Photo by Max Muselmann on Unsplash
The 2026 season got weirder and will start a week sooner than expected with Sacramento State coming into the conference. Sac State, in case you haven’t heard, is making the very expensive and bold choice to invite itself into the Mid-American Conference on a temporary, football-only basis beginning this year.
Its first opponent: Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti. EMU already had its September schedule filled out with four non-conference game, so the MAC decided to have Sac State start its FBS life out with a Week 0 league road trip.
And since Sac State is a MAC team now, it gets to be included in posts like these. I started with EMU last week to get ahead of the team’s spring game festivities, and now it’s time for the MAC’s audiences to get acquainted with the new league team in green. Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be going over each MAC team’s roster to tell you some quick and easy notes on just about everybody.
Which starters are returning? How many transfers come in at each position group? Those important questions will be answered below.
The Hornets, clearly, have shown that they’re willing to find and pay a lot of money to move up in the world of college football. Ahead of last season, the team hired Brennan Marion as its head coach and believed to be the most expensive salary in FCS football: $750,000. While unsuccessful, Sac State got former 4-star QB Jaden Rashada to come and play for the 2025 team. Marion, the author of the exciting Go-Go offense, led the Hornets to a 7-5 finish and was arguably penalties away from making the FCS playoff.
Marion left and doubled his salary over the offseason after just one season to be Colorado’s offensive play caller on Deion Sanders’ staff. Four offensive players followed Marion to Colorado, all five starting offensive linemen are gone (to be fair, most graduated normally), and all four starting defensive backs have transferred out to four different FBS schools.
To replace, Sac State hired Alonzo Carter, a 57-year old running backs coach who was last a head coach for California high schools and Contra Costa College from 1999-2016. Brett Brennan hired Carter as a running backs coach to his 1st year staff at San Jose State and Carter has been on his staff until this Sac State move.
Sac State Football Roster Breakdown
RETURN (Starters*) | DEPART | INCOMING | |
|---|---|---|---|
Total Offense | 28 (2) | 28 (9) | 26 |
Total Defense | 24 (3) | 27 (8) | 31 |
Total Specialists | 3 (1) | 4 (2) | 3 |
(*Note: Tallying up the number of starters can get wonky, especially in larger position groups like offensive line and defensive backs. Starters, for the purpose of this exercise, are usually guys who made at least six starts just last season.)
Offense
QUARTERBACKS
Returning player
#6 Jamar Malone — Second-year signee from Los Angeles, Calif. (Warren). Ran the ball once as a true freshman.
Roster losses
Jaden Rashada — Transfer to Mississippi State. 2 starts in 6 games last year. Previously: Georgia, Arizona State.
Luke Sprague
Cardell Williams — Transfer portal. 10 starts made in 2025. Last year: 1,621 pass yards, 10 pass TD, 7 INT, 378 rush yards, 12 rush TD. Previously: Tulsa.
New additions
#8 Jackson Sharman — IDAHO STATE TRANSFER. Career: 4 games, 22 of 35 passing (62.9%), 169 yards. From Torrance, Calif. (Torrance West).
#11 Jaylen Patterson — NEW MEXICO STATE TRANSFER. DNP in one year there. From Moreno Valley, Calif. (San Jacinto).
#17 Carson Conklin — FRESNO STATE TRANSFER. Rejoins Sacramento State after spending 2025 with Fresno State. 2025: 6 games, 47/96 passing, 354 yards, 1 TD. Was freshman All-American in 2024, third in Jerry Rice Award voting (FCS top freshman) in 2024. Set school records by freshman at Sacramento State with 2,876 pass yards and 28 TD. From Yorba Linda, Calif. (Centennial).
Liam Meeker — Freshman signee from Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Mira Costa).
Marion’s Go-Go offense sometimes got hung up at the most important position on the field. This team brought home Northern Cal native Jaden Rashada after the former 5-star’s first two stints at Georgia and Arizona State went south. Rashada started the year at quarterback, but he did not have the goods at the FCS level and was replaced by Cardell Williams, who finished with more rushing touchdowns than passing scores.
