Aztecs Like Freshman Linebacker

He is just an 18-year-old freshman playing perhaps the most important position on the defensive side of the ball--inside linebacker--but Eric Thompson of Los Alamitos continued to draw the praise of Coach Al Luginbill as San Diego State neared the end of its first week of two-a-day football practices.

Asked Friday which player continually catches his eye during drills, Luginbill said, “the middle backer, Eric Thompson.”

Luginbill said that other than quarterbacks Cree Morris and David Lowery and kicker Andy Trakas, Thompson is the only freshman to reach the two-deep level on the depth chart.

Morris and Lowery are the only backups to junior starter Dan McGwire. Trakas is battling senior Tom Wurth for the place-kicking duties.

Luginbill said he ideally he would like to redshirt all freshman, but need is taking precedence at these positions.

Receiver Jake Nyberg, a freshman who is likely to be redshirted, made three terrific catches--all on similar middle-distance “out” patterns--in the final portion of Friday’s afternoon practice.

Senior receiver Monty Gilbreath (knee) was held out of practice as a precaution. Senior offensive linemen Damon Baldwin and Chuck Hardaway both suffered slight concussions. Tests taken on Patrick Rowe’s injured right knee showed no ligament or cartilage damage, trainer Brian Barry said.