SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Leading up to the start of the 2022 season on Sept. 3 against Utah Tech, Hornetsports.com will have a break down of each position group. Single-game and season tickets are available for online purchase HERE.

• Sacramento State used the same starters across the defensive front in all 12 games last season. The group played a large role in helping the defense limit teams to 122.8 rushing yards per game which ranked third in the Big Sky. The good news for the team is the two interior starters are back. The bad news is the team must replace veterans on the end, including All-American Josiah Erickson who led the team with 19.5 tackles-for-loss, including 10.0 sacks.
• Jett Stanley and Tyler Hardeman are expected to retain their starting roles at defensive tackles. Stanley was named honorable mention all-Big Sky last season following a year where he had 20 total tackles, including 2.5 TFLs and a sack. He had at least one tackle in 10 games and posted a career high with six stops at Cal.
• Hardeman was credited with 32 tackles during 2021. He had a stop in every game and set his career best with nine at Idaho State.
• Brandon Knott and Billy Lutui also return on the defensive interior. Knott had 20 tackles during his first active season with the team. He tallied his first sack in the win over Cal Poly. Lutui moved from the offensive line prior to 2021 and responded with six tackles while playing in all 12 games.
• There are plenty of returning options to fill the voids at defensive end. Killian Rosko is the most experienced of the group as he enters his sixth year with the program. Rosko had 16 tackles in 11 games last year including a key sack late in the win at Montana. Ariel Ngata played the final seven games of last season after an improbable recovery from offseason Achilles' tendon surgery. Ngata, who's a transfer from Washington, made 12 tackles and had an interception during the year. Leke Fashola (12 tackles), Carter Sullivan (seven tackles) and Josh Cooper (six) were also in the rotation at defensive end.
• Other returners on the defensive line include Mason Brosseau, John Carey III, DeShawn Lynch and Xavier Williams who all redshirted last season.
• The newcomers to the position include a pair of Power 5 transfers. Ayodele Adeoye played four seasons at Texas where he started 10 games for the Longhorns. Adeoye was a high school All-American who played in the 2018 Under Armour All-America Game. Carson Smith spent three seasons at Washington and will follow his father, Steve, who was a safety for the Hornets (1989-93). JC transfer Ben Ahio and incoming freshman Tyler Henry round out the newcomers.

Aug. 21 - Quarterbacks
Aug. 22 - Running Backs
Aug. 23 - Wide Receivers
Aug. 24 - Offensive Line/Tight Ends
Aug. 25 - Defensive Line
Aug. 26 - Linebackers
Aug. 27 - Defensive Backs
Aug. 28 - Specialists