ADVERTISEMENT

Sac State’s 2020 Recruiting Class *UPDATE* just added Ariel Ngata via transfer portal

ThunderRam

Hall of Famer
Sep 19, 2009
6,668
3,699
113
The Hornets did well with mid-year enrollees and the early signing period in December, but just hauled in some big fish during today’s official signing day.

They landed 3 star QB (according to 247) Yaro Duvalko out of Washington and 3 star DL DeShawn Lynch from Folsom HS. Both are huge gets.

Duvalko de-committed from Utah State and held gray shirt offers from UNLV and Boise State.
Lynch had full ride offers from USC, Oregon, and Arizona State, among others.

“I’m relieved, mostly, and proud,” Lynch said. “It got to the point where it was a grind. I like Sac State because it’s a good school, I know the coaches and they gave me the option to play both sides of the ball. I’m very happy. I saw Sac State play (in 2019) and knew they’d go crazy with success with the coaches.” (The above is an excerpt taken from Joe Davidson’s article in the current edition of the SacBee) https://amp.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/article239993858.html

I’m glad to hear that Troy Taylor and staff committed to allow Lynch to play both ways. Because I always thought he was a beast catching the ball at TE. Should be fun to follow his progress.

The Hornets also landed some talented and fast skill players in Jayden Dixon-Veal, Nick Wyatt, and Eian Moore. Potentially, this might be one of Sac State best ever recruiting classes.

Here’s a breakdown of the entire class:

http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/202002052bhzfz

CLASS BREAKDOWN (includes December signees and mid-year enrollees)
OFFENSE (11):
5 wide receivers, 2 running back, 2 offensive linemen, 2 quarterbacks
DEFENSE (11):
8 defensive backs, 2 defense linemen, 1 linebacker
SPECIALISTS (0):
None

MID-YEAR ENROLLEES
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School
Valerio Cuomo RB 5-9 200 Bergamo, Italy/Butte JC
Donny Long OL 6-3 285 Norco, Calif./Riverside JC
Jayden Machado QB 6-1 204 Elk Grove, Calif./Sacramento City JC
Javion Macias LB 6-1 215 Salinas, Calif./Fresno City JC
Taylor Powell LB 6-1 240 Tucson, Ariz./Northern Arizona
Carter Sullivan DL 6-3 240 Sacramento, Calif./Antelope HS

DECEMBER SIGNEES

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School
Cameron Broussard S 6-0 175 Sacramento, Calif./Folsom HS
Patrick Dean CB 5-11 165 Ontario, Calif./Colony HS
Devin Gandy WR 6-1 155 Fontana, Calif./Silverado HS
Jared Gipson WR 6-1 190 Stockton, Calif./St. Mary's HS
Earl Hodson VI NB 6-0 190 Hesperia, Calif./Serrano HS
DeVaughn Houston CB 5-10 180 Compton, Calif./Hawthorne HS
Chris Miller WR 6-2 185 Los Angeles, Calif./Culver City HS
Tyler Perez OL 6-5 290 Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills HS
Darian Pollard NB 6-1 210 Stockton, Calif./Lincoln HS
Kameron Rocha S 6-0 160 San Jacinto, Calif./San Jacinto HS
Cameron Skattebo RB 5-10 190 Rio Linda, Calif./Rio Linda HS
Jalin Speed CB 6-0 175 Lancaster, Calif./Bishop Alemany HS
Xavier Williams DL 6-2 250 Atwater, Calif./Atwater HS
Mitchell Wolfe LB 6-3 220 Sumner, Wash./Sumner HS

FEBRUARY SIGNEES

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous School
Jayden Dixon-Veal WR 6-0 180 Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga HS
Yaro Duvalko QB 6-3 180 Vancouver, Wash./Skyview HS
DeShawn Lynch DL 6-5 280 Folsom, Calif./Folsom HS
Eian Moore DB 6-0 190 Sacramento, Calif./Sierra JC
Nick Wyatt WR 5-10 188 Lancaster, Calif./Paraclete HS
 
Wow.. Lynch is a pac12 recruit. Big pickup for them.

Yep. Held offers from USC, Oregon, Oregon State, AZ State, Nebraska, San Jose State, and Tennessee.

Yet chose the Hornets. Glad to see a kid make a choice based upon fit and relationships vs. larger and more prolific programs that would have looked more impressive to others but may not have been as good a fit. A lot of recruits think going FCS when an FBS program is offering is a step back. Or not as cool. But it shouldn't ever be about that.

If you're a good enough player, the next level will find you. They always do.

