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UC Davis Athletics

2025 Football Roster

8 Samuel Gbatu, Jr.

8 Samuel Gbatu, Jr.

  • Height:
    5-10
  • Weight:
    185
  • Class:
    Senior
  • Position:
    Wide Reciever
  • Hometown:
    Temecula, Calif.
  • High School:
    Temecula Valley
  • Major:
    Undeclared/Exploratory

Summary

Biography

- 2025 FCS Football Central All-American (Second Team)
- 2025 AFCA All-American (Second Team)
- 2025 Big Sky All-Conference (First Team)

2025 (Senior):
Played in and started in all 13 games ... Named team captain ... Ended All-American season with 70 receptions, 1,169 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns ... Averaged 16.7 yards per catch and 89.9 yards per game ... Rushed for 59 yards (eight attempts) and returned eight kicks for 146 yards to rack up a total of 1,374 all-purpose yards ... Became only the seventh Aggie to finish with 100 or more receiving yards in a season and the first to do it since 2018 ... Tied for the third-most receiving touchdowns in a single season in program history ... Led the Aggies in receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns ... Ended the season leading the Big Sky Conference in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards per game ... Had seven games with at least 100 yards receiving ... Nationally, ranked second in total receiving yards, sixth in receiving touchdowns and seventh in receiving yards per game ... Had first 100-yard receiving game of the season against Weber State (Sept. 27), snagging four balls for 112 yards and one receiving touchdown ... During game against Weber State, scored on 85-yard touchdown reception which was the eighth-longest passing play in the nation and the eighth-longest in program history ... Had four straight games with at least 100 yards receiving, starting with 114 yards and a career-high two receiving touchdowns on seven catches against Northern Arizona (Oct. 11) ... Made five catches for 108 yards and scored one receiving touchdown at Northern Colorado (Oct. 25) ... Hauled in six balls for 112 receiving yards against Idaho State (Nov. 1) ... Posted 110 receiving yards with seven catches and one receiving touchdown at Idaho (Nov. 8) ... Made 10 receptions and scored a receiving touchdown at Montana State (Nov. 15) ... Caught seven balls for 127 receiving yards, adding one receiving touchdown against Sacramento State (Nov. 22) ... Followed up Causeway Cup performance with 121 yards on four catches, scoring a receiving touchdown in the NCAA FCS Playoff Second Round match up against Rhode Island (Dec. 6).

2024 (Junior): Played in all 14 games, making 10 starts ... Finished second on the team and led all Aggie receivers in receiving yards with 779, making 44 receptions and snagging seven receiving touchdowns ... Had a career-long 90 yard reception against Eastern Washington (Oct. 19), with that mark finishing as the fifth-longest reception in the country and it was the fourth longest reception in program history ... Had two 100-yard receiving games ... Finished game at Eastern Washington with 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns on four receptions ... Caught five balls for 143 yards and one touchdown at Sacramento State (Nov. 23) ... Had three-straight games with at least one touchdown reception finding the end zone against Cal Poly (Oct. 12), Eastern Washington (Oct. 19) and Northern Colorado (Nov. 2).

2023 (Sophomore): Played in 10 games…Had 31 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns…Had one rush for one yard…Had 161 kickoff return yards…Had two tackles (one solo, one assisted)…Recorded season highs in catches and receiving yards with eight catches for 83 yards against Weber State on October 14th…Recorded a receiving touchdown on three occasions…Recorded season high in kick return yards with 84 against Northern Arizona on October 28th…Had tackle on two occasions (Northern Arizona and vs. Idaho State on November 11th).

2022 (Freshman): Played in three games in his true freshman season… Earned the team’s GEORGE BELENIS AWARD (Scout Team Player of the Year – Offense)… Recorded one rush for one yard.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played wide receiver and defensive back at Temecula Valley … Helped lead the Golden Bears to a CIF championship in 2019 and a runner-up finish in 2021 … TVHS compiled a record of 24-9 over his prep career … Eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving as a senior, catching 58 passes for 1,106 yards … Also picked off six passes in 2021 … Named first-team All-CIF and D6 Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

PERSONAL: Born in Monrovia, Liberia and has lived in Okinawa, Japan  … Started playing football as a freshman in high school … Played for coach Bert Esposto.
No stats available for the current season.

Stat Snapshot (Season)

Passing Stats
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Rushing Stats
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Receiving Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Deflected Passes
Kicking Stats
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Longest FG
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Punting Stats
Punts
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Longest Punt
Avg. Per Punt

Stat Snapshot (Career)

Passing Stats
Yards
Touchdowns
Interceptions
Efficency
Rushing Stats
Attempts
Yards
Touchdowns
Avg. Per Play
Receiving Stats
Receptions
Rec. Yards
Touchdowns
Avg. Per Reception
Defensive Stats
Tackles
Sacks
Forced Fumbles
Interceptions
Passes Deflected
Kicking Stats
Field Goals
Longest FG
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Punting Stats
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Longest Punt
Avg. Per Punt

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Season Stats

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Career Stats

Career Statistics

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Historical Player Information

  • 15

    2022Freshman

    WR
    5'10" 165 lbs
    15
  • 8

    2023Sophomore

    WR
    5'10" 165 lbs
    8
  • 8

    2024Junior

    Wide Reciever
    5'10" 175 lbs
    8
  • 8

    2025Senior

    Wide Reciever
    5'10" 185 lbs
    8