Only a week away from spring practice. Roster lists Nava, but not Simonson.
However yesterdays article on the team site stated “Aggies can boast key returners in Rex Connors (DB); Samuel Gbatu, Jr. (WR); Winston Williams (TE); Porter Connors (LB); Hunter Ridley (K); Zaire Collier (C); Jace Rodriguez (G); David Main (G); Ernesto Nava (T) and Eli Simonson (T).”
Thats the entire starting offensive line, top TEs, one WR, and new starters in the backfield.
Plough said the two names to know as of now at QB are Harper and Pinnick.
Regardless of who ends up being our starting QB, they will have a lot more mobility to their game which opens up parts of a playbook that just weren't in MH's wheelhouse.
Aside from QB, there are some big shoes to fill at RB. Vargas is supposed to be a real exciting back to watch. But we have Fischer and Matteo in the mix. It will be interesting to see how our offense evolves with a mobile QB and the 3 RBs, each with their own style.
Eli is the invisible man. Has started 25 consecutive games, every game since he joined the team, but his roster bio lists as having never seen action. They haven’t updated the bio with 2024 as yet. The Career Tab does list him playing in the 25 games.
The article on the web site regarding spring practice touts our 7th ranked transfer classes, according to Hero Sports, but that list I couldn’t find..
Here is a SI.com article with the same ranking, these publications are incestuous. No. 7: UC Davis
Notable Additions: Khalani Riddick (SEMO, DB), Jacob Psyk (Harvard, DL), Derrell Porter (Dartmouth, DL), Josiah Allen (UTEP, DB), Cole Batson (Boston College, DB)
The Aggies have an extremely small transfer portal class, but the quality of each player is what earns them this ranking. Five of the six major additions played over 400 snaps a year ago, including three FBS transfers. It was a defensive reload for the Aggies, who lost a ton of starters to graduation and the portal. Defensive backs Khalani Riddick and Josiah Allen will be instant starters, while two Ivy League defensive linemen (Derrell Porter & Jacob Psyk) are expected to replenish the front seven.
We don’t have three FBS transfers that played 400 snaps, thats an error. We have three FBS transfer, including LB Nate Rutchena from Cal, but he only played in 2 games, Batson also had limited playing time.
None of the listed names are on the spring roster at this point.
A couple things I note about the referenced article is the singling out of Winston Williams over Ian Simpson who I think is a more impactful player. Likely just because of stats due to more snaps as Simpson was out several games.
Interesting that Plough did not mention David Rasor at all in QB watch. A long time until first game in fall and it will be interesting to see who starts at that point.
I don't follow super closely but was it reported before that Larison had ankle surgery? I just assumed it was a badly sprained ankle but it must have been worse than that to require surgery.
Away Game Mileage for UC Davis in 2025:
Week 1 vs. Mercer
Montgomery, AL --- 2,015 miles there and 2,015 miles back to Sacramento
Week 2 @ Utah Tech
Las Vegas, NV --- 387 miles there and 387 miles back to Sac. Does Mesquite have its own airstrip?
Week 3 @ Washington
Seattle, WA --- 605 miles there and 605 miles back to Sacramento.
Week 7 @ Cal Poly
San Luis Obispo, CA --- 286 miles to drive there and 286 miles to drive back. Does Davis charter to SLO?
Week 10 @ Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO --- Approx. 910 miles there and 910 miles back. Would Davis charter to Greeley, or simply fly to Denver and bus it?
Week 12 @ Idaho
Moscow, ID --- Approx. 610 miles there and 610 miles back. Looks like charter flight to Pullman next door.
Week 13 @ Montana State
Bozeman, MT --- 720 miles there and 720 miles back. Weather unpredictable...
Total mileage to and from in 7 away games in 2025 is 11,066 miles. 5 Home Games and 2 BYEs
Plough interview. Not a lot of new info here but some discussion of who is competing for open positions.
Seems recorded before the spring practice started but posted two days ago
Interestingly true freshman DB Drew Cofield has been added to the spring roster and Lukas Prongos (walk-on from the basketball team) is being listed as a TE.
The graduating seniors ceremony is meant to recognize the players who will no longer compete FOR THAT TEAM (and sometimes it doesn't even reflect that with complete accuracy). You get 5 years (and as we are very aware, student-athletes find ways to extend that) to use up 4 years of eligibility in a single sport, but you still can compete in a second sport after (or even with some overlap) if you are still pursuing a degree and haven't exhausted your eligibility in the 2nd sport. So if Prongos is still pursuing a degree he can certainly play football.
Good for him-maybe he'll get to play more than 10 minutes.
Yes, Axel is still coming to Davis. On the latest Aggie Pride Podcast, Dwight had Bo on the show and was talking about Axel's recruiting process and his decision to pick Davis. He's still finishing high school so isn't on the Spring roster, but has been travelling weekly between SoCal and Davis in order to get as much of a jump start on learning the offense as possible. There's a lot of incoming QBs though so it will be interesting to see who rises to the top.