I don't pretend to know all about Lynch's case or circumstances, other than what was quoted in the Bee, but I do know that he had a pre-existing relationship with most of the current Hornets staff and clearly feels comfortable with them. IMO, that likely makes for a great situation for him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RidgeRider
As indicated in the title, the Hornets added a commitment yesterday from former 4* US Army All-American Folsom HS recruit Ariel Ngata — who attended UW the past 3 years and would enroll at Sac State as a redshirt Junior with 2 seasons of eligibility remaining.

 
Great pickup for sac st! This is probably more the level he can thrive at, should be a good decision for him
 
Great pickup for sac st! This is probably more the level he can thrive at, should be a good decision for him

From everything I’ve heard or read, he was expected to thrive next season at UW. Not so sure his decision to leave had anything to do with level of competition.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MC415
From everything I’ve heard or read, he was expected to thrive next season at UW. Not so sure his decision to leave had anything to do with level of competition.

seattle times article made it sound like he didn’t really have a position with his weight being on the lighter side and there was a lot of guys ahead of him......both starting OLBs along with 5 star Savell Smalls...probably wasn’t going to start, that why I said him coming home, being able to start right away, and being at a good program he would thrive




“Ngata’s 2019 season fell short of expectations. He contributed 11 tackles and one tackle for loss in 13 games, struggling to earn consistent reps behind starting outside linebackers Joe Tryon and Ryan Bowman as well as redshirt freshman Zion Tupuola-Fetui and true freshman Laiatu Latu. He did shift to inside linebacker and made a career-high eight tackles in a win over Arizona on Oct. 12 but could not sustain that production.

Outside linebackers Tryon, Bowman, Laiatu, Tupuola-Fetui, redshirt freshman Bralen Trice, five-star freshman Sav’ell Smalls and fellow true freshman Jordan Lolohea will all vie for playing time at the position in 2020.”
 
  • Like
Reactions: THEOC89
Great pickup for sac st! This is probably more the level he can thrive at, should be a good decision for him

I think you are right on based on what I read, Great Decision for him!... He wasn't going to be getting much if any playing time at UW this year as he was beat out at both outside and inside linebacker....
Here is a Quote from Coach Lake Regarding this:

"We might have a few here or there that maybe they know they’re not going to play, and they need to go somewhere else to get some playing time"

I think the issue with him is size, at 213 pounds not really big enough to play on the outside and U/W has a lot of talent at both inside and outside Backer so he just wasn't going to see much playing time and decided to leave... Sounds like UW gave him lot's of chances, but he just couldn't break through...

Great spot for him though and great job by Taylor and Richardson, this guy will be a monster in the FCS, Good luck to the Young Man!!!...

https://www.si.com/college/washington/football/ngata-leaves-washington-and-enters-transfer-portal

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...inebacker-ariel-ngata-enters-transfer-portal/
 
seattle times article made it sound like he didn’t really have a position with his weight being on the lighter side and there was a lot of guys ahead of him......both starting OLBs along with 5 star Savell Smalls...probably wasn’t going to start, that why I said him coming home, being able to start right away, and being at a good program he would thrive




“Ngata’s 2019 season fell short of expectations. He contributed 11 tackles and one tackle for loss in 13 games, struggling to earn consistent reps behind starting outside linebackers Joe Tryon and Ryan Bowman as well as redshirt freshman Zion Tupuola-Fetui and true freshman Laiatu Latu. He did shift to inside linebacker and made a career-high eight tackles in a win over Arizona on Oct. 12 but could not sustain that production.

Outside linebackers Tryon, Bowman, Laiatu, Tupuola-Fetui, redshirt freshman Bralen Trice, five-star freshman Sav’ell Smalls and fellow true freshman Jordan Lolohea will all vie for playing time at the position in 2020.”

I read that article too. His weight might have been an issue, but these days there’s a premium on being able to cover from the LB postition and lighter, quicker guys are flourishing. He was also used as a speed rusher, so I’m not so sure it played a huge role in anything.

Somebody else here that has more inside info that I do might be able to shed some light, but my understanding is his decision had more to do with wanting to come back closer to home more than because he couldn’t thrive at UW or at another PAC12 / FBS program this season or next.

I’m pretty sure he had numerous options after entering the transfer portal, too, but wanted to come back to SAC and closer to his family.

Regardless of the reason(s), here’s hoping he thrives in Hornets green and gold!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Fred45
Yeah I’m sure he had tons of options too, but like I said if wanting to come home and play right away this was a great move for him.......and he will getting tons of reps right away and be an instant impact for the Hornets
 
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT