DAVIS, Calif. -- With the UC Davis football winter practice season underway, we begin an ongoing series introducing Aggie fans to players who are up-and-comers, unsung heroes or otherwise program sleepers. On a team of more than 100 student-athletes playing a variety of roles, some key players are relative unknowns to even avid followers. Thus, we will highlight one player from each position group who UC Davis football fans should get to know.

This series begins with the safeties, and Erron Duncan, currently a fourth-year community & regional development major from Stockton, California.

WHY AGGIE FANS MIGHT NOT KNOW HIM: 
Duncan – like many of the recent Aggie safeties – has been somewhat overshadowed by the numbers and All-Big Sky Conference accolades put up by UC Davis cornerbacks (i.e. Devon King, Vincent White and Isiah Olave). Furthermore, he was a walk-on when he arrived at the program from Weston Ranch High, meaning he began his career without the National Signing Day fanfare of some of his teammates.

WHY AGGIE FANS SHOULD KNOW HIM: 
Duncan is a two-year starter, the 2018 winner of the team's Bo Eason Award as most improved defensive player, and the only player from any position group to rank among the team's top 10 tackles leaders in each of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. He enters his senior year with 137 total stops and sits just 17 solo tackles away from entering the school's career top-10 leaders. Duncan was also one of the program-record 15 Big Sky All-Academic winners last fall.

ACCORDING TO EVAN HICKS, SAFETIES COACH:
"The leadership that he brings just by his presence is unbelievable. He's not a real vocal guy off the field, but he leads by example on the field. He's always there, he's always on time, he's always sitting up front and working hard. He does all of the off-the-field stuff. His natural leadership is bar none."

ABOUT UC DAVIS: Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

AGGIE EVO: Established in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.

MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE: Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit this site for more information.

DON'T MISS OUT: Tickets for all UC Davis sports are on sale by contacting the Athletics Ticket Office at (530) 752-AGS1 or by visiting us online at tickets.ucdavis.edu.