Who Redshirted For The Spartans In 2009?

New head coach Mike MacIntyre should be pleased to discover that San Jose State was able to redshirt over 20 players during the 2009 season. Inside Sparta takes a look at each of those players.

San Jose State’s new head coach Mike MacIntyre said during his press conference last Thursday that he believes in redshirting players as much as possible. “I like to redshirt young men because I think there’s a big difference in a fourth your junior or fifth year senior” said MacIntyre. “When you standing out there with 40% of your team that are fourth year juniors or fifth year seniors, you’ve got men out there playing.” No doubt MacIntyre was probably pleased to discover that Dick Tomey held the same philosophy and that San Jose State was able to redshirt approximately (24) players in 2009.

Ten of 14 true freshman on scholarship were redshirted. The four not redshirted were (CB Ronnie Yell, S James Orth, DE Travis Johnson, and CB Chris Hill). Both Yell and Johnson were named to the WAC All-Freshman team.

Five walk-on freshmen were also redshirted, in addition to five sophomores, three juniors, and one senior medical redshirt (pending approval).

I had planned to ask Dick Tomey about the redshirted players during his season ending press conference to confirm the number of redshirt players, but that press conference was cancelled. Thus I have to take a best guess as to the exact players that redshirted in 2009, by reviewing the official participation reports.

2009 Redshirt Players

CB Brandon Driver - (Junior): Recovering from knee injury suffered in final game of 2008 season for Santa Rosa College. He was able to practice with team during pre-season. He may turn out to be the best player signed in 2009, and will boost the Spartans punt return team.

P/PK Waid Harrison - (Freshman): May take Phil Zavala's punter position in 2010.

LB Kyler O'Neal - (Sophomore): Played as true freshman and showed promise as a hard hitter.

QB Jason Kafka - (Sophomore): Transferred from small college in Illinois. Brother is the starting QB at Northwestern.

QB Cory Murphy - (Freshman): Walk-on that played well in pre-season camp.

QB Dasmen Stewart - (Freshman): Injured just prior to start of the season.

S Jason Simpson - (Freshman): Scholarship player.

DE Mohamed Marah - (Senior): Starting DE injured in season opener. He will petition for medical redshirt in 2010.

WR Noel Grigsby - (Freshman): Very talented player that should play in 2010.

S Courtlin Thompson (Freshman): Walk-on

LB Nick Grodotzke (Freshman): Walk-on was voted as a top scout team player.

LB/FB Ina Liaina (Sophomore): Versatile player that will benefit from redshirt season.

LB Wade O'Neill (Sophomore): Saw extensive game action as freshman in 2008.

RB Matt McCoy (Junior): Walk-on JC transfer.

DE Vincent Abbott (Sophomore): Played in 10 games as true freshman in 2008.

C Rueben Hasani (Freshman): Another scout team honoree, coaches were tempted to play Hasani in 2009 due to injuries to the O-line.

OL Amar Pal (Freshman): May take over long-snapper role in 2010.

DE Abasi Salimu (Freshman): Talented but raw. 6-foot-5, and only 245 lbs, should really benefit from extra year.

OL Ryan Jones (Freshman): Another promising lineman on scholarship.

OT Pierce Burton (Freshman): Extra season will allow him to add weight to his 6-foot-6 / 250 lbs frame.

WR Chandler Jones (Freshman) – Walk-on player.

DT Nick Finney (Freshman) – Walk-on player.

DT – Anthony Larceval (Freshman) – Scholarship player that will benefit from year in the weight room.

TE – Chris Bryant (Junior): Walk-on transfer.


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Mike Morgan is a Senior Editor for Inside Sparta. You may contact Mike with any questions, comments, or tips at

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