UC Davis Football Preview: Linebackers

Aug 16, 2024, 4:09 PM

(UC Davis)

Sactown Sports

Replacing production is not easy, but for the seasoned corps of UC Davis football linebackers the pieces have been put in place for the Aggies to once again have a strong second level throughout the season.

“We want guys that love playing football,” said assistant coach Austin Taylor. “We want our guys to be tough, smart and play with a relentless pursuit to the football.

While UC Davis did lose highly productive linebackers Teddye Buchanan (transfer to Cal) and Evan Tattersall (graduation) the returned talents of seniors Jackson Cloyd, Luka Sarac and junior Porter Connors provide the Aggie defense with linebackers that understand the defense run by defensive coordinator Matt Coombs.

Connors brings 49 career tackles (30 solo; 19 assisted) and two interceptions into his junior season, and in 10 games played during the 2023 season he had a career-high 29 tackles (14 solo; 15 assisted) giving him the most tackles for a returning linebacker.

“Porter is a guys that we’re excited about, since he’s played here the last couple of years and he had a really good winter and spring,” said Taylor. “It’s great having him back to lead this unit.”

Cloyd has racked up 90 total tackles (47 solo tackles; 43 assisted) with 11.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in his career, and in nine games during 2023 Cloyd finished with 14 tackles (eight solo; six assisted) and three tackles for loss.

Sarac’s 16 total tackles (nine solo; seven assisted) in 2023 gives him the second-most tackles for a returning Aggie linebacker and the senior enters the season with 30 career tackles (19 solo; 11 assisted) and one sack.

Transfers junior Charlie Allen (Arizona State), redshirt junior David Meyer (Cal Poly) and redshirt senior Blake Antzoulatos (Cal) along with seniors Grant Garretson, Tristan McMurry, juniors Logan Kraut, Charlie Allen and sophomores Nick Afato, Aaron Shebloski, Sam Goligoski round out the remaining corps of experienced Aggies.

“There’s a lot of competition in the room with all of the guys we’ve brought in and the returners,” said Taylor. “That’s what we want, to create a competitive room so the best guys earn their way onto the field.”

Strengthening an already deep room are freshmen Jackson Sievers, Kyle Hill, CJ Millican, Isaiah Sanders and Thomas McCormick, all of which will look to make an impact where they can.

“This group is going to play physical out there, and have a lot of enthusiasm every Saturday,” added Taylor. “There’s a lot of potential with these linebackers and I’m excited to see what these guys do this year.”

With a strong combination of returning and incoming linebackers, UC Davis has gone about recreating the same standard set from corps before as the Aggie backers look to set a tone all season long.