Leading up to the first game of the historic 2026 season, hornetsports.com will take a look at each position group. Today features the wide receivers coached by Eric Scott.

• With just four returning players who caught a combined eight passes for Sacramento State last season, the wide receiving corps will have a new look in 2026. The unit features 13 total players made up of five returners, a pair of four-year and JC transfers and four true freshmen.
• The returners are made up of senior Jace Wilson, junior Onterrio Smith, Jr., sophomores Ajon Bryant and Jaxon Fresques and redshirt freshman Tre Fernandez. Wilson played in 11 games, starting four during his first year with the Hornets after transferring from UTSA. He finished the season with three receptions for 56 yards, including a 45-yarder against Central Arkansas. Smith caught two passes for 16 yards and also had an 18-yard rush last season. Bryant had a great start to the year as he averaged 23.0 yards per touch (two rushes/two receptions) before an injury ended his season. Fresques did a little of everything for the team, catching a pass, completing two, returning punts and kicks and making tackles on special teams.
• Matt Coleman and Raiden Brown are the two four-year transfers. Coleman spent the previous four years at San Jose State where he played in 36 games and had 66 receptions for 651 yards and three scores. He had at least 12 receptions in his three active seasons and set career highs with 12 catches for 119 yards against South Florida in The Hawaii Bowl following the 2024 season. Brown returns to his home state of California after three years at Idaho State. He caught 46 passes for 464 yards for the Bengals from 2024-25.
• Kenyon Shabazz and Khai Taylor are both natives of Northern California.  Shabazz graduated from Grant HS in Sacramento and played 2025 at College of San Mateo where he head 17 catches for 178 yards and two TDs. Taylor posted 44 receptions for 766 yards and 10 TDs at Diablo Valley JC and was named first team all-region and all-league.  He was a three-star recruit out of Pittsburg HS who began his collegiate career at Boise State.
• Dezmyn Hardy is the lone freshman who joined the program in the spring. Hardy was a three-star recruit at Calabasas HS and finished his senior season with 1,006 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns. Carlton Perrilliat was a first team all-league selection at Salesian Prep who led the team with 49 receptions for 944 yards and 19 touchdowns. Matthew Auau posted 48 grabs for 636 yards and six touchdowns at Edison HS in Southern California while Kenneth Peevy amassed 733 yards and four scores while averaging 17.5 yards per reception at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy.

NOTEBOOK

• A rare live goal line period highlighted practice on Tuesday. The defense had the upper hand early on, making stops on four straight plays. The offense responded with touchdowns on its next three plays.
• The team was rewarded for its hard work throughout Tuesday with a lighter-than-planned schedule on Wednesday followed by an off day on Thursday.
• Training camp will wrap up on Saturday night with a scrimmage/mock game inside Hornet Stadium at 6:30 p.m.