Carson Conklin returns to the roster, though. He was shuffled out of the team’s equation last year when he was riding high off a big freshman year, but wasn’t prioritized by the newly-hired Marion. He had the chance to bring home Rashada and took it, so Carson left in boomerang fashion. His Fresno State stay lasted only a year, and now he returns to an offensive unit that’s desperate for some talent. But his starting job isn’t a guaranteed thing. Conklin still has to beat out two other transfers joining the team as well.
RUNNING BACKS
Returning players
#1 Jamar Curtis — Second-year transfer from Lafayette, where he was a two-time Walter Payton Award finalist and All-American. 2025: 4 games, sidelined to ankle injury, 24 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD. From Waldorf, Md. (St. John’s College HS).
#14 Curron Borders — Fourth-year signee. Missed 2025 to knee injury. 2024: 12 games, 65 att., 361 rush yards, 1 TD, 20 catches, 101 receiving yards. From Sacramento, Calif. (Antelope).
#23 Elias Brown — Second-year transfer from American River J.C. JUCO: 10 games, 1,148 rush yards, 16 TD. From Antelope, Calif. (Rocklin).
#28 Jojo Solis — Second-year signee from Adelanto, Calif. (Aquinas). Played seven games last year, moved from safety to running back.
Roster losses
Sam Adams II — 2025: 12 games, 4 starts, 181 rush yards, 3 TD, 134 rec. yards, 2 rec. TD. Previously: Washington (31 games played).
Rodney Hammond Jr. — Last year: Walter Payton Away finalist, First Team All-Big Sky, 1,216 rush yards, 13 TD, 147 rec. yards, 455 kick return yards, 1 KR TD. Previously: Pitt.
Damian Henderson II — Transfer to Colorado. 2025: 12 games, 1 start, 565 rush yards. Previously: Colorado State.
Michael Johnson — Career: 18 games, 159 rush yards, 1 TD.
Savion Red — 2025: 58 rush yards, 12 att. Previously: Nevada, Texas.
Jaquail Smith — Transfer to Colorado. Played in 8 games as true freshman; 511 rush yards on 76 carries, 5 TD.
New additions
#3 Cincere Rhaney — SAN DIEGO STATE TRANSFER. 2025: 5 att., 19 yards. From Los Angeles, Calif. (Serra).
#20 Bryant Collins — WEST LA JC TRANSFER. JUCO: 2,053 career rush yards, 21 TD, league MVP as freshman in 2024. From Watts, Calif. (Dymally).
#21 Isaiah Ene — Freshman signee from Roseville, Calif. (Granite Bay).
#25 Davion Godley — WEBER STATE TRANSFER. Career: 19 games, 195 att., 1,12 rush yards, 8 TD, 22 receptions, 126 rec. yards. From Richmond, Texas (Fulshear).
This team’s passing game just wasn’t it last year. But the run game was one of the nation’s best: 2nd in the FCS with 262.6 rush yards per game, 3rd with 3,151 rush yards, 4th with 39 TD, and 10th in efficiency (5.56 avg.). The biggest contributors to the team’s success last year either graduated or followed Marion to Colorado.
Three transfers come in this year, including one guy whose early track record is really interesting. Bryant Collins popped off as a JUCO running back with 1,117 rush yards in 8 games as a freshman, then he had 936 yards in 10 games as a sophomore. He joins the team this year as he follows newly-hired co-OC and WR coach Eric Scott.
Carter’s running back rooms at the JUCO, Mountain West, and, very briefly, the Big XII have all proved to have success, so I’m sure this position room is going to be a point of emphasis for the offense in 2026.
OFFENSE | RETURN (Starters*) | DEPART | INCOMING |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarterback | 1 | 3 (1) | 4 |
Running back | 4 | 6 (1) | 4 |
Wide receiver | 6 | 8 (2) | 7 |
Tight end | 4 (2: 1 TE, 1 FB) | 4 | 3 |
Offensive line | 13 | 7 (5) | 8 |
Total Offense | 28 (2) | 28 (9) | 26 |
WIDE RECEIVERS
Returning players
#9 Ajon Bryant — Third-year signee from Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei). Career: 7 games, 2 catches, 58 yards, 4 rushes, 42 rush yards. Injured most of 2025 to injury.
