Leading up to the first game of the historic 2026 season, hornetsports.com will take a look at each position group. Today features the defensive backs coached by Dakari Monroe (cornerbacks) and Brandon Blackmon (safeties).

• A new-look secondary will feature nine cornerbacks and 12 safeties in 2026. Of that group only six players were on the Sacramento State roster a year ago and just one started more than one game.
• Elias Mullican is the longest tenured Hornet in the defensive backfield. Mullican has made 13 starts at cornerback, including three a year ago. He recorded 13 tackles in 2026 and had 28 the year prior. The junior also has a pair of interceptions and nine PBUs in his career.
• Sophomore Adam Taylor and redshirt freshman Caleb Reese also return at cornerback. Taylor redshirted in 2024 and was poised for a large role with the team in 2025 before an injury ended his season after just three games. Reese played in the final four games of the year as a true freshman.
• The Hornets turned to the transfer portal to add some depth at the position with Dionte Thornton coming from Portland State, Malikai Nichols from Saint Francis and Nikko Klemm from Arizona State. Thornton, who stands 6-4, played in all 12 games for PSU and finished the year with 34 tackles and five PBUs.
• Junior college transfer Kyle Gurganious and freshman Tim Edwards, Jr., will also be part of the unit. Gurganious prepped at Sacramento's Inderkum HS and then played one season at American River JC where he had 23 tackles in 10 games. Edwards was a member of the Hornet track team, earning all-conference honors in the 400.
• Junior Diesel Gordon, sophomore Warren Smith, Jr., and redshirt freshman Naytel Mitchell make up the returners at safety. Gordon started one of his nine games and tallied six tackles and three PBUs. Smith moved from cornerback in the spring and had 10 stops in 2026.
• Boogsie Silvera brings collegiate experience after stops at Charleston Southern, McNeese and South Florida where he combined for 179 career tackles. Donovan Turner transferred from Illinois while Amari Wallace was part of the Miami (FL) team which played in the FBS National Championship.
• Others looking to compete for a spot at safety include transfers Qualyn McQueen (Nebraska-Kearney), Noah King (Colorado) and Keyon Mills (Pacific (OR)), JC transfer Miles Tucker (San Mateo) and true freshman Chakai Scott and Joshua Holani.