By Mark Pszonak
There are plenty of deep backfields across the country, especially at the elite P4 programs who have a conveyor belt of impressive talent. However, when it comes to a mixture of talent, experience and production, one of the deepest is in the FCS.
Sacramento State has been an FCS recruiting juggernaut since the program hired Brennan Marion as their head coach on December 21st. The former UNLV offensive coordinator made numerous important additions through the transfer portal, which included a complete overhaul of the backfield.
First, one important member of the 2024 backfield does return, Curron Borders. After redshirting in 2023, Borders played in all 12 games last season, totaling 361 yards and one touchdown on the ground, while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Borders will face stiff competition during this off-season to attempt to earn playing time in 2025. First, two FBS transfers will try to make an immediate impact. Savion Red (Nevada) began his collegiate career at Texas before transferring to Nevada prior to the 2024 season. With the Wolf Pack, he rushed for 687 yards and a team leading eight touchdowns. The other FBS addition is Rodney Hammond Jr. (Pittsburgh), who in four seasons with the Panthers rushed for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns.
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The most intriguing transfer addition by the Hornets may turn out to be Jamar Curtis (Lafayette). A two-time Walter Payton Award finalist, which is the FCS Heisman Trophy, Curtis rushed for 2,598 yards and 31 touchdowns over the last two seasons. On top of that he has added 49 receptions for 396 yards and three touchdowns.
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How the Hornets will split the carries amongst Curtis, Hammond, Red and Borders is unclear at this point and likely will be a work in progress throughout summer camp and into the season. But this is a problem that many programs across the country would love to have. Splitting carries will keep the backfield fresh throughout the season, which should help make the Hornets a viable threat in the Big Sky Conference in 2025.
Since Coach Marion’s hiring, Sacramento State has become one of the more polarizing programs in the country.
