bernie Wilson recently retired from The Associated Press after nearly 41 years, including stops in Spokane, Los Angeles and, for the final 33 years, San Diego. He grew up in Coeur d'Alene and graduated from the University of Idaho.