SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Offensive lineman historically stay out of the spotlight. The unit instead prefers to do its talking on the field where the group of five must perform as a cohesive unit if it wants to succeed. The Denver Broncos o-line took it to an extreme in the late 1990s, not speaking to the media for over a decade until the NFL stepped in and created a policy to stop the media boycott. Sacramento State went outside the norm this offseason as Jackson Slater was selected as one of two student-athletes to represent the team at Big Sky Kickoff in July.
 
Slater, who likely will finish the season as the most decorated offensive lineman in the school's FCS era, spent the weekend being jettisoned between photoshoots, video interviews and meeting with local and national media in his home state of Washington. If the senior meets his own high expectations this season, he could find himself in another round of rapid-fire interviews as he prepares for the NFL Draft.
 
A two-time first team all-Big Sky selection, Slater has started 36 consecutive games for the Hornets with the majority coming at left guard. He became just the second offensive lineman in school history to earn back-to-back first team all-Big Sky accolades a year ago. Heading into the 2024 season, he was landed on numerous first team preseason All-America teams and has been a consensus all-Big Sky choice. Part of Slater's success can be directly linked to his production in the weight room where he has power cleaned 405 pounds, back squatted 635 pounds and has been clocked at 19.96 miles per hour.

Take the monkey off my back. 405 new power clean PR?? pic.twitter.com/zNH1HLZCjp

— Jackson Slater (@jacksonslater75) March 11, 2024

 
Nathan Mejia was named second team all-Big Sky in 2022 and followed with honorable mention last year. Mejia has started all 26 games at center the last two years. Last season, he anchored an offensive line which allowed just 16 sacks in 13 games. The unit also stepped up in some of the biggest wins of the seasons, keeping the quarterback untouched in wins at Stanford and in the first round of the FCS playoffs at North Dakota.
 
Kenndel Riley (eight career starts) and Kaden Richardson (six) both bring experience on the interior of the line. Riley has mostly played right guard while Richardson has seen action at guard and center.
 
Aidan Meek started nine games in 2023 at right tackle and the junior is expected to return to the starting lineup this year.
 
Other returners include junior Sawyer Hays, sophomores Brandon Sousa and Justin Davis and redshirt freshmen Cade Gretlein, Davis May, Jose Soto and Richard McKay.
 
Transfers Bryson Summers (Coastal Carolina), Joey Wright (San Diego State and TangiTangi Pongia (UTEP) as well as a pair of junior college transfers and true freshmen complete the unit.
 

HORNETS OPEN THE YEAR IN TOP 10 OF STATS FCS POLL

Sacramento State is back in the top 10 of the Stats Perform FCS media poll as the Hornets debuted in eighth position. The Hornets will enter the season-opener at San Jose State having been ranked in the top 25 in 32 consecutive games. Last season, the team began the year ranked 10^th in the Stats Perform media poll and rose to as high as third place during the season.
 
The Hornets are one of six Big Sky Conference schools in the top 25. Sacramento State's 2024 slate of games will see the team face five teams who are at least receiving votes in the poll comprised of Montana State (fourth), UC Davis (18^th), Weber State (22^nd), Nicholls (23^rd) and Eastern Washington (RV).