UC Davis ranks No. 11 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Aggies finished 11-3 last year, losing 35-21 at South Dakota in the FCS quarterfinals.
Here’s a look at the 2025 UC Davis football squad.
Returning 2024 FCS All-Conference Players (9)
1st Team
TE Winston Williams
S Rex Connors
DL Jacob Psyk (transfer from Harvard)
S Khalani Riddick (transfer from SEMO)
2nd Team
OL Eli Simonson
LB Porter Connors
K Hunter Ridley
Honorable Mention
OL Ernesto Nava
DL Derrell Porter (transfer from Dartmouth)
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (3)
| Players | Pos. | Previous School |
| Derrell Porter | DL | Dartmouth |
| Jacob Psyk | DL | Harvard |
| Khalani Riddick | DB | SEMO |
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (6)
| Player | Pos. | Previous School |
| Cole Batson | DB | Boston College |
| Nate Rutchena | LB | Cal |
| Isaac Mancera | K | UNLV |
| Josiah Allen | DB | UTEP |
| Roice Cleeland | OL | Washington |
| AJ Hasson | OL | Washington State |
Transfers Lost To The FCS (3)
| Player | Pos. | New School |
| Noa Masui | DL | Duquesne |
| Robbie Mascheroni | WR | Idaho State |
| Josh Gale | TE | Montana |
Transfers Lost To The FBS (2)
| Player | Pos. | New School |
| Kavir Bains | DB | Pitt |
| Blake Cotton | DB | Utah |
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Offensive Outlook
After scoring 34.7 points per game last year, which ranked No. 14 in the FCS, UC Davis’ offense loses its All-American quarterback and running back. The Aggies return their leading wide receiver, All-Conference tight end, top four offensive linemen in snaps, and five overall linemen who started at least eight games in 2024.
The top question for the Aggies is how they replace the historic careers of QB Miles Hastings and RB Lan Larison.
There is no shortage of talent in the quarterback room. UC Davis has four 3-star recruits at QB. Grant Harper enters his sixth season after being the top backup last year. He has attempted only 24 career passes at Davis. David Rasor is in his third year, Caden Pinnick is in his second year, and Damon Wrighster is also in his second year.
Matteo Perez looks to step into a bigger role at running back after finishing second on the team with 71 carries for 306 yards. That’s a far cry from Larison’s 284 rushes for 1,465 yards. But Davis will have one of the better FCS offensive lines with great experience to plow the way in the run game.
Four of its top five linemen in snaps are back, and five overall OL return that started eight or more games last year.
Eli Simonson (6’6″ 285 lbs) is coming off of an All-Big Sky Second Team season. He played over 1,000 snaps in 2024 and nearly 800 in 2023. Zaire Collier (6’3″ 300 lbs) and Jace Rodriguez (6’5″ 295 lbs) also played over 1,000 snaps last fall, while Ernesto Nava (6’4″ 305 lbs) logged just under 1,000 snaps in 2024 with over 500 reps in 2023. David Main (6’4″ 295 lbs) added 500+ snaps and eight starts in 2024.
Last year’s top wide receiver, Samuel Gbatu Jr., is back after recording 44 catches for 779 yards and seven touchdowns. First Team All-Big Sky tight end Winston Williams also returns. Last season, he had 34 receptions for 265 yards and six scores. Ian Simpson is another reliable target at tight end after hauling in 16 passes for 185 yards and three TDs.
If UC Davis can develop the next strong quarterback — which, under former offensive coordinator and current head coach Tim Plough, Davis has shown it can — the offense has a chance to be a great unit again.
Defensive Outlook
UC Davis’ defense will have newer names compared to the offense. The unit returns just two of its top 15 tacklers. Davis did add three FCS transfers who earned 2024 All-Conference honors and three FBS transfers with starting experience.
Twin brothers Rex and Porter Connors are back after finishing No. 2 and 3 in team tackles last year. Rex is a three-time All-Big Sky safety and a 2024 All-American. He finished last year with 115 tackles despite missing three games, including 3.5 TFLs, two interceptions, and six pass breakups. Porter is also coming off of an All-Big Sky season at linebacker, totaling 86 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and three interceptions.
Edge defenders Sam Goligoski and Joey Carrillo look to step into bigger roles after both played nearly 200 snaps last year. Goligoski had seven tackles and a team-high five sacks last fall. Carrillo added five tackles and a sack.
The Aggies had a standout transfer class, more so in quality than quantity.
Three 2024 All-Conference FCS players come in looking to make an impact.
Dartmouth DL Derrell Porter was an All-Ivy League honorable mention after totaling 34 tackles and six TFLs. 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.
FBS transfers include Boston College DB Cole Batson, Cal LB Nate Rutchena, and UTEP DB Josiah Allen.
All three bring FBS starting experience.
Batson started eight games at safety in 2023, totaling 37 tackles. In 2022, he played in 11 games with two starts and had 30 tackles. Allen was a multi-year starter and brings nearly 1,700 career snaps at cornerback. Last fall, he had 61 tackles and six pass breakups. Rutchena played in 24 career games with four starts, totaling 62 tackles, five TFLs, and three interceptions.
The Aggies lose a lot of defensive production from last year. Six D1 transfers with starting experience will help fill those voids.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
UC Davis Football Schedule
8/23 No. t12 Mercer (Montgomery, AL)
8/30 at Utah Tech
9/6 at Washington
9/20 vs RV Southern Utah
9/27 vs Weber State
10/4 at Cal Poly
10/11 vs No. 19 Northern Arizona
10/25 at Northern Colorado
11/1 vs Idaho State
11/8 at No. 10 Idaho
11/15 at No. 2 Montana State
11/22 vs No. t12 Sacramento State
Bold indicates Big Sky games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received Votes
