DAVIS, Calif. – Hero Sports has named UC Davis football linebacker Porter Connors the 10th-best returning linebacker among this year's batch in the Football Championship Subdivision, placing one of the best defenders in the nation squarely in the middle of a deep and talented Aggie defensive unit.
 
Already a three-time preseason All-American, Connors' 2025 campaign was cut short by injury after just four games, but in that short stretch he recorded 25 tackles (15 solo), two tackles for loss and the Aggie linebacker recovered one fumble. Against Utah Tech he made 10 total tackles, in what would be the first official game of the season and he made eight tackles in the Aggie win over Southern Utah.
 
2024 acted as a breakout year for Connors, finishing that season with 86 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, four passes defended, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. Over his career Connors has amassed 163 total tackles, he's snagged five interceptions, made 11.5 tackles for loss and he has recovered three fumbles.
 
UC Davis opens 2026 fall camp on July 29 and will kick off the 2026 season on August 29 in a Big Sky showdown at Portland State. The Aggies will open UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 19 when Stetson makes the cross-country trip to Davis.
 
BUY 2026 SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets start as low as $100 for new alumni (2017-26 UC Davis graduates) and $140 for the general public. And fans can expect a large collection of perks that include priority access to postseason tickets, select away games and parking. All season ticket holders get a dedicated Aggie Ticket Representative that oversees their account, flexible payment plan options and access to exclusive season ticket holder events. Get your season tickets today by heading here, emailing the Aggie ticket office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu or by calling the ticket office at (530) 752-2471.
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.