#10 Jace Wilson — Second-year transfer from UTSA. 2025: 11 games, 4 starts, 3 catches, 56 yards. From Denton, Texas (Guyer).
#19 Guy "Tre" Fernandez III — Second-year signee from Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Notre Dame).
#12 Onterrio Smith, Jr. — Fourth-year signee from Sacramento, Calif. (Folsom). 4 career starts, 3 made in 2025. Career: 7 rec., 45 yards, 1 TD.
#80 Drey Garner — Second-year signee from San Diego, Calif. (University City).
#83 Jaxon Fresques — Second-year signee from Layton, Utah (Northridge). 12 games played as true freshman. ‘Little of this, little of that’: 2/2 passing for 15 yards, 1 catch for 2 yards, 5 kick returns for 37 yards, 5 punt returns for 34 yards. Also had 3 tackles.
Roster losses
Hayden Anderson — Transfer to Santa Rosa J.C.
Jordan Anderson — Transfer to San Jose State. 2025: 12 games, 9 starts, 24 catches, 361 yards. Previously, Oregon State.
Trey Bass — Transfer portal.
Ernest Campbell — Transfer to Colorado. Came to Sac State as Texas A&M transfer. 2025: FCS Central Freshman All-American, 11 games, 6 starts, 37 receptions, 755 yards, 8 TD.
Tim Conerly — Transfer portal. 2025: 4 games, 5 catches, 26 yards. Came to Sac State as UNLV transfer.
Damien McDaniel — Transfer to Prairie View A&M. Previously: UNLV.
Tye Nickens — Transfer portal.
Gavin Thompson — Played in one game for Sac State. Previously: St. Francis, UNLV, Pitt.
New additions
#2 Matt Coleman — SAN JOSE STATE TRANSFER. Career: 36 games, 66 receptions, 651 yards, 3 TD. From Carson, Calif. (Serra).
#4 Kenyon Shabazz — COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO JC TRANSFER. 2025: 17 catches, 178 yards, 2 TD. From Sacramento, Calif. (Grant).
#7 Khai Taylor — DIABLO VALLEY JC TRANSFER. 2025: 44 catches, 766 yards, 10 TD. From Pittsburg, Calif. (Pittsburg).
#13 Elijah Washington — OREGON STATE TRANSFER. From Oakland, Calif. (Castlemont).
#15 Dezmyn Hardy — Freshman signee from North Hills, Calif. (Calabasas).
Matthew Auau — Freshman signee from Santa Maria, Calif. (Edison).
Carlton Perrilliat — Freshman signee from Oakland, Calif. (Salesian Prep).
Last year, this room was frustrated with poor passing from what was sold as a former bluechip quarterback. Now, this team’s identity is clearly going to be about running the ball down team’s throats. How does coach Carter plan to get his receivers involved though?
Three productive receivers at the JUCO level step up this year, and six other receivers held onto their spots from last year too. The biggest loss in this room is Earnest Campbell, who was a Freshman All-American type with six starts made last year. Naturally, he followed Marion to Colorado.
TIGHT ENDS
Returning starter
#16 Jordan Williams — Second-year transfer from Colorado State. From Riverside, Calif. (St. Paul). Made 9 starts in debut season with Sac. State. 12 games played, 15 catches, 170 rec. yards, 1 TD.
(FB) #41 Sammy Norris — Second-year transfer from UNLV. Full-time fullback, played in 12 games last year. Previously: Colorado State. From Las Vegas, Nev. (Centennial).
Also returns
#85 Elijah Huddle — Second-year signee from Citrus Heights, Calif. (Casa Roble). Made 10 appearances last year, mostly on special teams.
#86 Davis Ambuehl — Second-year transfer from UNLV. Played Ole Miss basketball during 2022-2023 season. From Los Angeles, Calif. (Palisades Charter).
