POSITION PREVIEW: DEFENSIVE BACKS

Hornet secondary will have new one with only one primary starter returning for 2024

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With 23 defensive backs on the roster, there are plenty of options for Sacramento State to fill the five starting positions in 2024.

Senior Gavin Davis-Smith is the only returner who started multiple games a year ago for the team. Davis-Smith earned the starting nod at nickelback in seven games and ended the season at free safety. He finished the season with 65 total tackles which placed him fourth on the team and is the most among returners this year.
Davis -Smith has also been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their "good works" off the field. In Sept. 23 award recipients will be announced. The winners will include 11 from FBS schools, 11 from a group of FCS, Div. II and Div. III institutions and one coach.
Zelmar Vedder and Patrick Dean have both started games at cornerback for the team. Vedder played in all 13 games last season, starting the two FCS playoff games. During the year, he recorded 14 total tackles. Dean has 28 appearances during his three previous seasons.
The cornerback position also features several players who were with the team last season. DJ Houston has played in every game over the last two years. Jason Oliver redshirted during the season after transferring from Colorado. Sacramento native Lamont Johnson-Burrell played in 10 games in 2023 and was poised to start late in the season until he was injured in practice. Sophomores Daizon Allen and Ellias Mullican have also been with the program for two years.
Newcomers to the unit are true freshmen Phoenix Rose and Adam Taylor and Lewis & Clark transfer Steven Keene who returns to his hometown.
Veterans Eian Moore and Davion Ross return to the team at safety to provide some leadership to the secondary. Moore arrived on campus in 2020 only to have the Hornets opt not to play, he then redshirted in 2021 due to an injury which limited him to the final three games. He played in 12 games, starting four, in 2022 where he had 39 total tackles but missed all of last season with injury. Ross redshirted in 2018, played in eight games in 2019 and seven in 2021. He missed all of 2022 with a knee injury and 2023 due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Transfer Murvin Kennion III is familiar with the Big Sky having played the last two seasons at Idaho where he had 53 tackles and four interceptions.
Other returners include Kaleb Higgins and Anta'Veon McKenzie who each started at least one game last season, Koa Akui and Xander Chisolm.
At nickelback, Davis-Smith will be joined by junior college transfers Malini Ti'a and Amari Roberson, Fresno State transfer Jalen Williams and Cal transfer Dejuan Butler.

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Players Mentioned

#29 Koa Akui: S; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#8 Daizon Allen: NB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#37 Xander Chisolm: S; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#27 Gavin Davis-Smith: S; 5' 11"; Senior

#16 Kaleb Higgins: S; 6' 2"; Junior

#38 DJ Houston: CB; 5' 10"; Senior

#23 Lamont Johnson-Burrell: CB; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#17 Anta'Veon McKenzie: S; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#0 Eian Moore: S; 6' 0"; Senior

#12 Jason Oliver: CB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#29 Koa Akui
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: S

#8 Daizon Allen
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: NB

#37 Xander Chisolm
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: S

#27 Gavin Davis-Smith
: 5' 11"; Senior
: S

#16 Kaleb Higgins
: 6' 2"; Junior
: S

#38 DJ Houston
: 5' 10"; Senior
: CB

#23 Lamont Johnson-Burrell
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: CB

#17 Anta'Veon McKenzie
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: S

#0 Eian Moore
: 6' 0"; Senior
: S

#12 Jason Oliver
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: CB

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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