Chuck Long likes what he sees in his cornerbacks, one of whom might never see the field in passing situations.
Davion Mauldin, a junior transfer from Cerritos College, is pressing to become San Diego State's fifth cornerback. Yet it's Mauldin's skills as a kick returner that are creating a buzz eight days before the Aztecs' season opener against Cal Poly.
Mauldin, who led the state's junior college players last season with a kickoff return average of 34.5 yards, is a former quarterback. As a senior at Cimarron-Memorial High in Las Vegas, he rushed for seven touchdowns and nearly 500 yards.
Suffice, Mauldin's offensive side is still showing.
“I like the ball in my hands,” said Mauldin, who accounted for 482 all-purpose yards at Cerritos last season and recorded 56 tackles at cornerback. “I like having the chance to go out there and show my athletic ability.”
Mauldin, who also was courted by Colorado State, Nevada, Southern Methodist and Texas-El Paso, will get plenty of opportunities.
When SDSU released a revised two-deep roster earlier this week, Mauldin was listed as the starting punt returner and will join junior Mekell Wesley on kickoffs. Improvement in the kick return game is crucial for the Aztecs, not only because they ranked seventh in that category last season in the nine-team Mountain West Conference, but also because a young offense will need every advantage in terms of field position.
“That's going to be a huge key for us, and we feel good about the guys we have now in our return game,” Long said. “On every championship team I've been a part of, special teams were the difference.”
Mauldin is playing behind senior Vonnie Holmes and sophomore Jose Perez at right corner, but would appear to be closing fast.
“Davion is very dynamic,” Long said. “We really like it when the ball is in his hands. He's a great kid with one of those personalities that people just gravitate towards.”
The waiting game
The Aztecs are awaiting word on the academic status of receivers
DeMarco Sampson and
Marcus Montgomery. Neither has participated in fall camp. . . . With junior offensive tackle
Taylor Wallace having left the team for personal reasons, offensive lineman
Uaita Emosi, a true freshman from Norwalk High, made his practice debut yesterday.
Mick McGrane: (619) 293-1850; mick.mcgrane@uniontrib.com