Roster losses
Gavin Nelson — Transfer to Cal Poly. 3 starts over 9 games played in 2025, 2 starts in 2024. Career: 5 rec., 70 yards.
Dontae Robinson — Transfer to Central Michigan.
Logan Tanner
Bear Tenney — Transfer to New Mexico.
New additions
#82 Kyle Koontz — HOUSTON CHRISTIAN TRANSFER. Last year: 10 games, 8 catches, 75 yards. From Minden, Nev. (Douglas).
#88 Cedric Anton — TIFFIN TRANSFER. Also former Eastern Michigan player in 2023. Originally from Germany, played HS ball in Georgia (Rabun Gap-Nacoochee). Played in 10 games for Tiffin in 2025.
Jack Hodge — Freshman signee from Thornton, Colo. (Riverdale Ridge).
Sac State brings back the lanky Jordan Williams (6’5”, 217 lbs.) and converted lineman to fullback Sammy Norris (6’0”, 262 lbs.), and a pair of other former transfers. Somehow, that’s just enough to make this the offense’s most stable position group from 2025 to 2026.
Also, welcome back to to Ypsilanti in August, Cedric Anton.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Returning players
#51 Joseph Speno — Third-year transfer from Foothill J.C. From San Jose, Calif. (Pioneer). Appeared in 1 game in 2024.
#53 Elijah Ortiz — Third-year transfer from Laney J.C. From Union City, Calif. (James Logan).
#54 Brodie Tagaloa — Second-year transfer from Nebraska. Played 1 game in 2025, suffered knee injury. From Pittsburg, Calif. (De La Salle). 2025: Played 1 game before injury, registered 2 tackles. Nebraska transfer, where he played both tight end and defensive line.
#57 Luke Slater — Third-year signee from Bellevue, Wash. (Newport). Also trained as tight end/listed fullback in 2025.
#63 Graysen Lee — Second-year signee from Bakersfield, Calif. (Frontier).
#64 Brandon Sousa — Fifth-year signee from Pleasanton, Calif. (Foothill). Appeared in one game in each of last three seasons.
#65 Giovanni Kovacs — Third-year signee from Pleasanton, Calif. (Amador Valley).
#68 Davis May — Fourth-year signee from Bakersfield, Calif. (Garces Memorial). Career: 20 games played, mostly on special teams.
#70 Jaxon Moore — Second-year signee from Roseville, Calif. (West Park).
#71 Bryson Summers — Third-year transfer from Coastal Carolina. Played in 23 games with Sac. State, 4 starts. From El Dorado Hills, Calif. (Oak Ridge).
#75 DeAnthony Sheffield — Second-year signee from Los Angeles, Calif. (Dorsey).
#77 Jeremiah Stallworth — Second-year signee from Palo Alto, Calif. (Palo Alto). 6 games, 3 starts as true freshman.
#78 Richard McKay — Fourth-year signee from Vallejo, Calif. (Clayton Valley Charter). 5 games played over previous two seasons.
Roster losses
Dean Abdullah — Second Team All-Big Sky in 2025, started every game at center in 1 season at Sac State. Came as San Diego State transfer.
Cade Gretlein — 2025: DNP. 2024: 12 games, 3 starts at left guard.
Sawyer Hays — Career: 19 starts, 18 at left tackle.
Jordan Herman — 5 games played as Charlotte transfer. Previously: Florida, Hutchinson C.C.
Aidan Meek — Career: 3-year starter (33 games), Second Team All-Big Sky in 2025, starting right tackle in 2025.
Kenndel Riley — Played 32 games, 25 starts. Starting left guard in 2025.
Jose Soto — Transfer to Colorado. Full-season starter, primarily at right guard, in 2025. Starting right guard in 2024, but suffered foot injury and missed entire season.
New additions
#55 Garrison Blank — UCLA TRANSFER. From Rocklin, Calif. (Rocklin).
