Donnel Pumphrey is part of a unique family tree at San Diego State that has roots in Las Vegas.
Pumphrey, the reigning and preseason Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, played at Canyon Springs High School for Aztecs assistant coach Hunkie Cooper, whom he considers his father figure. Likewise, Cooper played six positions at UNLV under San Diego State offensive coordinator Jeff Horton, whom he refers to as “Big Daddy” and who recruited Pumphrey to the Aztecs.
“They’re still my father figures,” Pumphrey said Wednesday at the MW media days at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.