Date: Saturday, September 3
Kickoff: 1 PM
Venue: FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium
TV: Pac-12 Network Bay Area
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis football team opens its season against a FBS opponent for the 11th time in its Division I era, taking on Pac-12 Conference member Cal, on Saturday, Sept. 3, at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

The Golden Bears went 5-7 overall and 4-5 in the Pac-12 in 2021. UC Davis earned its second appearance in the FCS Playoff in program history, finishing with an 8-4 mark, before falling to South Dakota State in the first round. The Aggies enter the 2022 campaign ranked No. 25 in both the Stats Perform and Hero Sports preseason polls and No. 22 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.



AGGIE OUTLOOK

Coming off their second FCS Playoff appearance in school history the Aggies look to build on an encouraging 8-4 campaign in 2022. UC Davis returns a plethora of talent, headlined by Big Sky Preseason Offensive MVP and Walter Payton Watch List senior running back Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr.  Gilliam, Jr. is on the verge of breaking numerous program records and was listed on nearly every preseason All-American squad. Also earning preseason recognition by multiple outlets were offensive linemen Jake Parks and Connor Pettek. The duo was joined by tight end McCallan Castles, and RB/KR Lan Larison. The Aggies check in at No. 25 in both the Stats Perform and Hero Sports preseason polls and No. 22 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.

 SEASON OPENERS

Since joining the division I ranks in 2004, the Aggies have gone 6-12, facing an FBS opponent 10 of those 18 openers. Under head coach Dan Hawkins UC Davis is 3-2, earning wins over FBS foes San Jose State (2018) and last season at Tulsa. The Aggies have started on the road in 14 of the 18 seasons since joining division I, including what will now be the third opener at Cal.

SERIES HISTORY

The two teams will be meeting for the 11th time as Cal holds a 10-0 advantage over UC Davis. The meeting on Saturday will mark the third time the two programs clash since the Aggies joined division I. The two teams last met in the season opener in 2019 in Berkeley, where the Golden Bears won, 27-13. The Aggies traveled to Memorial Stadium in 2010 and fell, 52-3.

COACHING MATCHUP

Both head coaches enter the 2022 season in their sixth year with their respective program. UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins has led the Aggies to their first two FCS Playoff appearances in school history and boasts a 31-22 mark in his five seasons in Davis. Justin Wilcox is 26-28 overall with the Golden Bears, coming off a 5-7 2021 season.

SCHEDULE GAZING On top of opening the season on the road against FBS foe Cal, UC Davis enters the 2022 campaign slated to play four FCS squads that are ranked in the top-25, including three in the Big Sky. Of the four teams, three were tabbed in the top-10 in the preseason polls. In the AFCA Coaches Preseason Poll, UCD will face No. 3 South Dakota State, No. 4 Montana State, No. 7 Sacramento State and No. 20 Weber State. The three top-10 contests will all be on the road.

TEAM CAPTAINS

Senior running back Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. and sophomore linebacker Teddye Buchanan were voted team captains for the upcoming season. The selection of Gilliam, Jr. marks the third-straight season the Merced, Calif., native has been named a captain, which is a program record. The appointment eclipses the likes of two-time captains Ken O'Brien, Bo Eason, Mike Moroski, and J.T. O'Sullivan, to name a few. Buchanan, only a sophomore is entering his first season with the distinguished title.

NEW COACHES JOIN THE AGGIES IN 22

Three new coaches join the Aggies for the 2022 season. Veteran coach Andre Allen joins the staff from Washington State and will oversee the wide receivers. Allen brings over 30 years of coaching experience to the Aggies, including 27 in California. In his two seasons in Pullman, the WSU receiver room was one of the most heralded in the Pac-12. Taylor Chapatte will be in his first season coaching the Aggie tight ends. Chapatte comes to Davis from the University of San Diego, where he spent four seasons as an assistant coach. Chapatte was the pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach for two seasons with the Toreros and was the wide receivers coach the previous two seasons. With the departure of Mark Speckman right before camp, former UC Davis offensive quality control coach Kevin Burke was elevated to work with the talented running backs room. Burke came to Davis after two different stints as an assistant coach at his alma mater Mount Union where he most recently served as the quarterbacks coach. Burke spent three seasons as an assistant football coach at Case Western Reserve University after his first two-year stint as an assistant coach for the Purple Raiders.

HAWKINS EARNS CONTRACT EXTENSION

This offseason, UC Davis head football coach Dan Hawkins inked a contract extension through the 2027 season to continue to lead his alma mater. Coach Hawkins has led the Aggies to a 31-22 (.585) record over his five seasons. In just year two at the helm, Hawkins guided UC Davis to its first 10-win season since 2001 and its first FCS Playoff appearance in school history. The 23-16 victory over Northern Iowa in 2018 marked the first postseason win for the Ags since 2002. After navigating the Aggies through the COVID-19 pandemic and on the heels of a shortened five-game 2021 spring season, UC Davis again made an appearance in the FCS Playoffs last fall after an 8-4 campaign.

FIRST FULL OFFSEASON

For the first time since the 2019 season, the UC Davis football team got to enjoy a full offseason of preparation. The Aggies participated in their first spring training schedule since leading up to that 2019 campaign. UC Davis did not play in 2020 and returned to action for five contests in the spring of 2021, before jumping right back into action for a full fall slate.

