It’s #ZoTime: Sacramento State holds their first spring game as an FBS program
A re-tooled Hornet squad prepares for their first season in the Mid-American Conference.
Despite the cold and gloomy weather, the energy was high in Hornet Stadium for the annual Spring game, the first event for Sacramento State as an FBS program.
The game, attended by a crowd of around 1,000+ fans, began with a long drive from Sac State’s starting quarterback, redshirt junior quarterback Carson Conklin.
Conklin, who began his career at Sac State, was a participant in last year’s spring game but entered the portal just days after. He eventually landed at Fresno State, making several starts for the Bulldogs. When Sac State hired Alonzo Carter after the departure of Brennan Marion, Conklin returned through the transfer portal.
“It was a little weird at first,” Conklin said. “Getting adjusted again felt like a dream, but I’m excited to be back.”
He played sparingly as the Hornets rotated through all their quarterbacks, but in the snaps he took, he put his arm talent on display. He completed 10 of his 12 passes, dissecting the defense and showing poise and mobility.
Several of those passes found their way into the arms of senior tight end Jordan Williams, who projects to be one of Sac State’s top weapons in the passing game this upcoming season.
Under Brennan Marion, the Hornets hardly ever passed, but when they did or needed to convert on a long down, the ball always found its way to Williams. His 2024 stats (15 catches, 170 yards, one touchdown) did a poor job of capturing just how clutch he was for the Hornets, and in an offense that won’t be as one-dimensional as Marion’s, his volume should start to match his impact.
Behind Conklin, Idaho State transfer junior quarterback Jackson Sharman and New Mexico State redshirt freshman Jaylen Patterson shone, with the former displaying his big arm and the latter exploding for multiple long running plays.
All three quarterbacks had to contend with a defensive line that pressured them on every snap, ultimately combining for seven sacks throughout the game. Sixth-year senior Xavier Williams, the de-facto leader of the unit, recorded one of the many sacks.
“This is my last spring ball,” the veteran D-lineman said. “It’s fun to have a new group of guys again, just like last year, it’s fun to see how we can come in and work together to show out.”
Williams, who recorded 31 tackles and six sacks last year, will be a key cog in Sac State’s pass rush while being a vocal leader in the locker room.
BIG TIME PLAY
— Jack Dann (@JackBDann) November 22, 2025
Xavier Williams forces the fumble and Koa Akui nearly takes it to the house. Sac State ball, in the Davis red zone pic.twitter.com/hzxRH6JmkO
“There’s always room for improvement,” head coach Alonzo Carter remarked in post-game availability. “But the guys are buying into the #GreenLine era, 100 percent of the time. They all have talent, this is Division I football. I just want to make sure the effort is where it needs to be.”
For Carter, Saturday wasn’t about the results, but about the process.
“I want people to be excited about Hornet football,” Carter said. “I’m following some great coaches, but now it’s our time. We want to build this program to where we want to go, which is to be MAC Champions.”
