Sacramento State Football HC Andy Thompson previews the season-opener vs. SJ State

Aug 27, 2024, 9:41 AM

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: A view of an endzone pylon on the field at Stanford Stadium during an...

(Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

College Football is BACK!

To celebrate the return of College Football, Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross were joined by Sacramento State Football head coach Andy Thompson this week to look ahead to the Hornets’ season-opener this weekend against San Jose State, peel back the curtain on how schools handle the transfer portal, and much more.

Plus, Andy shares his expectations for a group that will open the season as the eighth-ranked team in the FCS.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

Click here for full episodes of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross.

Meet Sacramento State Football head coach Andy Thompson

Courtesy of Sacramento State Athletics

Andy Thompson was named the 12th head coach in Sacramento State history on Dec. 13, 2022. Thompson had served as the Hornets’ defensive coordinator and linebackers since January of 2019.

In his first season as head coach, Thompson guided the Hornets to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs and earned the team’s first DIv. I postseason road victory. His eight wins were the second most by a first-year head coach in program history and the season was highlighted by a 30-23 win at Stanford. Eleven players earned all-Big Sky honors, including linebacker Armon Bailey, safety Cameron Broussard, tight end Marshel Martin IV and tackle Jackson Slater who were all first team selections.

Thompson saw the defense make significant improvements from the prior year as the team allowed 132 less yards per game during the 2019 season. Sacramento State led the Big Sky in defensive pass efficiency and red zone defense and team recorded 44 sacks for the second most in program history. Individually, defensive end George Obinna earned FCS All-America honors from multiple outlets after he set the Sacramento State single-season (14.0) and career (33.5) record for sacks. Defensive tackle Dariyn Choates, cornerback Daron Bland and Obinna were each named to the all-Big Sky first team. Linebackers Marcus Bruce and Marcus Hawkins and safety Caelan Barnes were all second team selections, defensive tackle Elijah Chambers was named to the third team and defensive end Josiah Erickson earned honorable mention.

Thompson’s unit followed that effort by allowing 19.1 points per game — the lowest in the school’s Div. I era. Sacramento State was even stingier in conference games, limiting the opposition to 15.3 points per game and not giving up more than 24 points in any of the eight conferene contests. Six Hornet defenders earned all-Big Sky honors headlined by defensive end Josiah Erickson who was named to the first team. Erickson led the team with 18.5 tackles-for-loss and had 10 sacks. Linebacker Marcus Hawkins was named to the second team for the second time and was joined by cornerback Munchie Filer III and nickelback Marte Mapu.