It’s a restart and a regime change in San Jose as the Spartans welcome Ken Niumatalolo to town. With a roster possessing some star talent and a few additions via the transfer portal, San Jose State could look to continue its role as conference darling in surprising the country with more wins in 2024. Who are some of the top returning players for the Spartans?
San Jose State Spartans Top 10 Returners in 2024
Analyzing the returning players at every school is a difficult task in the transfer portal era. As such, we’ve included transfer portal athletes that were included on each team’s roster page to open fall camp in addition to the rostered players from last year.
10) Quincy Likio, Defensive Line
The junior college transfer from San Mateo played in 12 games for the Spartans in 2023 and had a decent nine tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss in a limited number of snaps. Don’t let the lack of statistics fool you, though.
Quincy Likio has great size at 6’2″ and 282 pounds, and the Hawaii native was named to the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List to start the season. He’s got the ability to play multiple positions up front and the new staff should see Likio’s potential and use him accordingly.
9) Robert Rahimi, Safety
It takes some gumption to wear the nickname “Rocket,” but that’s exactly what Robert Rahimi brings to the table. He’s a fearless hard hitter from the safety position and his frame (6’1″, 204 pounds) allows him to really bring the heat.
Rahimi sat out the 2023 season, but in his time before at Liberty, he was a stalwart. He had 56 total tackles, five interceptions, and a fumble recovery with the Flames in 2022. Rahimi should be in prime position to return to that form with the Spartans in 2024.
8) Floyd Chalk IV, Running Back
Floyd Chalk IV comes to San Jose from Grambling State as a transfer. The 5’7″, 200-pound hammer of a running back should find some serious ground to cover in the Spartans’ revamped offense.
Chalk ran for 696 yards on 123 carries and finished the season with nine touchdowns. He also added seven catches for 73 yards and had his best game late in the year with 22 carries for 172 yards and a touchdown. He’s small but powerful and twitchy enough that defenders will struggle to bring Chalk down inside the…well, chalk.
7) Taniela Latu, Linebacker
At 6’2″ and 233 pounds, Taniela Latu looks like he was cut from a pattern to play linebacker. Latu’s stats back that up, as he racked up 44 tackles and five tackles for loss.
He didn’t notch a sack last season, but expect Latu to apply pressure in the pass-rush game regardless. The local product is going into his final season at San Jose State, and he’s primed to be one to watch on a loaded Spartans defensive unit.
6) Matthew Coleman, Wide Receiver
Matthew Coleman saw action in all 12 games last season, starting three and catching 12 passes for 119 yards. With a deep room at the wide receiver position, Coleman should see increased usage as he enters his sophomore year as a Spartan. He has good size at 6’0″ and 169 pounds, but it’s his vision and speed that make him a candidate for a breakout season.
Coleman showed as much while returning punts last year for the Spartans, including one house call that went for 75 yards. If the quarterback position can find consistency, it will only mean good things for the explosive WR.
5) Jordan Pollard, Linebacker
A preseason All-Mountain West selection, Jordan Pollard returns to SJSU after posting career numbers in 2023. He had 79 tackles, two interceptions, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one recovery as well.
Pollard uses his speed and athleticism well. He’s a bit undersized at 6’1″ and 193 pounds, but he can be a versatile threat to make a play because of his explosiveness and agility.
4) Justin Lockhart, Wide Receiver
Part of a big WR group size-wise, Justin Lockhart is a 6’3″ and 196-pound athlete. He missed the 2023 season due to injury, which allowed his running mate Nick Nash to step in and have a phenomenal season in his place. However, Lockhart was primed for a great year had he been healthy.
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Lockhart had 36 catches for 578 yards and a touchdown in 2022, and while he only broke the 100-yard mark once, most of that was due to the low rate of passes thrown his way. Lockhart will want to shake off the injury rust, and when he does, the Spartans will have some serious firepower on offense.
3) Marist Talavou, Offensive Line
The transfer from Utah is a load at 6’3″ and 338 pounds, which is probably a big reason why Marist Talavou was named to multiple preseason All-MWC teams and watch lists. He started 12 games in 2023 and was a major key in helping the run game average 184 yards per game, good enough for 30th in the country.
Talavou has great hands in pass protection and is incredibly strong, as he’s been one of the tone setters in the weight room since arriving in San Jose. He’s also a great leader, teammate, and smart as can be for the position. This should be a big year for the senior, and if things continue, Talavou may have more to come at the next level.
2) Nick Nash, Wide Receiver
Nash has the kind of game that sounds like he belongs on the Fantastic Four. The 6’3″, 195-pound Nash is a nasty deep threat from anywhere on the field, and his frame gives him a size advantage against almost every defender he will face.
Nash’s 48 receptions were a career high, as were the 728 yards he gained and the eight touchdowns he scored. He’s a speedy target for his size, which is probably why he’s a walking first down.
The new system should fit Nash’s game well, and expecting a breakout season for him isn’t very risky.
1) Soane Toia, Defensive Line
Find a preseason watch or All-MWC list and Soane Toia was probably on it. He had 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, and some incredible hair to add to the résumé in 2023. And the Terror of Tonga is primed for another huge season in 2024.
Toia is the football equivalent of Sonic the Hedgehog if he were 6’0″ and weighed 278 pounds. He generates incredible inertia at the point of attack, and even though he’s technically undersized for the position, it plays to Toia’s strength due to his quickness and ability to get under the pad level of bigger offensive linemen.
Toia is one of the most fun players in the Mountain West, and a refreshed approach could take his game to the next level.
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