SMALLEY NOMINATED FOR CAMPBELL AWARD

UC Davis graduate linebacker Jayce Smalley is taking full advantage of his extra eligibility seasons. The UCLA graduate transfer, who earned his degree in just three years in Westwood, already etched his name on an MBA degree in Davis and is starting another graduate program in professional accountancy. Smalley boasted a 3.82 in his MBA program.

THE VERSATILE TRENT TOMPKINS

In his short time in an Aggie uniform, Trent Tompkins has done a lot of everything for the Aggies. Listed as a wide receiver in 2022, the sophomore was all over the stat sheet in 2021. The All-Big Sky second team selection at the all-purpose spot tied for the team-lead with six rushing touchdowns and ranked second on the squad with 448 yards on the ground. The Fresno native caught 12 passes for 77 yards and threw 18 passes for 102 yards and one score. Tompkins also returned two punts for 86 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown.

CONSISTENCY ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE

The UC Davis offensive line is one of the most veteran units in the country. Led by senior guard Jake Parks, who was named to numerous preseason All-America and All-Conference teams, enters the 2022 season with 42 straight starts for the Aggies. The 2021 All-Big Sky first team selection is joined by senior Connor Pettek, who has started 35 career games. Pettek, a 2021 All-Big Sky second team selection joined Parks with preseason accolades. Nick Amoah, another senior veteran on the line, was named preseason All-Big Sky by Phil Steele. 

LINEBACKER LEADERSHIP

The Aggies return a lot of experience and continuity from its linebackers. Of the group, the leading tackler and sack leader from a year ago return in 2022. Team captain Teddye Buchanan paced the team with 74 total tackles, including 40 solo stops in 12 games played. He also registered two sacks, two interceptions, a quarterback hurry and 5.5 tackles for loss. Sack-leader Cam Trimble also looks to wreak havoc in the backfield as the senior totaled 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks to lead the team. He registered 47 tackles with 27 solo stops. The Ags also return Nick Eaton, who ranked seventh on the team with 41 total tackles, including 19 solo stops and five for a loss. Veteran Cole Hansen, Jackson Cloyd and Jayce Smalley return as well.

RUSHING RETURN

The UC Davis offense returns its top three rushers from a year ago. Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., Trent Tompkins and Lan Larison accounted for 1,604 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns. In all, the Aggies return eight players that carried the ball in 2021, accounting for 1,784 yards.

ELITE SPECIAL TEAMS

Behind Hawkins, the Aggies have enjoyed special teams success and 2021 was another year to showcase that, spotting one of the best top-to-bottom special teams units in the nation during the regular season. The Aggies were one of the tops in the nation in kickoff return yards behind All-Big Sky Second Team honoree Lan Larison at 29.91 per return. He set a single-game program record with 211 kick return yards against Eastern Washington. Punt returner Isaiah Thomas was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team at that spot. Thomas ranked 15th in the nation in punt return average at nine yards per during the regular season. Conversely, UC Davis allowed just 18.96 yards per return, though those are few and far between with Daniel Whelan averaging over three touchbacks per kickoff. Speaking of Whelan, as an All-Big Sky Second Team choice averaged a school record 44.01 yards per punt for his career and a single season record 46.25 in 2021

GOING FOR TWO

In 2021, UC Davis attempted six two-point conversions, with QB Trent Tompkins involved in five of them. He sucessfully ran for three and passed for one (to Garren O'Keefe). While an official school record for such plays does not exist, records dating back to 1964 show the following program highs: the 1967 (3-for-8), 1991 (4-for-8) and 1993 (6-for-8) teams had the most attempted conversions, with that 1993 squad owning the benchmark for most successful tries. Shaun Ayers scored three in 1991 for the individual best. However, UC Davis archives are incomplete, with the number of attempts missing from final reports throughout the 1970s and 1980s; and no individual info prior to 1964.

SUBVERTING THE SUBDIVISIONS

The 2021 season-opening win at Tulsa marked the Aggies' fourth against an FBS opponent in the program's Division I era (2007-present), and the seventh all-time. UC Davis previously beat San Jose State in both the 2010 (14-13) and 2018 (44-38), and memorably scored a 20-17 upset at Stanford back on September 17, 2005. Honorable mention: the Aggies beat UTSA by a 38-17 final back in October 2011, but the Roadrunners were in their first year of transitioning to FBS status and thus still counted as an FCS foe. In its Division II era, UC Davis posted three straight series wins against the University of the Pacific, each behind the arms of legendary quarterbacks: 31-14 in 1978 (future NFL veteran Mike Moroski), 23-22 in 1982 (future NFL veteran Ken O'Brien), and 45-41 in 1986 (future coaching great Chris Petersen). The 1978 season was the first year of the new Division I subdivisions, then known as I-A and I-AA. That 1986 win, highlighted by Wayne Adkin's diving catch and a last-minute Petersen strike to TE Chris Mandeville, was made even more impressive given that Pacific had defeated eventual Liberty Bowl participant Minnesota just one week earlier.

NEXT TIME OUT

The Aggies continue on the road as they head to Brookings, S.D to face No. 2/3 South Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 10. The rematch of the first round of the FCS Playoffs is slated to kick at 4 p.m. PT.