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2025-2026 Offseason Portal Tracker

Kadeezy

Active member
The Portal will look a little different this year. A lot of players are announcing their "intent" to portal out when the new single window opens 1/2-16/2026. Surprisingly, I cannot see that any of our players have indicated they plan to do so. I'm sure plenty will, just nothing yet.

 
The Portal will look a little different this year. A lot of players are announcing their "intent" to portal out when the new single window opens 1/2-16/2026. Surprisingly, I cannot see that any of our players have indicated they plan to do so. I'm sure plenty will, just nothing yet.


I think the middling season keeps/motivates Marion and Co. for another year - hopefully some of the players we want to keep too. I wouldn't be surprised to see 30-40 new faces, instead of 70.

Primary Retention Hopes:
  • Keep Henderson, Smith, and Curtis (RS) at RB. Bring back a healthy Borders.
  • Promise Campbell and Anderson (and '26 WR Recruits) a QB that can actually throw next year.
  • Keep Meadors and Firebaugh around.
  • Try to keep defensive playmakers: Akui, Hampsten, Watts, and McGlothern.
Portal Goals:
  • QB - Land a legitimate dual threat QB - Marion HAS to know that Williams is a gamer, but NOT the answer for his offense. Let Rashada walk, keep Malone in the fold.
  • OL - Losing lots of depth on the OL, there will be plug and play starting opportunities for transfers, K-Rich can find gems. There is some serious underclassmen talent on the roster too.
  • DB - Find some size, guys that won't fall down. :)
  • ILB - Not sure extent of Rocha and Houston's injuries, but Moore graduates and we need some depth here.
  • What else?
 
Keep everyone who started/played significant time this year because need depth and if offseason get proper development, those players will get a lot better. There are players like #23, 6’3” db that has just started coming into his own. Akui wasn’t even a player in 2024. If 2025 season has taught us anything it is Playing experience > talent/3-4 star players without playing experience.
 
I think you hit the nail on the head with most of it. The biggest question at quarterback is try another D1 bounce back or bring up a guy from D2 that has a bunch of success? Experience or stars? Is Malone really solid? Would Williams and Rashada work as a dual system? I think being able to successfully run 2 QBs is really more of a coaching ability vs player ability.

I do hope to see the majority of this roster return and maintain some continuity. Per usual the secondary still feels like it needs another playmaker/lockdown, sort of player and we need a force at the linebacker position as opposed to a serviceable starter. I don’t feel like we’ve had that kind of player since Todd Davis/Darnell Sankey era.

Obviously, there are the portal successes, like Scattebo and most recently Scudero. But overall, there has not been a ton of success I feel from guys moving up to give guys a major desire to keep trying that unless of course they are being offered some life changing money. But overall I would say guys that had an opportunity do not have much to show for and probably would’ve had a better pro opportunity sticking around and dominating. I know that hitting the portal sometimes is being pushed out but to move up is probably more of a personal decision.

Elijah TT - 74 touches, 462 Total Yards 2 TDs
Cameron Broussard - 30 tackles, 1 FF, no professional career
Deshawn Lynch - 2 seasons, 2 sacks, 2 FF
Zelmar Vedder - 18 tackles, 1 FF
Murvin Kennion had a good season 35 tackles, 2 FF and 3 INT
Devin Gandy - 22 catches, 378 yards and 2 TDs
Coleman Kuntz and Mason Brosseau also have nothing to show for this year.
 
I'm predicting a mass exodus when the portal opens. There were a multitude of promises that were made to these players AND COACHES that didn't come to fruition. When Marion was hired and recruited the 70 portal players they were promised a 2026 FBS affiliation...and the PAC X was thrown around a bunch. They were also promised a 300 million dollar on-campus stadium that's not going to happen. What they got instead is a mediocre FCS program that doesn't have a conference or a schedule and a proposed stadium at an off-campus horse racing venue.
There's a great deal of discontent in the locker room and I can't imagine many of these players are going to be willing to stick around and find out where this debacle goes from here.
I seriously doubt there are many talented players on the current roster who are not actively looking for better options, and it won't be difficult to find more attractive situations even if it's a lateral FCS move.
Some of you expect Marion to return. I don't.
Even though his win/loss record was a disappointment to everyone involved, with his established success as an OC at UNLV and the fact that he more than doubled our win production from a year ago he is a commodity. He might not get the next level HC opportunity he was looking for but he will definitely have options as an FBS OC that will pay at least what he's making now.
It's not a secret that Marion has no interest in coaching in the FCS and I know for a fact that there are assistant coaches already looking at their options for next season that don't include SAC.
For those who are going to be in a hurry to tell me I'm wrong...because I've damn sure been wrong before...please start by telling me why quality players and/or coaches would stay in the program at this point. I have heard that Wood is chasing an opening in the MAC but does anyone believe he can magically get us in a desirable FBS conference before the portal window opens?
May y'all have a very happy Thanksgiving.
 
I'm predicting a mass exodus when the portal opens. There were a multitude of promises that were made to these players AND COACHES that didn't come to fruition. When Marion was hired and recruited the 70 portal players they were promised a 2026 FBS affiliation...and the PAC X was thrown around a bunch. They were also promised a 300 million dollar on-campus stadium that's not going to happen. What they got instead is a mediocre FCS program that doesn't have a conference or a schedule and a proposed stadium at an off-campus horse racing venue.
There's a great deal of discontent in the locker room and I can't imagine many of these players are going to be willing to stick around and find out where this debacle goes from here.
I seriously doubt there are many talented players on the current roster who are not actively looking for better options, and it won't be difficult to find more attractive situations even if it's a lateral FCS move.
Some of you expect Marion to return. I don't.
Even though his win/loss record was a disappointment to everyone involved, with his established success as an OC at UNLV and the fact that he more than doubled our win production from a year ago he is a commodity. He might not get the next level HC opportunity he was looking for but he will definitely have options as an FBS OC that will pay at least what he's making now.
It's not a secret that Marion has no interest in coaching in the FCS and I know for a fact that there are assistant coaches already looking at their options for next season that don't include SAC.
For those who are going to be in a hurry to tell me I'm wrong...because I've damn sure been wrong before...please start by telling me why quality players and/or coaches would stay in the program at this point. I have heard that Wood is chasing an opening in the MAC but does anyone believe he can magically get us in a desirable FBS conference before the portal window opens?
May y'all have a very happy Thanksgiving.
Why would they bail? :rolleyes:

Hornets or Nomads? Sac State bets house in football gamble — and loses

Sac State football is in limbo, and the president’s antics go unchecked

And, then you send out the AD to break the news to everyone that Hornet football will be FCS Independent and hope to have a 2026 schedule by February, after Wood made once again elusive promises, including an announcement in November and an FBS schedule for next year. He's got four days, and over a holiday weekend, no less.

At least Woods was up front about FBS or Bust.
 
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