SAN JOSE – Tama Amisone is poised to make history as the first true freshman to start at quarterback for San Jose State in over 25 years. He will take the helm under center this Saturday night against arch-rival Fresno State.
Amisone’s ascension follows the unfortunate injury of senior Walker Eget, whose season—and college career—has concluded after sustaining a leg injury during last week’s 25-3 defeat against San Diego State. Eget was enjoying a standout season, leading the Mountain West in passing yards and ranking fourth in the conference with 17 touchdown passes.
The last time a true freshman started at quarterback for the Spartans was Marcus Arroyo, who was thrust into the role in 1998 during a game against then-No. 22 ranked Oregon.
The Spartans (3-8, 2-5 Mountain West) are entering the final contest of what has been a challenging season, having lost five of their last six games. Notably, San Jose State has not recorded a passing touchdown since the victory over Hawaii on November 1. Over the past three games, the team has been outscored 106-29.
Initially, Amisone had been utilized in designed run packages, serving as a change of pace from Eget’s passing abilities. The decision to insert him into the starting lineup came after Eget’s injury and a lackluster performance from backup Xavier Ward, who completed only 3 of 10 passes for 15 yards and threw an interception. Amisone, a standout from Hawaii’s Kapolei High School, made history by becoming the first player in Hawaii high school football to pass for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,000 in a single season, and he has appeared in seven games this year.
“We had to make the decision of burning the redshirt and saying he’s got to play,” offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann explained. “It’s been a little bit of a rollercoaster of emotions for him too.”
Amisone showcased his potential in the last game against San Diego State, playing three full quarters and recording his first touchdown on a 12-yard run in a blowout loss to Nevada. In that game, he rushed 13 times for 75 yards and completed 15 of 27 passes for 105 yards, marking career highs in both rushing yards and passing completions.
Stutzmann plans to adapt the team’s Spread and Shred offensive scheme to better fit Amisone’s dual-threat capabilities. “It’s going to change quite a bit,” he noted, “but we’re still going to do what we do and this is going to be a good test to see what he’s able to operate in the drop-back game.”
Amisone will aim to connect with standout receiver Danny Scudero, who currently ranks second in FBS with 1,234 receiving yards. Scudero trails Connecticut’s Skyler Bell by 45 yards but is ahead of USC’s Makai Lemon, who has accumulated 1,124 receiving yards. The potential of Scudero, who has emerged as a national leader in receiving, enhances the offensive prospects for the Spartans as they face Fresno State.
With the current dynamics of college football, which includes the transfer portal and NIL deals, the coaching staff recognizes the necessity to retain talent like Scudero, who transferred from Sacramento State this season. “In the next few weeks we’re probably going to have to recruit him again,” Stutzmann acknowledged.
As the Spartans prepare for the 88th Battle of the Valley, Fresno State (7-4, 4-3) will come into the game after a 28-17 loss to Utah State, which effectively ended their hopes for a conference championship. They are eager to regain momentum as they seek their first victory in San Jose since 2021.
Coach Ken Niumatalolo emphasized the importance of the game, stating, “We want the trophy back. But the big emphasis that I’ve tried to place with our guys is to focus on us and send our seniors out the right way.”
Fresno State poses a formidable challenge with the second-ranked scoring defense in the Mountain West, allowing just 19.7 points per game. Key players include linebacker Jadon Pearson, who tallies 88 total tackles, and defensive lineman Finn Claypool, who has logged 6.5 sacks.
The Bulldogs also feature a potent rushing attack with running backs Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson, who have combined for 1,218 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
San Jose State remains uncertain about which quarterback they will face from Fresno State, as coach Matt Entz has not named a starter between E.J. Warner, son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, and Carson Conklin.
This matchup is particularly significant as it marks the last time these schools will compete as conference rivals, with Fresno State set to join the revamped Pac-12 next season. “Hopefully we can send them off with a different type of gift,” Stutzmann remarked, while highlighting that the rivalry will continue, with six games scheduled over the next nine years, including a matchup in San Jose in 2026.