The San Diego State Aztecs will enter the 2024 college football season making some history.
The San Diego-Union Tribune reported Sunday that Danny O’Neil has gotten the nod as the school’s starting quarterback. That would make him the first true freshman quarterback to start a season for the Aztecs since it joined Division I in 1969.
The decision isn’t entirely shocking as O’Neil had graduated early from high school to enroll early and compete for the job.
The freshman has previously committed to play for the Colorado Buffaloes. However, when Colorado OC Sean Lewis left to become the head coach at SDSU, O’Neil followed him.
He gets the nod over sophomore transfer AJ Duffy and redshirt freshman Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson, who will now compete for the backup role.
SDSU opens the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Texas A&M-Commerce at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.
“I’m really not too concerned about comparing myself to others,” O’Neil told reporters before training camp. “I just really want to come out here and work every day. Just work my butt off. That’s how I’ve been raised.”
O’Neil was named Indianapolis City Offensive Player of the Year twice and was considered among the Top 50 quarterbacks in the 2024 class. During his high school career, he put up 9,100 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns while leading Cathedral High School to a state championship.
[SDUT]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.