#63 Jamin Guilbert — AMERICAN RIVER J.C. TRANSFER. 2025: All-NorCal League. From Eureka, Calif.
#66 Hayden Frazier — FULLERTON J.C. TRANSFER. JUCO: Two-time all-conference player. From Cypress, Calif. (Cypress).
#74 Vae Soifua — WEBER STATE TRANSFER. Appeared in 16 games over three seasons. From Orem, Utah (Orem).
Alexander Kenward — IOWA CENTRAL C.C. TRANSFER.
Shontrail Key — INCARNATE WORD TRANSFER.
Daniel Mataele — Freshman signee from Manteca, Calif. (Patterson).
Jeremiah Ponce — Freshman signee from Garden Grove, Calif. (Miami Edison).
All five regular starting offensive linemen for this team are gone. Most are gone to graduation, the one that could’ve stayed is at Colorado now. Five transfers come in to help address the immediate situation, and 13 returning guys from last year’s team hung around too. So it looks pretty bad, but I don’t think having four starting linemen graduate out of the program is exactly a negative, especially since there’s a new coach in charge.
Defense
DEFENSIVE LINE
Returning starter
#45 Xavier Williams — Seventh-year player Gustin, Calif. (Atwater HS). Missed 2024 season, but has been appeared in 37 games over 2022, 2024 and 2025 seasons, made 11 starts last year. Career: 50 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 fumble.
Also returns
#9 Malik Tullis — Second-year transfer from Eastern Michigan. 2025: 9 games, 15 tackles (6 solo), 4 TFL, 1 sack. From Fairburn, Ga. (Creekside).
#53 Spencer Patton — Third-year signee from Rocklin, Calif. (Rocklin).
#55 Miles Bailey — Second-year transfer from Murray State. 2025: 12 games, 1 start, 17 tackles (7 solo), 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU.
#93 Malachi Kindle — Second-year signee from Los Angeles, Calif. (Cathedral). 2025: 7 games, 5 tackles.
Roster losses
James Gillespie — 12 games, 2 starts for Sac State. Recorded 17 tackles (4 solo). Previously: Middle Tennessee, Ventura J.C., UL-Monroe.
Dylan Hampsten — 2025: Second Team All-Big Sky, 12 games, 11 starts, 39 tackles (24 solo), team-best 13 TFL, 8 sacks, 4 hurries, 1 fumble. Previously: San Jose State.
Jordan Jefferson — 1 game, 1 tackle in 2025. Previously: Kilgore J.C., West Texas A&M.
Syncere Massey — Transfer portal. 2025: 11 games, 6 starts. Previously: Texas Southern, Abilene Christian.
Jayland McGlothen — Transfer to San Jose State. 2025: Second Team All-Big Sky, 12 games, 5 starts, 31 tackles (19 solo), 9.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 QBH, 1 PBU. 2024: 6 starts as true freshman, 13 tackles.
Kris Ross — 2025: 3 games played. Previously: Nevada, Texas.
Melvin Swindle II — Joined team in 2025 as transfer from EMU. Played 11 games, 4 starts, for Sac State in 2025. Recorded 19 tackles (9 solo), 1 TFL.
DeSean Watts — Transfer to Washington. 2025: First Team All-Big Sky, 12 games, 11 starts, 36 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 4 QBH, 1 PBU.
New additions
#50 Federico Cobarubio — Freshman signee from San Jose, Calif. (Valley Christian).
#52 Isiah Chala — FRESNO STATE TRANSFER. 9 games played. From San Francisco, Calif. (Archbishop Riordan).
#58 Jamel Howard — WISCONSIN TRANSFER. From Chicago, Ill. (Marist).
#90 Austin Chambers — IOWA CENTRAL C.C. TRANSFER. Previously: Auburn. 2025: 11 games, 21 tackles, 3 TFL. From Madison, Ala. (Madison).
#95 Will Weber — UTEP TRANSFER. Previously: San Jose City J.C. From San Jose, Calif. (Leland).
#97 Nick Dimitris — FLORIDA A&M TRANSFER. Career: 2 seasons, 19 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack. From Watts, Calif. (Sierra Vista).
