Aztecs football notes: Pass interference call still stings three days later

Late in the fourth quarter of San Diego State’s game against Utah, Aztecs sophomore cornerback Noah Tumblin defended a pass aimed toward Utes wide receiver Devaughn Vele in the corner of the end zone.

Tumblin was beaten on the play, but recovered in time to get between the receiver and the ball, turn his body and make a play on the ball. In fact, the Mira Mesa High graduate nearly came away with an interception.

Yellow flags flew on the play and the Aztecs were penalized for pass interference. Utah went on to score a game-tying touchdown before SDSU prevailed 33-31 in triple overtime.

“I don’t agree with this at all,” CBS Sports Network color analyst Aaron Murray said of the play. “There’s contact, but he has every right to go up and go make a play for the ball as well. ... Just because there’s contact, don’t hurt the defender.”

In reviewing game film, there often are teaching moments where a coach can point out to a player how he may have done something better.

This wasn’t one of those moments.

“Hey, you did a great job,” SDSU head coach Brady Hoke told Tumblin. “Don’t agree with the call at all.

“I thought he did a great job getting himself in position, got his head around, he couldn’t have played it any better.”

It was a helpless feeling all the way around, soothed in this case only because the Aztecs ultimately came away with a win.

The incident was among three plays — the other two came in the kicking game — that SDSU sent in to the Mountain West office to get some feedback.

The basic question in these instances: What the heck did you see there?

“We’ll see when we hear from them,” Hoke said. “It won’t be probably quite as quick turnaround because it was a Pac-12 crew.

“It’s not our normal Mountain West, Big 12 kind of crew combination.

“I don’t know when we’ll get a response.”

Such inquiries are not uncommon after games. What does a school hope to accomplish by asking about it?

“I don’t know what you accomplish, to some degree,” Hoke said. “Sometimes it’s a damn waste of time.

“I guess you want to hear somebody say, ‘Oh. yeah, you were right. We were wrong.’ ”

Quarterback update

Jordon Brookshire is still favoring his injured right ankle and was more observer than participant in Monday’s practice.

“It’s probably better than it was last week,” Hoke said before Tuesday’s practice. “I know Jordon threw some yesterday. He’s feeling better. If we played (Wednesday), he would not start for us. As the week goes on, we’ll see where we’re at.”

Brookshire was not at Tuesday’s practice. A school spokesman said he was believed to be getting treatment for the injury during that time.

It all points to Lucas Johnson starting again for the Aztecs in this week’s game against Towson.

Players returning from an injury could miss a practice early in the week, but Hoke said they need to be ready to go by midweek in order to play in that weekend’s game.

“They’ve got to be pretty significant on Wednesday, for me,” Hoke said. “Whether it’s 12 good plays, maybe, going through (individual workouts) and then Thursday they’d have to do the whole practice.”

Brookshire was not able to jog onto the field Monday and moved around gingerly enough that it would be surprising if he progresses enough to start this week.

Resting him against Towson would give Brookshire two more weeks — the Aztecs don’t play next week — to get healthy before Mountain West play begins Oct. 9 against New Mexico.

Haskell moves up

Freshman Will Haskell has moved ahead of sophomore Jalen Mayden on the depth chart.

Hoke confirmed that if Johnson starts again this week for Brookshire, then Haskell would be the backup.

“When you look at what he’s done the last two weeks, watching (7-on-7 drills) and a little bit of the two-minute (drill) he’s done on Thursdays, he’s done a nice job,” Hoke said. “He’s thrown the ball well and looks more in command than he was before.”

Asked if that also means Mayden, a transfer from Mississippi State, hasn’t progressed as well as hoped, Hoke said, “He threw the ball really well yesterday. ... I really believe it’s the consistency we have to have day after day.”

Injury updates

• Junior cornerback Dallas Branch, who has been sidelined all season, is still wearing a protective brace on his left hand at practice as he continues to heal from a finger(s) injury.

• Cornerback Tayler Hawkins was not at practice the past two days, at least not during the first hour that was open to the media. Hawkins injured his left leg on a tackle with two minutes remaining in regulation and was replaced by true freshman Noah Avinger. The extent of Hawkins’ injury has not been revealed (Hoke doesn’t comment on injuries). If Hawkins is out, starting safety Cedarius Barfield has experience at cornerback, but the Aztecs also are thin at safety while junior Rashad Scott continues to recover from last year’s ACL surgery. Scott has been practicing with a brace on his left knee, but has not yet played.

• Offensive lineman William Dunkle, who came off the field Saturday with an injury, was a practice participant.

• Junior linebacker Michael Shawcroft also was active, although wearing a brace on his right knee and a wrap protecting his right thumb.