As the 2023 FCS season inches closer, HERO Sports will look at the five biggest offseason questions for the 2022 quarterfinalists.
Next up is Sacramento State.
Sac State finished 12-1 last year, losing 66-63 to UIW in the quarterfinals. Here are five questions the Hornets face entering 2023.
RELATED: Sac State Football 2023 Schedule
Can Sac State continue its ascension without Troy Taylor?
Sac State went from 2-8 in 2018 to 9-4 in Taylor’s first season as head coach in 2019. After not playing in the 2020-21 COVID season, the Hornets finished 9-3 in 2021 and 12-1 last season. In those three years under Taylor, Sac State was 23-1 in Big Sky play, including 16-0 in the last two years. Sac State was 1-3 in the postseason during that stretch, reaching the 2022 quarterfinals.
Taylor did a masterful job turning Sac State into a consistently highly-ranked program. But he is now the head man at Stanford. Sac State promoted Andy Thompson from defensive coordinator to its next head coach.
An internal hire was a strong move to keep the culture, continuity, and vision in place. Sac State has built a talented roster and its fan support is growing, ranking 11th in FCS regular-season attendance last year by averaging 15,502 fans per home game. This season will show whether the program has been built for long-term success, or if a regression happens without arguably the best FCS coach over the last few years.
Who is QB1?
Sac State ran a successful 2-QB system. Jake Dunniway was a Third Team All-Big Sky selection, throwing for 2,417 yards, 19 TDs, and 15 interceptions. Asher O’Hara was a First Team All-Conference pick at the all-purpose position, throwing for 873 yards, 11 TDs, and no interceptions while rushing for 937 yards and 19 scores.
Both QBs have exhausted their eligibility.
Sac State currently has four QBs on its spring roster. Kaiden Bennett is a junior who began his career in the FBS as a three-star recruit before transferring to Sac State in 2021. Dorian Hale is a sophomore, coming to Sac State as a three-star recruit in the 2021 class. Carson Conklin is a freshman and another three-star recruit. Carson Camp is a junior and one of the best FCS-to-FCS transfers this offseason.
Camp had a strong first two seasons at South Dakota. A spring 2021 MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection, he threw for nearly 1,000 yards in four games. That fall, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,252 yards, 17 TDs, and seven interceptions. In 2022, Camp played in seven games before being replaced as the starter after throwing for 904 yards, four TDs, and five interceptions.
The new starting QB has leading pass-catcher Marshel Martin back at TE (65 catches for 879 yards and 12 TDs) as well as last year’s No. 2 WR Jared Gipson (33 receptions for 385 yards and two TDs).
What does the rushing attack look like without Cameron Skattebo?
Skattebo took Sac State’s offense to another level in 2022, adding a physical running presence to an explosive passing attack. He was the toughest RB to bring down in the FCS, rushing 196 times for 1,373 yards and seven TDs while adding 31 catches for 371 yards and three scores. The 5-foot-10, 212-pounder was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year and earned four different All-American accolades.
Skattebo entered the transfer portal after the season and is now at Arizona State.
Marcus Fulcher now looks to step into a bigger role. With Skattebo rushing 196 times last year and O’Hara rushing 211 times, Fulcher didn’t have too many opportunities. But he flashed when he did, rushing 74 times for 474 yards (6.3 YPC) and eight TDs to earn All-Big Sky Third Team honors. The 5-foot-9, 212-pound senior will need a big year behind an experienced offensive line to keep Sac State’s offense hot.
That experienced OL is led by three returning Big Sky All-Conference performers — Jackson Slater (2022 FCS All-American), Troy Stiefel, and Nathan Mejia (2022 Freshman All-American).
Who steps up in place of Marte Mapu?
Mapu was a huge part of Sac State’s defense, impacting the game in several ways. He was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and is a potential 2023 NFL Draft pick. The safety/OLB hybrid totaled 76 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, one sack, two QB hurries, two interceptions, and four pass breakups. He allowed the Hornets to do a lot of different things schematically with his ability to defend the run and the pass.
There are multiple candidates to step up and be the leader of the defense in 2023.
The obvious is LB Armon Bailey, who led Sac State in all major categories with 88 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, and six sacks. The First Team All-Big Sky selection returns alongside eight of Sac State’s top 11 tacklers.
Can the Hornets pull off close wins on the road?
Sac State had some late-game magic last year, making clutch plays when it needed to. The Hornets beat No. 7 Montana 31-24 in OT, No. 14 Idaho 31-28 via a touchdown with 1:48 left, No. 24 UC Davis 27-21 to hold off a late-game comeback, and No. 13 Richmond 38-31 in the second round of the playoffs.
All of those wins were at home.
Sac State did show its ability to win a close game on the road too, though, beating No. 5 Weber State 33-30.
The Hornets face a tougher road slate in 2023, going to Idaho, Montana, and UC Davis, three teams also likely vying for playoff bids.
