Brennan Marion talks "limitless" potential at Sacramento State, recruiting, NIL and more

Sacramento State first-year head coach Brennan Marion says they’re barely scratching the surface of what this football program and school will be down the road.

The enthusiastic 37-year old Marion has more than done his part to see the Hornets rocket take off.

Now in flight and heading into fall camp, there is a lot of excitement around this football team, the Go-Go Offense and championship mindset being instilled. It’s certainly resonated on the recruiting trail from hosting some of the state’s top recruits to landing players from eight different states from one coast to the other. That includes four-star receiver Xavier McDonald out of Mississippi who chose to play for Sacramento State over Ole Miss among others.

When the Sacramento State job came open, school president J. Luke Wood easily sold Marion on the future of the entire school. Marion is now an ambassador for Wood which includes his own personable mission of ultimately seeing the Hornets become one of the nation’s top football teams at the FBS level.

“It’s really limitless,” Marion said of Sac State’s potential. “Our president he’s a guy with a big vision and goals and he’s trying to make this thing into Arizona State’s campus life and what he wants to do with the football program and football stadium.

“In the next 10 to 15 years I expect Sac State to be a factor in college football and college athletics.”

Marion’s reputation on the offensive side of the football is very respected among the college football ranks. Defensive coordinator Marcus Patton has a scheme that creates turnovers, gets after the quarterback and most importantly limits points. From a recruiting perspective, both look like fun schemes to run around in.

And Marion says that’s just a few of the selling points on the trail.

“I really just think we have a unique culture,” Marion said. “We have a school that’s in the state capital of California. It’s really easy to sell and really easy for everyone to get to. The brand we’ve been able to create with the other places we’ve been, guys we’re recruiting are excited about that. They’ve seen it and they feel we can build it here too.

“For us the biggest thing right now is our campus life. Our president went to Sac State so it means a lot to him to make Sac State a big-time university and program with unlimited growth. If you’re looking for a student-athlete perspective there is a lot to offer here. So many things the students get to see.”

As fall camp opens soon, the chip on the shoulder Marion and company have to take Sacramento State to new heights is something else top recruiting prospects feel.

“Here shortly that FBS thing will be a reality for us and that’s what’s been exciting to families and just being at a place that’s not stagnant, not content. We’re really hungry to prove and make a way up. A lot of people can resonate with that American Dream of working your way up to the top.”

Marion says this program will continue to grow on the NIL front as well.

“We’d be in the Top 10 or Top 5 of Group of Five with our NIL plan and companies and people supporting us,” Marion said. “Just with the rev share, with our president and AD (Mark Orr), they’ve been fully behind us all with that. This is a place not only where you can come and get a great education but a chance to play great football and also be compensated at the top Group of Five level.”

In Marion’s short time at the helm, they’ve changed the way they feed the players, boosted the health care given to the team and improved the player meeting rooms and coaches offices.

“The final touches are the FBS marking and finishing the stadium,” Marion said. “It’s been really great.”