FARMINGTON, Utah - Three Aggies were named Big Sky Players of the Week after UC Davis dominated Stetson, 45-7, in its 2026 home opener on Saturday night at UC Davis Health Stadium. Samuel Gbatu, Jr. was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week, Porter Connors was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week, and Zach Jones was named Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week.

Gbatu, Jr. showed why he is one of the best players in the country yet again as he set new career-highs in receptions (10) and receiving yards 172) on Saturday night. The wide receiver broke free from the Stetson defense throughout the evening, including a 46-yard touchdown from Treynor Cleeland in the first quarter. This score was also his 25th career receiving touchdown, which ties him with Charley Enos for fourth in school history. It also marked his third 100+ yard receiving game this year, and his 12th career game with 100+ receiving yards.

Connors had his way defensively for the Aggies on Saturday night as the linebacker finished with a game-high 10 tackles, four of which were solo, one tackle for loss (-2 yards), and one forced fumble. The performance marked the sixth time in his career and second time this season he has finished with ten total tackles or more. The forced fumble was his first of his career. The tackle for loss was his second this season.

Jones electrified the UC Davis crowd during its home opener on Saturday night as the senior became the first Aggie in the modern era to return two punts for a touchdown in a single game. First, the Daly City native returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown at 8:59 in the opening quarter, putting UC Davis up 21-0. The touchdown marked the Aggies' first punt return for a touchdown since Trent Tompkins returned a punt 85 yards at San Diego on Sept. 11, 2021. It was also the fifth-longest (79 yards) punt return touchdown in school history. Jones also showed out in the second half, returning a second punt for a touchdown at 3:07 in the third quarter to make it 38-0 in favor of the Aggies. In total, Jones finished with 140 punt return yards against Stetson, a new school record for a single game. It also marked a new career-high for Jones.

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ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS
UC Davis, ranked No. 2 among public universities by the Wall Street Journal in the value of a college degree, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked top in the United States 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. 

For more information, visit ucdavisaggies.com.