#98 Collin Kallhoff — IOWA CENTRAL C.C. TRANSFER. JUCO: 12 games, 12 tackles. From Hampshire, Ill. (Hampshire).
#99 Devyn Blake — Freshman signee from Huntington Beach, Calif. (Edison).
Kaden Briggs — HOLMES C.C. TRANSFER.
Jahlil Lindsey — Freshman signee from Oakland, Calif. (Salesian Prep).
Returning a starting edge defender is always ideal, whether it’s a brand new coaching staff or not. For seventh-year Xavier Williams, he’s going to be looked-up to as the most experienced player on this unit. The team’s other starting edge defender, Dylan Hampsten, will be sorely missed. He was the team’s best presence at making havoc last year (13 TFL, 8 sacks), and was an all-conference honoree. Three regular starters leave and six transfers come in; that’s probably a decent strategy on paper, but this group is going to need a playmaker.
Speaking of transfers, former EMU player Malik Tullis is still on this team’s roster from last year after his decision to move. He came with Melvin Swindle, who graduated out of the system.
DEFENSE | RETURN (Starters*) | DEPART | INCOMING |
|---|---|---|---|
Defense line | 5 (1) | 8 (3) | 10 |
Linebackers | 9 (2) | 8 (1) | 9 |
Defensive backs | 10 | 11 (4) | 12 |
Total Defense | 24 (3) | 27 (8) | 31 |
LINEBACKERS
Returning starter
#10 Derek Houston — Fourth-year signee from Ronklin, Calif. (Ronklin). Missed half of 2025 to injury. Made 3 starts in 2024, 5 in 2025. Career: 99 tackles (57 solo), 6.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU.
#33 Alex Rocha — Fifth-year signee. 2025: 8 games, 7 starts, 49 tackles (21 solo), 4.5 TFL, 1 sack.
Also returns
#27 Mike Taylor — Second-year signee from East St. Louis, Ill. (East St. Louis). 8 games played and 1 start made as true freshman; 3 tackles recorded.
#31 Jackson Cahoon — Second-year signee from Mountain View, Calif. (St. Francis).
#44 Diego Davis — Second-year transfer from Santa Rosa J.C. From Napa, Calif. (Vintage). 2025: 12 games, 2 starts, 27 tackles (15 solo), 2 TFL.
#54 Jiah Walls — Freshman signee from Orlando, Fla. (Evans).
#17 Dylan Gooden — Second-year transfer from Maryland. From Columbia, Md. (Good Counsel). Missed 2025 to injury.
#18 Fata Puloka — Fourth-year signee from Sacramento, Calif. (Monterey Trail). Full-season player in 2024 and 2025, 11 total starts. Career: 73 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 fumbles.
#30 Pita Vi — Second-year transfer from San Mateo J.C. 2025: 4 games played before moving to TE; obviously, he’s back on defense. Last year: 4 tackles (3 solo).
Roster losses
Hunter Boeddeker — Career: 24 appearances, 8 tackles, 1 sack.
Josh Cashiola — Transfer to UT Rio Grande Valley. Sac State: 24 games, 60 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 fumbles. (Aside: here’s a good and interesting read on UTRGV.)
Matthew Eskridge II — 2025: 7 games, 1 start, 15 tackles (6 solo). Previously: Riverside J.C.
Je’kob Jones — 2025: 12 games, 14 tackles, 1 TFL. Previously: Cal Poly.
Oscar Moore — Sac State: 12 games, 7 starts, team-best 69 tackles (40 solo), 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT. Previously: UTEP, Kilgore College.
Micah Mosley — Transfer to Fresno State. Played 10 games as true freshman, recorded 11 tackles (4 solo).
Max Susini — Transfer portal.
Deven Wright — Sac State: 12 games, 25 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 TFL. Previously: Texas State, Boise State, Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.
New additions
#4 Dante Antonini — SANTA ROSA J.C. TRANSFER. From Petaluma, Calif. (St. Vincent de Paul).
