UC Davis ranks No. 21 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Aggies finished 7-4 last year, missing the FCS playoffs as one of the first four teams left out.
Here’s a look at the 2024 UC Davis football squad.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (5)
First Team
RB Lan Larison
DE Zach Kennedy
Second Team
AP Trent Tompkins (WR)
S Rex Connors
Honorable Mention
K Hunter Ridley
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (3)
Jace Rodriguez (OL), Stony Brook
David Meyer (LB), Cal Poly
Ben Banks-Altekruse (K), Lehigh
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (6)
Charlie Allen (LB), Arizona State
Tyson McWilliams (DB), Cal
Rory Bell (K), Cincinnati
Cole Wright (WR), Boise State
Blake Antzoulatos (LB), Cal
Thomas Mirabella (OL), San Diego State
Transfers Lost To The FCS (0)
Transfers Lost To The FBS (3)
Chubba Maae (DL) to Arizona
Teddye Buchanan (LB) to Cal
Jack Raney (P) to Houston
For more FCS coverage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Offensive Outlook
After scoring 25.7 points per game (No. 59 in the FCS), UC Davis returns its starting quarterback, All-American running back, top four wide receivers, top tight end, and three starting offensive linemen.
Running back Lan Larison is an early favorite to win the Walter Payton Award. In only eight games last year, he was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year and earned multiple All-American honors after rushing 178 times for 1,101 yards and 13 touchdowns, plus hauling in 21 catches for 198 yards and two TDs.
Trent Tompkins, listed as a wide receiver but was an All-Conference all-purpose player last year, returns after finishing No. 2 on the team in rushing with 333 yards and two scores on 70 carries. Tompkins led the team with 49 catches for 430 yards and two TDs.
UC Davis’ next four pass-catchers are also back. Wide receiver Samuel Gbatu Jr. caught 31 passes for 364 yards and three TDs last fall. WR Chaz Davis had 27 receptions for 341 yards and three scores. Tight end Josh Gale tallied 26 catches for 335 yards and four touchdowns. And WR C.J. Hutton caught 30 passes for 322 yards and a score.
Veteran Miles Hastings is back at quarterback. He was a 2022 All-Big Sky First Team selection after going 256/367 for 3,048 yards, 20 TDs, and six interceptions. Last year, Hastings finished 231/364 for 2,380 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The Aggies return three starters on the offensive line — Peter Povey (6’3″ 284 lbs), Eli Simonson (6’6″ 295 lbs), and Ernesto Nava (6’4″ 295 lbs).
Defensive Outlook
UC Davis returns seven of its top 11 tacklers and 10 of its 15 players with at least 200 snaps from last year’s unit, which allowed 24.5 points per game (No. 43 in the FCS).
The defense will be led by a strong group of safeties, highlighted by Rex Connors. Connors is a two-time All-Big Sky selection. He finished third on last year’s team with 59 tackles despite playing in only seven games, adding one interception and six pass breakups. In 2022, he racked up 88 tackles, four TFLs, five interceptions, and five pass breakups.
Lamont Shamburger (45 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one INT, five pass breakups) finished fourth on the team and Kavir Bains (43 tackles, two pass breakups) was fifth from their safety positions.
Markeece Alexander is back at cornerback after leading the defense in snaps. He totaled 33 tackles, two TFLs, one interception, and 10 pass breakups. Corners Semaj Verner (17 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, one pass breakup), Christian Calhoun (18 tackles, three pass breakups), and Blake Cotton (seven tackles, one pass breakup) all played at least 200 snaps last season.
UC Davis loses linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Evan Tattersall, its top two tacklers from 2023. Porter Connors is the most productive returning LB after finishing eighth on the team with 29 tackles, three TFLs, and an interception.
Three of the top five defensive linemen return.
Zach Kennedy (6’6″ 251 lbs) is a two-time All-Big Sky First Team performer. He had 28 tackles, eight TFLs, four sacks, and four pass breakups last fall. In 2022, Kennedy recorded 29 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, four sacks, and three QB hurries.
Evan Bearden (6’5″ 251 lbs) and Princeton Toki (5’11” 356 lbs) are also back after playing plenty of reps. Bearden had 23 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, an interception, and four QB hurries. Toki added eight tackles last year and looks to fill the void of the departing Chubba Maae this fall.
UC Davis added Cal Poly transfer linebacker David Meyer to the mix, a former All-Big Sky selection.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
UC Davis Football Schedule
8/31 at Cal
9/7 vs Texas A&M-Commerce
9/14 at Southern Utah
9/21 vs Utah Tech
9/28 vs No. 7 Idaho
10/5 at Portland State
10/12 vs Cal Poly
10/19 at Eastern Washington
11/2 vs Northern Colorado
11/9 at No. 3 Montana
11/16 vs No. 4 Montana State
11/23 at No. 8 Sacramento State
Bold indicates Big Sky games
HERO Sports’ rankings
