Recruiting classes for Sacramento State, UC Davis football programs feature local talent

The Sacramento State football team signed 15 players Wednesday on National Signing Day, bringing in student-athletes Hornets coaches hope will help the program return to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Across the Causeway in Yolo County at UC Davis, new Aggies coach Tim Plough and staff signed 11 players in their effort to extend the streak of consecutive winning seasons to five.

Sacramento State won three consecutive Big Sky Conference championships, thanks in large part to good recruiting, and followed with another playoff showing this past fall under first-year head coach Andy Thompson, who was the defensive coordinator on those title teams.

UCD won the Big Sky in 2018 and has produced two playoff teams since with two near misses under coach Dan Hawkins, who stepped down to pursue other interests and spend more time with family. Plough played quarterback at UCD and served two stints as an assistant coach.

Sacramento State signed two local products from Placer County in receiver/tight end Tommy Poe of Del Oro High School in Loomis and defensive back Phoenix Rose of Whitney High in Rocklin. Poe at 6-foot-4 has the frame to bulk up to play tight end. Rose was a four-year varsity starter for Whitney.

UC Davis signed one local star in Casa Roble High receiver Cole Owens, who showcased his good hands, speed and ability to break games open over three stellar varsity seasons.

Sacramento State signed three players from the transfer portal in tight end Jay Rudolph of San Diego State, offensive lineman Bryson Summers of Coastal Carolina by way of Oak Ridge High in El Dorado Hills and defensive lineman Colby Warkentin of Abilene Christian in Texas. UCD landed one player from the portal in offensive lineman Jace Rodriguez of Stony Brook University.

The Hornets signed one of the top quarterback prospects from the greater Bay Area in Luke Baker of San Ramon Valley High of Danville. Baker, a 4.5-GPA student, passed for 3,437 yards and 38 touchdowns while rushing for 476 yards and four scores for a team that went 10-3.

UCD signed a quarterback in Damon Wrighster, a standout student and athlete who passed for 2,426 yards and 18 touchdowns at Inglewood High.

Wednesday was the first day student-athletes could sign binding letters of intent with four-year programs, a period that ends Friday. The next signing period is Feb. 7.

Sacramento State signees

Luke Baker, QB, San Ramon Valley

Yebrell Emerson, S, Fresno City College

Kai Hamilton, WR, Valley Christian-San Jose

Jaythn Long, WR, Lincoln-Stockton

Jayland McGlothen, DL, Siverado-Las Vegas

Ardwon Morris, RB, Orange-Los Angeles

Tommy Poe, WR/TE, Del Oro-Loomis

Jerome Roberts, LB, Lincoln-San Diego

Phoenix Rose, DB, Whitney-Rocklin

Jay Rudolph, TE, San Diego State

Bryson Summers, OL, Coastal Carolina

Adam Taylor, DB, St. Mary’s-Stockton

Malini Ti’a, DB, College of San Mateo

James Tivao, LB, Madison-San Diego

Colby Warkentin, DL, Abilene Christian

UC Davis signees

Kyle Hill, LB, Xavier College Prep-Palm Desert

Jordan Jones, DB, Warren-Downey

Rayne Mayo Jr., DL, Valley Christian-San Jose

Jayden Montanez, OL, Santa Monica

Cole Owens, WR, Casa Roble-Orangevale

Jace Rodriguez, OL, Stony Brook University

Isaiah Sanders, LB, Loyola-Los Angeles

Jackson Sievers, LB, Capistrano Valley-Mission Viejo

Jezniah Thurston, OL, Citrus Valley-Redlands

Jake Williams, DL, Chaparral-Temecula

Damon Wrighster, QB, Inglewood