Leading up to the first game of the historic 2026 season, hornetsports.com will take a look at each position group. Today features the linebackers coached by Kenwick Thompson.

• The 2025 season for Sacramento State linebackers could be summed up as "what if". The Hornets only had their projected top two linebackers on the field together for one half during the year. Despite that, the group managed to produce two of the top three tacklers on the team, three of the top five and four of the top 10.
• Derek Houston and Alex Rocha are the top returners at the interior positions and both are hoping for a healthy 2026. Houston finished the season with 32 total tackles in just six games (5.3 per game). Rocha owns the highest-returning total on the team with 49 stops in eight games, including 4.5 for loss.
• The depth at inside linebacker is arguably the best on the team with returners Diego Davis and KJ Jefferson returning to the unit. Davis played in all 12 games and tallied 27 total tackles, with two for loss. Jefferson appeared in seven games as a true freshman, splitting time between safety and linebacker.
• The quartet will be joined by redshirt freshman Jackson Cahoon, Fresno State transfer Tim Thomas and junior college transfer Dante Antonini. Thomas spent four years with the Bulldogs and recorded 16 tackles. He was a three-star recruit out of Lincoln HS in Stockton, Calif. Antonini recorded 146 stops in two seasons at Santa Rosa JC.
• Four freshmen will also attempt to work their way into the rotation. Leki Holani was a three-star prospect at Santa Margarita HS and had 91 tackles as a senior. Jiah Walls comes from Orlando, Fla., where he had 139 tackles in 2026 for Evans HS. Iosefa Lealofi was the Victorville Daily Press Football Athlete of the Year following 120 tackles, including 26.5 for loss. Pheta Tofaeono had 187 career tackles and 97 as a senior at Pittsburg HS.
• Fata Puloka is the only outside linebacker on the team who has seen time on the field for the Hornets. Puloka played in all 12 games a year ago and was credited with 43 tackles which ranked fifth on the team. He has already appeared for Sacramento State in 28 career games and has 74 career tackles.
• After transferring from Maryland, Dylan Gooden missed all of last season with an injury and is expected to be healthy prior to camp beginning. Darson Jeanty comes from Lafayette where he posted 56 tackles in three seasons with 33 coming in 2025. Ivan Moore, Jr., will enter 2026 as a sophomore following two seasons at Northern Illinois.