Hang in there, brothers, we are almost to the start of Spring Football practice! I am officially retiring from Equestrian talk, but I will chime in on stadiums, beer gardens, and uniforms as needed. I am cautiously optimistic heading into Spring. The QB position is the biggest question mark to me, but I fully trust Plough and Shelton more than anybody in the country to get that right. My next question is the Offensive Line, especially at Tackle. Feeling good about the D, especially the July training camp version of it. Won't be overly concerned about what it looks like at the end of spring ball.

Amen. Lots of options in current configuration, anchored by the traditional look.

I agree with you 100%. I feel the same way about rodeo athletes, both with two legs and four legs. They are both, absolutely very fine athletes with unique skill sets. I was being a smartass about it not being a "sport"; however, as you stated, there is a familiarity and degree of comfort in riding your own steed and not a stranger. It is similar to auto racing, but it is also true that big name race car drivers often get beaten on dirt tracks and small tracks all over the country when driving promo events. My guess is that 100% of equestrian athletes would take their horse prior to riding an opposing horse any day. It would be funny, and I'm sure it has happened, where they like the loaner better than what they have at home! Happens to me when I pick up rental cars sometimes

I agree with your Equestrian take, but these uniforms are way too Montana State for my taste

I feel bad for those riders that had accepted what looks like a partial scholarship, but that is an easy answer in financial aid with a grant or something.

How can you call it a "sport" when you're riding horses provided by the host institution? I'm sure there are standards that I am unaware of, and it's not like they're going down to the glue factory and saying, "hey, UC Davis is coming to town, give us some nags for the equestrian event!", but man, that doesn't seem right for the riders. Whatever, I could care less. I agree with Akiltopmack99, keep the money in the money sports.

Why should athletics cover trips to Georgia, Delaware, Texas, and South Dakota for what is already essentially a club sport? Can't be cheap to haul those horses cross country as members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). The ECAC is sort of a loose configuration of "friends of the friendless" schools and offers sports at all three levels of NCAA competition. Ridiculous. If Davis was riding against 8-10 West Coast equestrian programs, I would get it. But it is a money suck for UCD.

I agree that it could be advantageous to Sac. I just doubt the competency of anyone there being able to build it and get bowl eligible!!! The more interviews I see on social media, the more confident I am in that statement. Hopefully they prove me wrong but I doubt it.

I don't think I've ever seen a college football program announce the granting of additional eligibility on the school website. I definitely could be wrong on this, but I wouldn't read much into it. The roster is typically gospel.

This rule change is for NDSU. Sac State is light years away from being bowl eligible. That is, unless the decide to host the Yacht Water/Yachty's Pizzeria Bowl Presented by Lil' Yachty to be held at Rio Americano High School Stadium.

I would put those three guys under as much real world, game like friction as possible. It has to be cut to two before training camp because by that point, there are only so many reps to go around. They'll basically get four weeks in spring, two weeks in training camp, then you are on to game prep. Looking at it from that perspective, I see a premium being placed on every rep for those three kids.

They've been pissed since the advent of the automobile.

Great point on the early spring game. You won't see four QBs that day if that's the case unless it's really a logjam. He won't name a starter until fall unless someone just obliterates the competition in 16 practices, and even then it is unlikely.

Guess will entertain.

Give it a couple seasons and let's re-schedule that game...

The Transfer Portal is a brutal place where careers go to die unless you have your landing spot already worked out. I think some kids look at it as this escape hatch full of desperate coaches, where in reality there are 10-15,000 holdovers from the previous seasons every year. It is mostly full of guys who were cut or encouraged to leave. Very little glamour and only a few happy endings. I hope Damon finds a home to finish his career if he still wants to play college football.

You will see at least two, but more likely four, QBs in the Spring Game unless #4 is too far behind. Who is the message board projected #4 heading into practices? SailorGabe is our resident QB guy, what do you have the likely rep order being? My guess is Cleeland 1, Eason/Kollock 2a/2b, ? #4

My advice to all the QBs in spring: avoid throwing at #11

Good point on Guess not only being a dynamic player, but one that can throw the football some as well. Look for him to have an early impact as a kick returner. Not sure about fielding punts, we shall see.

No doubt, the Nickel position is now its own deal. That used to be a Safety or even an Outside LB in the old days, until teams started playing with 3 Corner-types

Guessing he's a Corner at 5'10" 180? Any idea what the injury was? I remember the name coming out of Folsom

Good points regarding the D-Line, thanks for correcting that. I consider that Sam/Stud whatever they call that on-ball Backer a DL position.

Not including the Idaho transfer and the Holy Cross transfer, who aside from Rex returns with any experience at Safety/Nickel? Corners should be elite.

I wonder if Porter will make spring ball. Guessing he's "probable" since he's on the roster. Seniors with a little experience last year in #13 and #44, with freshmen and a new JC guy behind that.

The roster is official. At this level of college football, you don't go posting players on a roster unless it's a done deal. No need for social media, count it as done.

I feel really good about the current QB situation. Plough is not going to put any of those kids in a position to fail. Let them battle it out, let the dust settle, and trust the experience with the decision.

Loaded at Running Back
Loaded at Tight End
Strong Offensive Line
Veteran WR group

Regarding the young NG throwing around 225 like its child's play, WELCOME! Can't have enough of those big bodied guys in the middle. He's relatively short at 6'0" but leverage is a superpower and hopefully he bends his knees and plays down there.

Relatively unproven but talented, young Defensive Line group. There are some big, long bodies coming up through the ranks.
Porter is the old man in a young and inexperienced Linebacker room. Sievers played a ton last year, does that make him the "other" LB? Looks like there's solid, young depth in that group.
Loaded Secondary gets even better with the return of an all-American and Quarterback of the Blue Force.

Pre-season Top 5 roster on paper. Does the lack of QB depth drop us into the fringes of the Top 10?

Go Ags!

Amen

I said it during the season, but looking at Guess from his high school film, he sort of reminds me of Gbatu as far as stature, quicks, and acceleration. If I recall, he can also return kicks. He will get to learn behind an outstanding player and character guy. Guess will be on the field at some point in his career.

Rex will obviously miss spring ball and probably won't be available until the middle of training camp at the earliest. Spring ball will be a great opportunity to build depth at that position. Porter should be good to go, has he been working out with the team at all? As long as he's enrolled for spring quarter, he should be able to practice in spring.

The return of Rex and Porter really enhances the depth of the roster for a title run.