As the 2025 FCS offseason marches on, HERO Sports will look at five questions for the 2024 quarterfinalists.
Next up is UC Davis.
UC Davis finished 11-3 last year, losing 35-21 at South Dakota in the quarterfinals. Here are five questions for the Aggies entering 2025.
Can UC Davis Repeat Its Successful 2024 Season?
From 2021-2023, seven different teams reached the quarterfinals once and haven’t been back since: ETSU in 2021, Holy Cross, William & Mary, Samford, and Sac State in 2022, and UAlbany and Furman in 2023. (Not counting Sam Houston and James Madison transitioning to the FBS after 2021 quarterfinal appearances).
Eight teams have reached the quarterfinals multiple times from 2021-24: 4 for South Dakota State, 4 for North Dakota State, 3 for Montana State, 2 for Villanova, 2 for Montana, 2 for UIW, 2 for Idaho, and 2 for South Dakota.
Of the 2024 Round of 8, six were multi-time quarterfinalists since 2021: Montana State, Idaho, South Dakota, SDSU, UIW, and NDSU.
The two newbies were Mercer and UC Davis.
So now the question for Mercer and UC Davis in 2025 is which category will they fall in? The first group of teams that bubble up once for a quarterfinal run and then fall back? Or the second group that has put together multiple quarterfinal seasons in recent years?
The 2024 UC Davis squad had 28 seniors. The Aggies return just three offensive starters and three defensive starters from their quarterfinal game at South Dakota, leaving plenty of questions this offseason.
Who Is The Next QB?
Multi-year starting quarterback Miles Hastings is out of eligibility after six seasons at Davis.
In 48 career games, Hastings threw for 11,168 yards, 80 touchdowns, and 38 interceptions. He played his best ball in 2024, throwing for 4,493 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 13 picks.
The Aggies have four quarterbacks on their 2025 spring roster.
Grant Harper enters his sixth season after being QB2 last year. The 3-star high school recruit has attempted only 24 career passes at Davis.
The Aggies have three more 3-star recruit QBs who are earlier in their college careers: David Rasor (3rd year), Caden Pinnick (2nd year), and Damon Wrighster (2nd year).
How Is Lan Larison’s Production Replaced?
Lan Larison was one of the most electrifying players in the FCS. The running back ended his college career with 3,634 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns, plus 1,626 receiving yards and 10 scores. Last season, he racked up 1,465 rushing yards (17 TDs) and 847 receiving yards (6 TDs).
That’s a lot of production to replace.
Matteo Perez returns after finishing No. 2 on the team in rushing, tallying 71 rushes for 299 yards.
In the passing game, Davis’ top wide receiver in yards is back in Samuel Gbatu Jr., who had 44 catches for 779 yards and seven touchdowns. Tight end Winston Williams is also back after hauling in 34 receptions for 265 yards and six TDs.
On the o-line, three players return after logging at least 500 snaps in 2024: Zaire Collier (6’3″ 300 lbs), Jace Rodriguez (6’5″ 295 lbs), and David Main (6’4″ 295 lbs)
Can The Defense Reload?
The UC Davis defense has a lot of production and depth to replace in 2025. Just two of the top 15 tacklers are back.
The good news is those two are fantastic players to build around as All-Big Sky performers. Twin brothers Rex (safety) and Porter (linebacker) Connors finished No. 2 and 3 in tackles for last year’s team.
Rex totaled 115 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two interceptions, and six pass breakups. Porter racked up 86 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and three interceptions.
Can The Transfers Make An Impact?
UC Davis doesn’t usually take many transfers. The high-academic school makes mid-year enrollees more difficult. But the Aggies added a handful this offseason: four from the FBS and three from the FCS.
The FBS transfers include Boston College DB Cole Batson, Cal LB Nate Rutchena, UTEP DB Josiah Allen, and Washington OL Roice Cleeland. Allen started several games at UTEP and totaled 120 career tackles.
The FCS additions are just as intriguing as all three were 2024 all-conference performers.
Dartmouth DL Derrell Porter was an All-Ivy League honorable mention after totaling 34 tackles and six TFLs on the interior. Harvard DL Jacob Psyk was named to the All-Ivy League First Team, tallying 26 tackles, 11 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and six QB hurries. SEMO safety Khalani Riddick was an All-Big South-OVC First Team selection with 87 tackles and five pass breakups.
A key part in UC Davis reloading in 2025 will be if these transfers can step in and perform at a high level.
