DAVIS, Calif. – Considered one of the best returning safeties in the nation, UC Davis junior defensive back Rex Connors can now claim to be among the best 35 defensive players in the nation as he was named to the Buck Buchanan Preseason Watch List as announced by Stats Perform on July 31.
 
The Buck Buchanan Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors. The honor was first given in 1995 after the Walter Payton Award was designated solely for offensive players.
 
Connors returns to a list he finished 2023 on and he is one of four student-athletes from the Big Sky to be named on the preseason watch list.
 
A Preseason All-American (second team), Connors was named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team by both the conference and Phil Steele. The Aggie safety led the 2023 UC Davis secondary in total tackles (59) and solo tackles (36) finishing third and second on the team in both respective categories. He also added 2.5 tackles for loss, six pass break ups, one forced fumble and one interception.
 
He was named the seventh-best returning safety in the nation by HERO Sports. And among the top 30 returning safeties by HERO Sports, Connors ranks the highest among Big Sky colleagues sitting 11 spots higher than Northern Arizona's Alex McLaughlin, the next ranked Big Sky safety.
 
2024 FALL CAMP: UC Davis opens fall camp on July 31 and all practices are open to media and fans. The Aggies will split time between the grass of Bob Biggs Practice Field and the turf of UC Davis Health Stadium. Fans and media can watch the Aggies regardless of which field they are on.
 
Filming and photography are ALLOWED for all sessions of practice held on BOB BIGGS PRACTICE FIELD (grass-field). Filming and photography are PROHIBITED for all sessions of practice held on the UC DAVIS HEALTH STADIUM turf field.
 
Players and coach Plough will be available to the media in the Bruce Edwards Club Room following each practice. Specific times are listed on the fall camp schedule.
 
UC Davis opens 2024 at Cal on Aug. 31, with kick set for 2 p.m. The Aggies open UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 7 with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
Fans can buy season tickets, group tickets, mini plans, single game tickets and corporate ticket packages, by clicking the links or by calling the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or by emailing aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.