Kevin O'Connell literally put himself on the map as a senior. Of all quarterbacks invited to the NFL Combine, he was the only one not listed as a potential pro prospect in preseason evaluations.
After working under the tutelage of former NFL quarterback and present Aztecs head coach, Chuck Long, teams now view O'Connell as one of the finer athletes at his position eligible for the 2008 draft.
O'Connell is a rarity in college sports, having served as team captain in each of his four seasons with the Aztecs. He is the first player in school history to lead the team in both passing and rushing in the same season (2007). He holds the school career record for yards rushing (1,312) and touchdowns rushing (19) by a quarterback.
A dual threat, O'Connell also showed off his strong arm for the Aztecs. He finished his career second in school history by completing 664-of-1,151 passes (57.69%) and gaining 9,001 yards in total offense. His 7,689 yards passing placed him third on the SDSU all-time record chart, while his 46 touchdown tosses rank fourth in Aztec annals.
O'Connell was a standout in both football and basketball at La Costa Canyon High School. After missing a good portion of his junior year with injury, O'Connell was named All-Region by Super Prep and honorable mention All-Region by Prep Star. He added All-League, All-North County and All-San Diego accolades.
In his final season, O'Connell passed for 1,950 yards and 19 touchdowns for the 7-4 Mavericks. He also ran for 310 yards. During his injury-shortened junior campaign, he threw for 980 yards and seven scores on 56 completions. During his prep career, he earned three letters in football and two more in basketball.
O'Connell turned down a scholarship offer from Colorado, spending his 2003 season redshirting at San Diego State. He was named team captain midway through the 2004 season, taking over at quarterback for the final five games while competing in nine contests. He ranked third on the team with 347 yards and a score on 73 carries (4.8-yard average). He connected on 115-of-236 tosses (48.7%) for 1,328 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, amassing 1,675 yards in total offense.
As a sophomore, O'Connell started all 12 games. His 3,065 yards in total offense rank ninth on the school single-season list. He threw for 2,663 yards on 233-of-375 chances (62.1%), as he produced 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also proved to be a fearless runner, ranking second on the team with 402 yards (school season-record for a quarterback) and five touchdowns on 140 carries (2.9-yard average). However, in addition to his 12 interceptions, he turned the ball over five times on 12 fumbles.
O'Connell's 2006 season was cut short by a right thumb ligament injury that required surgery. He was hurt in the season opener Texas-El Paso, missing the team's next six contests. He appeared in seven games, starting four. He hit on 59-of-101 attempts (58.4%) for 635 yards, including five interceptions and three touchdowns. He turned the ball over twice on three fumbles and rushed 48 times for 155 yards (3.2-yard average) with two scores.
In 2007, O'Connell earned All-Mountain West Conference second-team honors, becoming the first Aztec quarterback to be named first or second team all-conference since Dan McGwire was a first team pick in 1990, when SDSU played in the Western Athletic Conference. He also became the first player to lead the Aztecs in both rushing and passing in the same season, as he ranked first in the MWC and 23rd nationally in total offense per game (289.2 yards per game) and was second in the league in passing average (255.2 ypg).
Overall, O'Connell completed 257-of-439 passes (58.5%) for 3,063 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He paced the Aztecs with 135 carries for a school record (for quarterbacks, breaking his own 2005 mark with 408 yards (3.0-yard average), setting another SDSU quarterback record with 11 touchdowns on the ground. He even got in the receiving act, catching two passes for 44 yards. His 3,471 yards in total offense rank fourth on the school chart.
In 40 games at San Diego State, the four-time team captain gained 7,689 yards on 664 of 1,151 passes (57.69%), 46 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He totaled 1,312 yards on 396 carries (3.3-yard average) and 19 touchdowns. He added 44 yards on two receptions and a pair of solo tackles. He touched the ball 1,547 times for 9,001 yards in total offense, an average of 222.03 yards per game.
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