If Sacramento State football has become a common name around Western Pennsylvania in the recent months, it’s because of a pair of coaches that are spearheading a massive recruiting charge in the WPIAL.
Now, Sacramento State could become even more appealing as the program is attempting to make the upward jump from the FCS to the FBS level as an independent.
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, “Sacramento State plans to file an application with the NCAA this week to transition from FCS to FBS in football. They plan to do so as an independent. The school has already filed a waiver to transition as an independent in football, which requires NCAA approval.”
Sacramento State football is led by former Pitt wide receivers coach (2021) and Greensburg Salem grad Brennan Marion as its head coach. Darrin Walls, a Woodland Hills grad, is the cornerbacks/defensive pass game coordinator for the Hornets.
Since joining the Hornets, Marion and Walls have made an aggressive push in recruiting Western Pa. Over 25 players from within the WPIAL and City League have picked up offers from Sacramento State.
Penn Hills 2025 safety Naytel Mitchell became the first player to commit to the Hornets from the Pittsburgh area. On Wednesday, Central Catholic product and former Pitt walk-on wide receiver Gavin Thompson committed to Sacramento State, rejoining Marion after playing for him at UNLV in 2023. He spent the 2024 season with the St. Francis Red Flash.
Also, former Pitt wide receiver Melquise Stovall has been hired as the director of speed and development for the Hornets in a graduate assistant role.
Thamel further reported that “If everything is approved, they’d be ineligible for the football postseason for 2025 and 2026. They’d then be football postseason eligible for the 2027 season. By transitioning as an independent, Sacramento State is positioning itself for FBS conferences. The reason for a waiver is because they aren’t transitioning with a conference invite. The school sits in a Top 20 media market and has been aggressive in hiring coaches and in NIL.”
Sacramento State currently resides in the Big Sky Conference and will play there in during the 2025 season. The Hornets have 14 total commits in the 2026 class and ranks 33rd in the Rivals team rankings.
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