DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis football team officially opened the 2022 season with the start of training camp. The Aggies took to the field for two hours this morning at UC Davis Health Stadium in their first of 20 preseason practices.
Before the Aggies suited up for practice, more preseason accolades were announced as Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr., Jake Parks, McCallan Castles and Lan Larison garnered Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American honors.
Gilliam, Jr. continues to bring in the preseason honors as he was named to the Walter Payton Award watch list, a Stats Perform Preseason All-American, the Big Sky Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and earned first-team preseason honors. He was named to the first team at the all-purpose position.
The 5-9 running back enters the 2022 season with his name etched atop the Aggie record book. The Merced, Calif., native has amassed 3,435 career rushing yards which is just 155 shy of breaking the record held by G.P. Muhammad (1995-98).
The 2019 All-American is also just 150 all-purpose yards behind Muhammad for the school record. On top of his 3,435 rushing yards, Gilliam, Jr. has hauled in 164 passes for 1,045 receiving yards. His 164 receptions currently rank ninth in the UC Davis annals. The two-time Ken O'Brien Award winner (UC Davis Most Outstanding Offensive Player) also ranks ninth in scoring with 231 points on 38 touchdowns – fourth all-time among non-kickers.
Gilliam, Jr. was named to the All-Big Sky first-team last season after rushing for 901 yards while also amassing 278 receiving yards with seven total touchdowns.
Parks earned All-Big Sky first-team honors in 2021 after starting every game at right guard for the Aggies, moving his career total to 42-straight. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native helped open the running lanes for UC Davis to rank second in the league with 178.5 yards rushing per game and fourth overall with 407 total yards per contest. The Aggies allowed the 29th fewest sacks during the FCS regular season a year ago.
Parks was a 2018 Hero Sports Freshman All-American and garnered Phil Steele freshman honors in his rookie campaign. The senior was named to the third team at offensive line and was earlier named to the All-Big Sky Preseason Team and a Stats Perform Preseason All-American.
Castles, a 2021 HERO Sports All-American, finished last season as UC Davis' second-leading receiver with 363 yards and averaged 14.52 yards per catch with four touchdowns. He was also part of the blocking scheme for a run game that averaged 175 yards per game. The tight end was named to the third team by Phil Steele.
Larison garnered fourth team honors at kick returner after proving to be one of the most electric in the country last season. Larison averaged 29.91 yards per return, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Eastern Washington. His 211 kick return yards against Eastern Washington broke the single-game school record.
