# 2016 San Jose State Spartans football team

The 2016 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans were led by fourth-year head coach Ron Caragher and played their home games at Spartan Stadium. They were members of the Mountain West Conference in the West Division. They finished the season 4–8, 3–5 in Mountain West play to finish in a three-way tie for third place in the West Division.
On November 27, head coach Ron Caragher was fired. Caragher finished at San Jose State with a four-year record of 19–30.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 4:00 pm | at Tulsa* | Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | CBSSN | L 10–45 | 18,748 |
| September 10 | 1:30 pm | No. 16 (FCS) Portland State* | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA | | W 66–35 | 13,210 |
| September 17 | 7:30 pm | Utah* | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA | CBSSN | L 17–34 | 16,041 |
| September 24 | 9:00 am | at Iowa State* | Jack Trice StadiumAmes, IA | FSN | L 10–44 | 50,851 |
| October 1 | 1:00 pm | at New Mexico | University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM | ROOT | L 41–48 | 19,852 |
| October 8 | 1:30 pm | Hawaii | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA (Dick Tomey Legacy Game) | Oceanic PPV | L 17–34 | 16,837 |
| October 15 | 7:30 pm | Nevada | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA | CBSSN | W 14–10 | 15,161 |
| October 21 | 7:30 pm | at San Diego State | Qualcomm StadiumSan Diego, CA | ESPN2 | L 3–42 | 25,613 |
| October 29 | 7:30 pm | UNLV | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA | CBSSN | W 30–24 | 15,733 |
| November 4 | 7:15 pm | at No. 24 Boise State | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID | ESPN2 | L 31–45 | 31,863 |
| November 19 | 7:30 pm | Air Force | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA | CBSSN | L 38–41 | 15,533 |
| November 26 | 12:30 pm | at Fresno State | Bulldog StadiumFresno, CA (Valley Cup) | CBSSN | W 16–14 | 20,991 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Pacific time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At Tulsa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Golden Hurricane | 24 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 45 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 16–28, 234 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Dane Evans (TULSA): 12–23, 198 YDS, 1 TD
* Rushing leaders: Deontae Cooper (SJSU): 19 CAR, 43 YDS; D'Angelo Brewer (TULSA): 22 CAR, 164 YDS, 3 TD
* Receiving leaders: Rahshead Johnson (SJSU): 2 REC, 75 YDS, 1 TD; Keevan Lucas (TULSA): 6 REC, 112 YDS

### Portland State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 (FCS) Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Spartans | 7 | 21 | 24 | 14 | 66 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 14–20, 233 YDS, 3 TD; Alex Kuresa (PSU): 10–22, 135 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT
* Rushing leaders: Deontae Cooper (SJSU): 18 CAR, 126 YDS, 1 TD; Paris Penn (PSU): 14 CAR, 137 YDS, 1 TD
* Receiving leaders: Tre Hartley (SJSU): 4 REC, 93 YDS, 1 TD; Alex Kuresa (PSU): 1 REC, 78 YDS, 1 TD

### Utah

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Utes | 6 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| Spartans | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
* Passing leaders: Josh Love (SJSU): 11–21, 184 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Troy Williams (UTAH): 20–28, 257 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
* Rushing leaders: Deontae Cooper (SJSU): 12 CAR, 45 YDS; Zack Moss (UTAH): 12 CAR, 95 YDS, 1 TD
* Receiving leaders: Tre Hartley (SJSU): 4 REC, 81 YDS; Tim Patrick (UTAH): 6 REC, 121 YDS, 1 TD

### at Iowa State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Cyclones | 10 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 44 |
* Passing leaders: Josh Love (SJSU): 13–27, 155 YDS, 1 TD, 4 INT; Jacob Park (ISU): 15–19, 165 YDS, 3 TD
* Rushing leaders: Zamore Zigler (SJSU): 24 CAR, 104 YDS; Mike Warren (ISU): 19 CAR, 103 YDS, 1 TD
* Receiving leaders: Justin Holmes (SJSU): 3 REC, 48 YDS; Deshaunte Jones (ISU): 3 REC, 78 YDS, 2 TD

### at New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 13 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 41 |
| Lobos | 14 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 48 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 16–29, 314 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT; Lamar Jordan (UNM): 4–8, 45 YDS, 1 INT
* Rushing leaders: Zamore Zigler (SJSU): 9 CAR, 91 YDS, 1 TD; Teriyon Gipson (UNM): 11 CAR, 156 YDS, 1 TD
* Receiving leaders: Justin Holmes (SJSU): 4 REC, 99 YDS; Tyrone Owens (UNM): 2 REC, 27 YDS