#8 Darson Jeanty — LAFAYETTE TRANSFER. From Hillside, N.J. (Hillside).
#11 Ivan Moore, Jr. — NORTHERN ILLINOIS TRANSFER. From Chicago, Ill. (Kenwood Academy).
#16 Leki Holani — Freshman signee from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Santa Margarita).
#26 Tim Thomas — FRESNO STATE TRANSFER. From Tracey, Calif. (Lincoln).
Iosefa Lealofi — Freshman signee from Barstow, Calif. (Barstow).
Peyton McCutcheon — Freshman signee from Lakewood, Calif. (Millikan).
Pheta Tofaeono — Freshman signee from Pittsburgh, Calif. (Pittsburg).
Jiah Walls — Freshman signee from Orlando, Fla. (Evans).
Out goes the team’s top tackler, but returns is the team’s #3 and #9 tacklers Alex Rocha (49.0) and Derek Houston (32.0). Neither of them played all of 2025; Houston’s season was cut short to injury. Some optimism with those two, maybe, but still, four transfers join to help improve this room.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Returning players
#6 Warren Smith, Jr. — Second-year transfer from Washington State. 2025: 8 games, 1 start, 10 tackles (7 solo). From Richmond, Calif. (El Cerrito).
#15 KJ Jefferson — Second-year signee from St. Louis, Mo. (Lutheran North). 2025: 8 games, 4 tackles.
#21 Adam Taylor — Third-year signee from Stockton, Calif. (St. Mary’s). Career: 7 games, 5 solo tackles.
#22 Elias Mullican — Fifth-year signee. Career: 24 games, 13 starts, 41 tackles (31 solo), 1.5 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PBU.
#24 Lono Chouteau — Second-year signee from Sacramento, Calif. (Inderkum). 2025: 6 games, 5 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU.
#25 Naytel Mitchell — Second-year signee from Pittsburgh, Pa. (Penn Hills).
#29 Caleb Reese — Second-year signee from Oceanside, Calif. (San Marcos). Appeared in 4 games as true freshman.
#36 Jamal Hood — Second-year transfer from Highland J.C. From Kettering, Md. (St. Francis).
#38 Diesel Gordon — Second-year transfer from Butler C.C. Previously: Washington. 2025: 9 games, 2 starts, 6 tackles, 3 PBU. From Arlington, Texas (Seguin).
#39 Jayden Robinson — Second-year transfer from Foothill J.C. From Suisun City, Calif. (Vanden).
Roster losses
Koa Akui — Transfer to Rice. 2025: First Team All-Big Sky safety, 65 tackles (42 solo), 2.5 TFL, 5 INT, 11 PBU, 1 fumble.
Nash Burkhart — Transfer portal.
Dejuan Butler — Sac State: 12 games, 18 tackles (11 solo). Previously: Cal.
Yebrell Emerson — Transfer portal. 2025: 9 games, 8 tackles. Previously: Fresno City J.C.
Kaleb Higgins — Sac State: 24 games, 5 starts at safety, 38 tackles (22 solo), 1 PBU. Previously: Cal.
Lamont Johnson-Burrell — Transfer to Incarnate Word. Career: 28 games, 18 tackles (12 solo), 0.5 TFL, 2 INT, 3 PBU, 1 fumble.
Ricky Lee III — Transfer to Middle Tennessee. Sac State: 12 games, 8 starts at cornerback, 32 tackles (23 solo), 1 INT, 6 PBU. Previously: UAB.
Anta’Veon McKenzie — Transfer to UAB. Career: 28 games, 12 starts at safety, 99 tackles (64 solo), 2 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBU.
Jason Oliver — Transfer to San Diego State. 2025: All-Big Sky Honorable Mention, 12 games, 10 starts at cornerback, 36 tackles (29 solo), 0.5 sack, 1 fumble, 2 INT.
Chakai Scott — Freshman signee from Ocoee, Fla. (West Orange).
Jalen Williams — Sac State: 23 games, 32 tackles (19 solo), 6 PBU. Previously: Fresno State.
