By Kirk Kenney | [email protected] | The San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego State offensive lineman Dean Abdullah has left the team, diminishing the depth along an O-line beset by injuries this season.
Abdullah, a senior from Antelope, which is 15 miles north of Sacramento, was a backup at both guard and center. He played in four games this season, the maximum number allowed to still preserve a redshirt season.
Abdullah played in the season's first two games against Texas A&M-Commerce and Oregon State, totaling 16 snaps at guard. He subbed for starting center Brayden Bryant the past two weeks against Hawaii and Wyoming, totaling 50 snaps, when Bryant aggravated a sprained right ankle injury.
By leaving now, Abdullah can enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens in December and have one more year of eligibility remaining. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Abdullah is the third player to leave the program in recent weeks. Sophomore wide receiver Baylin Brooks and senior defensive back Bennett Walker departed in mid-September.
Abdullah spent the past two-plus seasons at SDSU, playing in all 12 games last season with seven starts, after transferring from American River College following his freshman year.
SDSU starting left tackle Joe Borjon and starting left guard Myles Murao both have been lost to season-ending knee injuries.
Bryant has been hampered by a sprained ankle for much of the season. This week's bye allows the Aztecs to limit his participation in practice and heal for the Oct. 26 game against Washington State. Junior Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli and redshirt freshman Briley Barron are the candidates to back up Bryant.
Ulugalu-Maseuli has been starting at left guard.
"We've been shuffling the first half of the year trying to find a consistent group," SDSU offensive line coach Mike Schmidt said. "Once we kind of get solidified, we're out there playing with a banged up center, and that didn't help. The performance the last three games, we've got to be able to run the ball at a more efficient clip than we are. ...
"We've got to look at everything here this week, see what we can do efficiently and kind of hang our hast on that down the stretch. We got some good opponents coming up, so it's going to be a challenge, but we've got to find five who can stay healthy in there and build that continuity. If we're connect, we'll give ourselves a chance."
Starting linebackers Tano Letuli and Owen Chambliss practiced Tuesday morning, both with their right hands wrapped like a club to protect the surgically repaired limbs. Both players can be expected to return for the Oct. 26 game against Washington State, playing with a club the same way defensive lineman Tupu Alualu and safety Eric Butler have this season.
* Linebacker Cody Moon practiced with a brace on his right knee.
* Running back Kenan Christon, sidelined all season after ankle surgery, appears close to returning to practice.