News Summary
San Diego State University (SDSU) has signed offensive guard Kalan Ellis, a 385-pound transfer from Syracuse. This addition aims to strengthen the Aztecs’ offensive line ahead of the 2025 season, addressing issues from the previous year. Ellis brings valuable experience, having started multiple games at Syracuse, and the team hopes for a notable improvement in performance this upcoming season. His signing is a part of SDSU’s strategy to enhance their roster through the transfer portal.
San Diego Welcomes Kalan Ellis: A Game-Changer for SDSU’s Offensive Line!
Exciting news is buzzing around San Diego as San Diego State University (SDSU) proudly announces the signing of 6-foot-6, 385-pound offensive guard Kalan Ellis, a transfer from Syracuse. This marks a significant move for the Aztecs, particularly as they gear up for the highly anticipated 2025 season. Ellis is not just any player; he’s the first standout addition from the spring transfer portal, which recently wrapped up on Friday. And trust us, this is just the beginning, as SDSU is on track to welcome about half a dozen new faces from the portal in the upcoming days or weeks!
Strengthening the Offensive Line
The addition of Ellis is particularly crucial because the Aztecs faced their fair share of struggles with their offensive line last season, thanks largely to injuries and exits from players. Ellis’s arrival is expected to provide much-needed depth at guard, a position that has seen its share of ups and downs. With his impressive background, there’s a solid chance that he’ll step into a starting role right away. Talk about a game-changer!
A Look at Ellis’s Journey
So, what makes Kalan Ellis such an exciting player? Let’s take a quick peek at his college career. He began at Syracuse, where during his freshman year in 2021, he managed to start five out of nine games. His presence was felt as Syracuse racked up 2,562 rushing yards, marking the fifth-highest total in the school’s history. Fast forward to 2022, and Ellis continued to shine, starting nine out of eleven games at left guard. During that time, he played a key role in boosting the team’s passing efficiency from a dismal 108th to a commendable 45th among all college teams in the nation.
However, his journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Ellis faced a setback after suffering a Lisfranc injury in 2023, which unfortunately cut his season short. Following a coaching shake-up at Syracuse, Ellis was dismissed in 2024, leaving him searching for a new home to continue his athletic career. Instead of playing, he took the time to recover and focused on completing his sociology degree. Now, as a graduate transfer, he brings one year of eligibility to SDSU, with an exciting possibility of petitioning for an extra year due to his previous injury.
What This Means for SDSU
As the Aztecs prepare for the new season, they have three senior starters returning on the offensive line: Christian Jones at left tackle, Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli at center, and Tyler McMahon at right guard. They also have transfers Dallas Fincher from Michigan State and Bayo Kannike from Utah Tech, which adds a fresh dynamic to their lineup. With Ellis stepping into the fold, the team is hopeful for a stronger and more consistent performance, especially in the guard position.
Depth and Recovery
That’s not all! The tackle position is also stacked with depth, featuring returning senior Joe Borjon and junior Cam May. Borjon had a promising start by taking the field in the season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce before a season-ending injury set him back. Meanwhile, May is expected to make a full recovery after foot surgery and should be ready for preseason practices in August. All signs point toward a significantly improved offensive line this coming season!
Final Thoughts
This off-season recruitment of Kalan Ellis is a shining example of how SDSU is focused on re-establishing its brand in college football. As the excitement builds among fans and players alike, there’s no doubt that all eyes will be on Ellis as he suits up for the Aztecs. It’s going to be a thrilling ride, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for the team in 2025!
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union-Tribune: Big Syracuse Transfer Expected to be Huge Help on Aztecs Offensive Line
- Nunes Magician: Get to Know Your Syracuse Football Orange Man – Kalan Ellis
- San Diego Union-Tribune: Aztecs Pluck Defensive Lineman from Temecula
- 247Sports: Kalan Ellis Profile
- Nunes Magician: Get to Know Your Orange Man – Kalan Ellis
- Wikipedia: College Football
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Football
- Google Search: Kalan Ellis
