I miss biking by practice at Toomey.....those were the days! Those warm Davis mornings.........

SAMUEL GBATU JR. BREAKDOWN (THE TOP UC DAVIS RECEIVER RETURNING IN 2025)

it’s a fun time of year watching everything get into motion!

Mildest summer in 30 years?

I’m going Thursday am. Any players/ coaches you want me to snag for interviews let me know!

I mostly just want some updates on how things are looking. Who is standing out pretty much. I think it might be interesting to interview some of the transfers and pick their brains on what led them to Davis.

Yes, Let's Go

On the roster we have a transfer DB from Liberty University, Marquis Bell. Who played in 12 games at Liberty after one season in JC, where he was rated as a three star JC transfer by 247.com
Pretty good get thats flown under the radar. FBS experienced corner.

Bell is a safety and mainly played special teams last year.

I guess corner is where he played at JC.
But 16 tackles. 12 solo and 3 pass breakups is significant playing for a sophomore transfer, and the pass breakups indicate he played pretty significantly on defense or had a hell of a few plays.

The Ags had their first full scrimmage with officials today.

"The first thing we look at after a day like this is did we get through it healthy, and I'm pretty sure we did that," said head coach Tim Plough. "We did a good job today of taking care of each other while still having a physical practice. I was happy with all three phases of the game, including the communication and the lack of penalties. We were very clean today which is good.

"We ran the ball well and converted on first downs all day long, driving consistently all day. And on defense I thought that we tackled well and showed that we can put pressure on the quarterback. It was also good to see the defense not give up a lot of explosive plays.

"I also thought Hunter [Ridley] had a great day, hitting a bunch of kicks for us. That's the great thing about having a kicker like Hunter, he can come in there and bang one through for us anywhere. Overall, I thought we had a really good day."

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/8/3/football-holds-first-scrimmage-of-fall-camp.aspx

Photo gallery here: https://ucdavisaggies.com/galleries/football/fb-camp-2025-scrimmage-one-aug-3-/2360

Aside from the reporter repeating the error that the Ags play Washington State this year, this is a worthwhile article. Doesn’t mention names aside from David Porotesano (6-foot-3, 280-pounds), Henry Fanua (6’6, 340) and Davis local AJ Hasson (6’3 and 290).

“We have to be physical on both sides of the ball,” Plough said. “I think we are way more physical up front than a year ago.”

https://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/aggies-add-depth-on-both-lines/article_59149052-9c20-4dbc-8bd9-26e2dcef75b2.html

I was talking to someone connected to the program and his impression is that we are much bigger on both lines. Not just weight-wise, but just big, athletic guys. I'm going tomorrow so I'll get a first-hand look.

Sac is grossly underestimated, but can you imagine how their fans and financial backers will react if they do finish fifth in the conference?

:vomit:

All very true, but those factors apply to teams ranked above them also.

Take Idaho:
New head coach, offensive and defensive coordinators. Head coaches prior head job was at Simon Frasier where they won 2 games in 2 years. Lost 20+ transfers to the FBS, replaced with 10 who played less significant roles, so your Triple A analogy applies there.

Montana, Idaho, and Davis all return just a couple of starters on defense.
Every team above them has a new QB.
Every team is rebuilding so Sacs roster makeover isn’t the disadvantage one would normally assume.
Sac does have some returning players, and they bring in enough so they aren’t dependent on any one guy not being a nut case.

Did Plough just get out of the shower, or does he need one?

We don't have media handlers for TV interviews?

He's a good interview. Represents the University and football program well.

Very possible he was fresh out of the car off the practice field!

I like the focus on (and I hope Plough is correct in his assessment of) the O&D lines for this year. I think that has been one of the impediments in the goal of getting into the top echelon come playoff time. Depth will be important.

Sorry I'm jumping in so late. Anyone else note that the Ags are ranked second in the Big Sky preseason coaches poll and third by the media?
https://bigskyconf.com/news/2025/7/15/football-montana-state-tabbed-2025-bigskyfb-favorites.aspx

STATS Perform Preseason FCS Poll:




https://fbschedules.com/2025-preseason-stats-perform-fcs-top-25-poll-released/

Sac's president, Dr. Luke Wood, had this to say about the STATS Perform Preseason Poll:

He probably thinks that about the FBS poll as well....

There is no doubt the talent is high. He needs to chill until he finds out whether his new HC is indeed HC material.

When Davis was D2, the Ags owned the head-to-head by a wide margin vs. DI-AA Sac. Size and speed isn't everything

I believe Davis was 10-2 during the D2 vs. D1 matchup period. (1992-2003?)

Teams ahead of Sac with new head coaches in the top 15
South Dakota State
South Dakota
Idaho
Only Idaho’s has been a head coach before and that was for Simon Frasier where he won 2 games in 2 years, which was an improvement for them.