New additions
#0 Donovan Turner — ILLINOIS TRANSFER. Previously: Long Beach City J.C, UMass.From Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly). 2024: All-league JUCO player, 30 tackles, 2 INT. Played in 5 games for UMass.
#1 Boogsie Silvera — SOUTH FLORIDA TRANSFER. Previously: Charleston Southern, McNeese. USF: 4 games, 5 tackles. McNeese: 85 tackles, 2 INT. From Pembroke Pines, Fla. (American Heritage).
#2 Dionte Thornton — PORTLAND STATE TRANSFER. Previously: Boise State. 2025: 12 games, 34 tackles (26 solo), 1 sack, 5 PBU. Boise State: 9 games, 5 tackles.
#3 Amari Wallace — MIAMI TRANSFER. From: Miami, Fla. (Miami Central).
#5 Nikko Klemm — ARIZONA STATE TRANSFER. From Gardena, Calif. (Serra).
#7 Noah King — COLORADO TRANSFER. From Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton).
#12 Malikai Nichols — ST. FRANCIS TRANSFER. From Baltimore, Md. (Archbishop Curley).
#19 Miles Tucker — SAN MATEO J.C. TRANSFER. From Pleasanton, Calif. (Amador Valley).
#20 Qualyn McQueen — NEBRASKA-KEARNEY TRANSFER. Previously: Independence C.C., Riverside J.C., St. Thomas (NAIA). From Miami, Fla. (Miami Gardens). #13 Lagarion Wilson — Freshman signee from Orlando, Fla. (Boone).
Joshua Holani — Freshman signee from Irvine, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic).
Shaan Lathan — SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE TRANSFER. From San Jose, Calif. (Oak Grove).
Lagarion Wilson — Freshman signee from Orlando, Fla. (Boone).
All four of last year’s starting DBs can now be found on four different rosters in 2026 with transfers to Middle Tennessee, UAB, San Diego State, and Rice. One was a First Team all-conference safety, another was an honorable mention all-league player.
You can probably guess what Sac State did with seeing 11 DBs including all of last year’s starters leave via transfer. It brought in 12 new defenders, 10 by transfer.
Special Teams
SPECIALISTS | RETURN (Starters*) | DEPART | INCOMING |
|---|---|---|---|
Kicker | 1 (1) | 1 | 1 |
Punter | 2 | 1 (1) | 1 |
Long Snapper | 0 | 2 (1) | 1 |
Total Specialists | 3 (1) | 4 (2) | 3 |
KICKER, PUNTER, & LONG SNAPPER
Returning players
(P) #37 Hamish Adams — Second-year signee from Melbourne, Australia (Sandringham College).
(P) #46 Mike Melanson — Third-year transfer from Sequioas J.C. From Las Vegas, Nev. (Las Vegas).
(K) #49 Grant Meadors — Second-year transfer from Oregon. From Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty). 2025: 12/15 field goals, long: 42, 51/53 PAT.
Roster losses
(K) Joseph Firebaugh — Sac State: Kickoff specialist in 2025. Previously: UCLA.
(LS) Adam Johnston — All-Big Sky Honorable Mention in 2025. Previously: Modesto J.C.
(LS) Connor McDowell — Previously: Angelo State, Incarnate Word.
(P) Cal McGough — Third Team All-Big Sky in 2022. Career: 49 games, 151 punts, 6,332 yards (41.9 avg.), long: 65, 21 for 50+, 6 touchbacks, 49 fair catches, 56 land inside 20.
New additions
(P) #35 Jay Brockhaus — SOUTHEASTERN TRANSFER. All-conference in 2023. From Deltona, Fla. (Pine Ridge).
(LS) #48 Kellan Sutton — SAN MATEO J.C. TRANSFER. From Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran).
(K) Saul Marks — Freshman signee from San Francisco, Calif. (Serra).
Sac State returns its field goal kicker from last year, but loses an all-conference punter. Jay Brockhaus, though, comes to the team as a transfer punter with a little bit of earned hardware himself.