Players from California with no earlier college roster elsewhere in the data filled 72% of roster spots in 2016 and 50% on the 2026 roster.
In 2016, 85 of 118 roster spots were filled by California players not previously rostered elsewhere in the data. On the 2026 roster, 55 of 111 fit the same definition. The number of players previously rostered elsewhere changed from 0 to 31.
Of the 31 players previously rostered elsewhere, 17 are from California.
The median hometown distance moved from 138 mi in 2016 to 289 mi on the 2026 roster.
Before and during the portal era
2016–18 compared with 2021–25
- In-state, not rostered elsewhere
- Previously rostered elsewhere
| Measure | 2016–18 | 2021–25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state, not rostered elsewhere | 69.1% | 55.7% | |
| Previously rostered elsewhere | 0.6% | 14.1% |
The 2026 roster
- 627 miAverage hometown distanceAverage hometown distance among 108 located players.
- 64.9%In-state64.9% of players with a known home state are from California.
- 35.2%Backyard35.2% of players with a located hometown grew up within 100 miles of campus.
- 27.9%Previously rostered elsewhere27.9% of the roster appeared on another college roster in an earlier season.
Where San Diego State ranks
Homecoming Radius over time
The median hometown-to-campus distance, by season. The dotted line is the FBS median.
Roster composition over time
Where the in-state lens draws the line: home-state players with and without an earlier college roster, out-of-state players with and without one, and players with unknown geography. This chart begins where stable athlete IDs make transfer detection possible; the radius chart above carries the official-archive geography farther back.
Where do San Diego State's players come from?
| Season | Roster | In-state | Rostered elsewhere | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 111 | 64.9% | 27.9% | 289 mi |
| 2025 | 105 | 68.9% | 25.7% | 259 mi |
| 2024 | 109 | 61.7% | 22.0% | 311 mi |
| 2023 | 110 | 61.8% | 10.9% | 259 mi |
| 2022 | 117 | 61.5% | 7.7% | 209 mi |
| 2021 | 98 | 63.5% | 4.1% | 109 mi |
| 2020 | 119 | 67.5% | 3.4% | 119 mi |
| 2019 | 113 | 61.6% | 2.7% | 259 mi |
| 2018 | 107 | 64.8% | 0.9% | 259 mi |
| 2017 | 110 | 71.8% | 0.9% | 141 mi |
| 2016 | 118 | 72.0% | 0.0% | 138 mi |
| 2015 | 119 | 76.3% | 0.8% | 129 mi |
| 2014 | 117 | 75.0% | 0.9% | 108 mi |
| 2013 | 111 | 77.3% | 0.0% | 100 mi |
| 2012 | 108 | 81.5% | 1.9% | 102 mi |
| 2011 | 111 | 83.8% | 0.0% | 96 mi |
| 2010 | 105 | 83.8% | 1.0% | 98 mi |
| 2009 | 108 | 79.6% | 1.9% | 102 mi |
In-state shares use players with a known home state. Radius uses located hometowns.
Where the roster grew up
Located hometowns on the 2026 roster, with campus marked and the Homecoming Radius circled.
Homecoming Radius: 289 mi