### Hawaii

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rainbow Warriors | 3 | 21 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
| Spartans | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 16–30, 160 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT; Dru Brown (HAW): 24–33, 287 YDS, 2 TD
* Rushing leaders: Malik Roberson (SJSU): 19 CAR, 91 YDS; Dru Brown (HAW): 6 CAR, 54 YDS, 1 TD
* Receiving leaders: Billy Freeman (SJSU): 3 REC, 51 YDS; Marcus Kemp (HAW): 6 REC, 69 YDS

### Nevada

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolf Pack | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Spartans | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 11–17, 142 YDS; Tyler Stewart (NEV): 9–20, 144 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT
* Rushing leaders: Malik Roberson (SJSU): 35 CAR, 139 YDS; James Butler (NEV): 20 CAR, 94 YDS
* Receiving leaders: Tre Hartley (SJSU): 5 REC, 76 YDS; James Butler (NEV): 3 REC, 92 YDS, 1 TD

### at San Diego State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Aztecs | 7 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 42 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 13–29, 104 YDS; Christian Chapman (SDSU): 13–18, 167 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
* Rushing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 9 CAR, 42 YDS; Donnel Pumphrey (SDSU): 24 CAR, 135 YDS, 2 TD
* Receiving leaders: Tre Hartley (SJSU): 3 REC, 46 YDS; Rashaad Penny (SDSU): 2 REC, 64 YDS

### UNLV

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rebels | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Spartans | 10 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 30 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 24–39, 292 YDS, 2 TD; Kurt Palandech (UNLV): 10–21, 161 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
* Rushing leaders: Zamore Zigler (SJSU): 18 CAR, 77 YDS; Charles Williams (UNLV): 22 CAR, 141 YDS, 1 TD
* Receiving leaders: Tim Crawley (SJSU): 8 REC, 114 YDS; Devonte Boyd (UNLV): 6 REC, 136 YDS

### at Boise State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 6 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 31 |
| No. 24 Broncos | 7 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 23–36, 278 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT; Brett Rypien (BSU): 16–21, 219 YDS, 3 TD
* Rushing leaders: Malik Roberson (SJSU): 12 CAR, 109 YDS, 1 TD; Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 28 CAR, 158 YDS, 2 TD
* Receiving leaders: Justin Holmes (SJSU): 6 REC, 106 YDS, 1 TD; Cedrick Wilson Jr. (BSU): 6 REC, 102 YDS, 2 TD

### Air Force

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 7 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 41 |
| Spartans | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 38 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 25–37, 340 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT; Arion Worthman (AF): 3–6, 33 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
* Rushing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 22 CAR, 52 YDS, 3 TD; Arion Worthman (AF): 28 CAR, 215 YDS, 2 TD
* Receiving leaders: Tim Crawley (SJSU): 11 REC, 147 YDS; Jalen Robinette (AF): 2 REC, 30 YDS, 1 TD

### at Fresno State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 7 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 16 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
* Passing leaders: Kenny Potter (SJSU): 15–25, 111 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Zach Kline (FRES): 10–17, 145 YDS
* Rushing leaders: Deontae Cooper (SJSU): 26 CAR, 126 YDS; Dontel James (FRES): 12 CAR, 42 YDS, 1 TD
* Receiving leaders: Justin Holmes (SJSU): 5 REC, 43 YDS; Aaron Peck (FRES): 6 REC, 63 YDS

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Position | SJSU Years | Alma Mater |
| Ron Caragher | Head | 4th | UCLA '90 |
| Arnold Ale | Linebackers | 1st | UCLA '93 |
| Al Borges | Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks | 2nd | Chico State '81 |
| Phil Earley | Runningbacks | 1st | Pacific Lutheran '80 |
| Ron English | Defensive coordinator | 1st | California '91 |
| Dan Ferrigno | Special Teams Coordinator & Tight Ends | 2nd | San Francisco State '77 |
| Will Harris | Defensive backs | 1st | Southern California '10 |
| Andrew Rolin | Recruiting Coordinator & wide receivers | 4th | San Diego '09 |
| Barry Sacks | Defensive line | 4th | Montana '80 |
| Adam Stenavich | Offensive line | 2nd | Michigan '06 |
| Nicholas Kaspar | Defense | 3rd | San Jose State '13 |
| Matt Peleti | Offense | 4th | San Diego '13 |
| Vince Hug | Football Operations | 1st | Lake Erie '09 |
| Korey Geist | Player Personnel | 1st | San Francisco State '15 |
| Gary Uribe | Athletic Performance | 4th | La Verne '96 |
| Melanie Hein | Learning Specialist | 2nd | San Jose State '96 |