Aztecs call on alumnus QB Ryan Lindley to help at spring practice
Former San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley has returned to the Mesa to take reps under center as the Aztecs’ scout team quarterback during spring practice.
“Since we found out the rule this year that we could use alumni players as scout team players, I called him up and asked if he would do it,” SDSU head coach Rocky Long said. “He’s only going to have to do it when we’re just in helmets, when it’s scout team.”
With the Aztecs’ primary gunslinger Christian Chapman missing time with a thumb injury, Long has leaned on backup quarterback Ryan Agnew and punter Neil Boudreau to take all of the snaps under center on offense, leaving only the team’s younger coaches to take reps at quarterback on scout offense.
Now back with the Scarlet and Black, Lindley is expected to alleviate the coaches from at least some of their scout team duties.
Lindley completed 55.5 percent of his passes for 12,690 yards, 90 touchdowns and 47 interceptions in 49 career games with the Aztecs before being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Unable to successfully transition to the NFL, Lindley has moved onto a career in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Redblacks after spending four years in the league split between the Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.
Lindley should continue to work his arm and prepare the Aztecs’ defense until he is needed to return to Ottawa to prepare for the Redblacks’ 2017 season.
