The San José State football season has kicked off with a handful of new players on the team, Danny Scudero being one of them in an almost completely new wide receiver room.
Scudero is a sophomore wide receiver who recently transferred from Sacramento State where he began his collegiate football career.
He hails from San José and graduated from Archbishop Mitty High School, about 8 miles away from the SJSU campus.
“I grew up around here and I had a great visit. Not only was I getting closer to my family, it felt like I had a second family in this program too,” Scudero said.
Scudero was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and as a transfer entered the transfer portal in December of 2024.
During his 2022-23 senior season, Scudero compiled 60 receptions for 982 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns, according to a MaxPreps webpage.
The hometown kid decided to come back to be closer to family and play for the local program.
Opportunity would arise here at SJSU with players like Nick Nash and Justin Lockhart moving on to the next level of their careers.
“The room has a new identity, there’s not one solidified leader, everyone respects and listens to everybody and we’re all new and learn from past leaders,” Scudero said.
Culture is a key component for the Spartans program and it’s appealing to players like Scudero according to Billy Ray Stutzmann, the wide receivers coach for the team.
Scudero committed to join the Spartans in the same month of his visit in December.
“It’s been an easy adjustment, my teammates, coaches and the staff here are very supportive and have made everything an easy process,” Scudero said.
Among the coaches present during the official visit, Stutzmann was one of them.
“This is a great young man, he’s a great family man, doesn’t say much, but you could tell he’s locked in. He’s very detailed in practice and in film,” he said.
With star receivers Nash and Lockhart moving on to the next level in their careers, the Spartans were on the search for new playmakers and a new identity in the wide receivers’ room.
Scudero has stepped into a retooled room and has filled in as the team’s new-number-one receiver.
“He’s (Scudero) taken it greatly, he never has the mindset that he’s the best, he always has his head down and works hard. He’s everywhere he needs to be on time,” Stutzmann said.
Scudero’s presence alone has an impact on the team, especially in his position group.
“He’s the heartbeat of the wide-receiver room, the guys know it, he knows it. He knows there’s a lot more he can achieve and he’s always looking to improve,” Stutzmann said.
Starting quarterback Walker Eget acknowledges that Scudero has become a leader on the team and someone who has earned the respect of a lot of his teammates.
“He’s an absolute baller, we’re lucky to have him. Just continuing to be able to throw to him has been really fun and an absolute blessing,” Eget said.
Scudero has become a reliable target for Eget, he totaled nine receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown against Central Michigan.
“He really understands the game and not only does he want to get better every play, he wants to get involved in different ways and always asks questions,” he said.
The duo did a lot of learning and growing during the offseason and they developed a lot the last couple of months in preparation for the season.
Their chemistry can be seen on the field, through just the first two games of the season.
Scudero has 16 receptions for 255 yards and one touchdown and has been the most targeted receiver on the team.
“I’ve been waiting to see that since we first saw him practice,” Stutzmann said when talking about Scudero’s second gear that was on display in his 46-yard touchdown reception against Central Michigan.
The home game against Central Michigan wasn’t Scudero’s first time in CEFCU Stadium as a player.
During the 2024 season, Sacramento State came to San José to take on the Spartans in their home opener.
“We saw him score and we knew he was really talented, he has a lot of speed,” Stutzmann said.
Scudero’s performance against the Spartans was one of the many reasons SJSU pursued the receiver after he entered the transfer portal.
During the 2024 season with the Hornets, Scudero totaled 53 receptions for 667 yards and 5 touchdowns with his longest reception being 41 yards.
“He’s a catch and think on the run player, that’s what he showed and he’s great at reading coverages and making route adjustments.”
Spartan fans have a lot to look forward to when Scudero hits the field, with an average of 15.6 yards per reception,
Scudero is set to take the field and begin conference play when the team takes on the University of Idaho at home on Sept. 20 at CEFCU Stadium.
“I want to win a Mountain West Championship; we have the team and weapons to do it,” Scudero said.
