San Diego State adds another defensive lineman from transfer portal

Defensive tackle Samuel Benjamin is transferring to San Diego State after playing last season at Arizona State.

Arizona State transfer Samuel Benjamin, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive tackle, is San Diego State’s third portal pickup in two weeks on the defensive line

May 13, 2024 11:45 AM PT

San Diego State added more depth on the defensive line Monday morning, when Arizona State transfer defensive tackle Samuel Benjamin announced his commitment on social media.

Benjamin, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound redshirt sophomore, is from the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, Ariz. He spent a year at Idaho State before transferring last year to ASU.

Benjamin also considered offers from Colorado State, UNLV and Bowling Green before choosing the Aztecs.

“I see my role as coming in and competing for the starting spot and trying to make an immediate impact on the team,” he said.

Benjamin played in 10 games for the Sun Devils, recording five tackles with one quarterback hurry.

Arizona State transfer Samuel Benjamin is the third defensive linemen to commit to SDSU during the spring portal period.

Benjamin was lightly recruited out of Ironwood Ridge High School before recording 10 sacks his senior season.

SDSU focused on adding depth along the defensive line after recording only 18 sacks last season, six by linemen. Coaches identified it as an ongoing area of need during spring practice.

Benjamin is the eighth player to commit to SDSU from the spring portal window, leaving the Aztecs with one remaining scholarship available.

The five defensive transfers include linemen Benjamin, Ezekiel Larry (Yale), Jared Badie (Illinois) and Krishna Clay (College of San Mateo) and linebacker Kyle Moretti (Central Michigan).

Three offensive transfers include offensive linemen Nicholas Green (Tennessee State) and Joe Borjon (Arizona) and running back Marquez Cooper (Ball State), who played for SDSU coach Sean Lewis from 2020-22 at Kent State.

SDSU also recently awarded a scholarship to kicker Gabriel Plascencia, a junior walk-on from Oakland who is competing with Nick Lopez to be the Aztecs’ starting kicker.

Plascencia had an opportunity to kick late last season when starter Jack Browning had a leg injury, going 4-for-4 on field goals with a long of 46 yards.