Sac State’s new staff lands two of the Sacramento area’s top football recruits
After he was hired as Sacramento State’s new football coach last month, Brennan Marion pledged to recruit the Hornets’ backyard hard — to visit schools, to engage with the region’s top blockers, tacklers and playmakers.
Marion also said that he and his new staff would mine the transfer portal, and to recruit the state and country, if needed, in an effort to jump start a program that won Big Sky Conference championships in 2019, 2021 and 2022 before a collapse amid crushing injuries last fall.
So far, so good for the coaches in green whose motto of “Go-Go” matches their innovative offense by the same name.
Sacramento State has landed more than 20 players through the portal, heavy on higher-level FBS players, and the Hornets last week secured commitments from two 3-star Sacramento Bee All-Metro players and a 3-star prospect from a Southern California prep powerhouse.
Isaiah Ene, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound running back and defensive back star for Granite Bay High School, said he will be a Hornet following his senior season with the Grizzlies of Placer County in 2025.
Inderkum receiver star Lono Chouteau, a 6-4 leaper who also stars on defense, announced his pledge last week and will be in the Hornets summer training camp.
Ene rushed for 1,401 yards and 21 touchdowns, and he led the Grizzlies with 88 tackles. Chouteau led the playoff Inderkum Tigers with 52 receptions for 993 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he had three interceptions for 105 yards of total returns in 2024.
Sacramento State also secured a verbal commitment from two Long Beach Poly stars: receiver Kamarie Smith, a three-star prospect who had offers from Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma State; and 6-3, 235-pound junior tight end Jaden Hernandez.
What’s more, Del Oro of Loomis tight end/receiver Luke Galer gave a verbal commitment to Sacramento State. He is a 6-6 junior who also plays basketball for the Golden Eagles. He and Ene were Sierra Foothill League rivals. Galer had 21 receptions for 309 yards and a touchdown in 2024.
Coaches generally do not talk about signings until players are on campus and in uniform.
Ene said he was ready to play college football outside of California but was wowed by the Hornets coaching staff, saying, “After speaking with Coach Marion and the staff, they all seem very genuine and transparent. I also feel like they will help me continue to grow as a player.”
Relationships count in recruiting, and Ene has had one with a new Hornets assistant in Lem Adams, a highly regarded personal coach for Northern California athletes for years.
“I’ve known Lem Adams since I was 7 years old,” Ene said. “This is getting an opportunity to help rebuild a program. Leaving anything in a better place than when I started is always going to be important to me. The fact that I get the chance to do that in my hometown makes it an even bigger blessing.”
Ene added: “The city of Sacramento has always been so supportive of me all throughout youth and high school. I feel lucky to be able to continue my dream of playing football in college surrounded by my family and community that have always supported me.”
This story was originally published January 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM.