San Diego State is in the early stages of spring practice, and yet the Aztecs have already lost a key piece of their special teams -- and perhaps a key piece of their passing game for good measure.
Following a practice session earlier this week, head coach Rocky Long confirmed that the football program is seeking a medical redshirt for wide receiver Lloyd Mills. As such, the senior-to-be will be sidelined for the 2016 season.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mills has been dealing with various knee and shoulder injuries sustained during his football playing career.
“I’m uncomfortable and the trainers are uncomfortable with him being out there,” Long said. “He hurt himself playing football and some other ways, too.”
The Union-Tribune writes that Long “did say that Mills already has graduated ... [and a] medical redshirt would enable him to remain on scholarship while pursuing a master’s degree.”
Each of the past two seasons, Mills has led the Aztecs in punt returns -- 9.5 yards a return last season, 11.4 in 2014. In that latter season, he was named second-team All-Mountain West as a punt returner by both the coaches and media.
On the receiving end, he’ll apparently finish his career with 23 receptions for 316 yards and a touchdown. He also returned one punt for a touchdown in 2014, and threw a seven-yard touchdown pass in 2015. In fact, Lewis completed both of his career pass attempts and has a pass efficiency rating of 357.4.