Sacramento State counting on QB1 and QB2 to lead top-10 Hornets back to the FCS playoffs

The guy with the fast feet, endless smile and regional roots is Kaiden Bennett.

He is QB1 at Sacramento State, the starter last fall, the dual-threat star in the early season stunner triumph at Stanford . The Folsom High School graduate is the lead man heading into the Aug. 29 opener at San Jose State.

The cool, calm guy with the smooth delivery and Southern California origins is Carson Conklin. He played in the final four games in 2023, spelling a sore-shouldered Bennett while showcasing glimpses of star power in competing beyond his years as a true freshman. He’s QB2, the backup, but Hornets coaches explain that both will be in the mix in another season of promise.

Why two quarterbacks? Because it works, and it’s a contact sport that mandates depth at the game’s most critical position.

Sacramento State has gone with two quarterbacks in recent years, leading to record-setting offenses at the expense of gassed defenses. The concept produced Big Sky Conference championships, and last year, the 1-2 pocket punch of KB and CC led to the program’s fourth consecutive FCS playoff berth. Sacramento State heads into this season ranked in the top 10 in various FCS polls, thanks in large part to the experience at quarterback and on the offensive line and depth at running back.

The old saying no longer holds water, at least with the Hornets: If a program has two quarterbacks then it really has none.

“It’s football, and you need two good quarterbacks,” Sacramento State head coach Andy Thompson said. “KB and Conk have put in a ton of work together. They’re the leaders of the offense.”

Bennett, a senior, is preparing for his last hurrah at the amateur level. Conklin is just warming up with last season his first on campus. The two compete with exuberance, with the joy of a kid parading his new bike on his birthday. They regularly showcase their glee in practices and scrimmages.

And how fitting that the two quarterbacks at the controls of Sacramento State’s green machine offense engage in a dance move after a big play, racing over to each other and rearing back like a man revving up a motorcycle. The dance originated in the locker room from another teammate and has become a staple in spirited practices, where intensity and focus is mandated but fun is allowed and encouraged, too.

A good dose of this good spirit comes from Hornets offensive coordinator Bobby Fresques, a QB guru who pours himself into this craft. He was a Sacramento State quarterback a generation ago, the early 1990s, who implores his quarterbacks to put in the work, be it film study or extra reps. The theme being: You’re as good as the effort.

And there’s this: The culture is a healthy and happy one at Sacramento State, rooted in success. Winning works wonders, and the Hornets are in the midst of their best run in program history. Sacramento State seeks its fourth Big Sky Conference crown and fifth FCS playoff appearance since 2019.

“Bobby deserves a lot of the credit with our quarterback success,” Thompson said. “He’s fostered a room where there’s a lot to learn, but they have a good time. Tribute to coach Fresques and to those kids. When KB and Conk are at their best, it’s fun to watch.”

KB Express

The 6-foot, 190-pound Bennett was a two-year varsity star, two-time CIF state champion and The Bee’s 2018 Player of the Year at nearby Folsom High School. He graduated from Folsom in the winter semester and signed a scholarship deal with Boise State, wound up at Nevada to be closer to his family in his home state and then settled in at Sacramento State in 2021.

He calls this home. Bennett has already achieved his primary goal of earning a degree, in communications. He is pursuing another in recreation administration. Bennett had to wait his turn in football with the Hornets, which wasn’t easy for a guy who was always the lead dog.

When he got that chance last season, Bennett flourished. He played in all 13 games in 2023, starting 10. Bennett labored through a sore passing shoulder, which led to Conklin’s appearances. Bennett passed for 279 yards and rushed for 100 in the victory at Stanford, one of the greatest victories in program history .

Bennett accumulated 2,767 yards of total offense last season with 24 touchdowns. He was the team’s second-leading rusher with 577 yards. His 64.3% completion percentage was the second best in school history, dating back to 1954 (and the best in school history for anyone with at least 200 passing attempts).

Bennett wasn’t just a run threat. He could pick apart a defense with throws short, medium and long.

In a flash, Bennett is suddenly in his final season.

“It’s flown by,” he said after a recent practice. “It’s been a journey, but this is home. I’m happy here. Great people, great coaches, great teammates, great living. I love being in Sac.”

Bennett has long embraced the role of leader. One cannot play quarterback and be afraid to fail, afraid to lead, afraid of pressure, be it expectations or the rush-end specialist zeroing in to cut him in half.

“I love being able to lead, how to work hard, how to do it the right way,” Bennett said. “I have so much fun playing football.”

Bennett isn’t threatened by the potential of Conklin. He is inspired by it. They are, after all, teammates pursuing the same goals of team success.

“Oh, he’s great,” Bennett said. “He’s confident, talented. I see him every day. We learn from each other, and we celebrate each other.”

Conk continues rise

The 6-1, 185-pound Conklin was a three-star recruit at prep powerhouse Centennial High of Riverside County. He was a three-year varsity starter whose teams went 24-4.

Conklin’s father, Robert, played basketball at USC, and his brother Bobbie played football at Louisiana-Monroe. Sacramento State coaches raved about Conklin’s potential before he ever played a game for the Hornets, wowed by his skills. Conklin’s debut for the Hornets was a dandy against Idaho State when as a true freshman he passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns in a victory. Against Cal Poly in another win, Conklin passed for 313 yards and three scores.

Playing the game with focus and joy is the way to go, Conklin said.

“If you can’t have fun with what you do, you’re not going to succeed or enjoy it,” he said.

Conklin said he appreciates competing with Bennett. That they’re pals adds to it. Conkln marvel’s at Bennett’s skills, including his breakaway burst as one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the country.

“I love KB,” Conklin said. “He’s taught me so much, and we compete with each other every day. I think both of us have taken leaps and bounds from last year. The relationship we have is what means the most. God forbid, if he goes down or if I go down in a game, we’ve got to be able to have each other’s back.”

Conklin is majoring in kinesiology, the scientific study of human movement, anatomy and mechanics. Those aspects can be tied to quarterback play, too.

‘Know your stuff’

Fresques, the Hornets offensive coordinator, said the program had two untested quarterbacks entering last season. They found their groove and the wins kept coming.

“KB and Conk played well last season and we got eight wins, and now with a year under their belts, we’re really looking forward to seeing how they’ll play this year,” Fresques said.

The coach said the preparation the quarterbacks put in sends a message to the entire program.

“The guys want to win, to be great, to be a league champion, to go after a national championship,” Fresques said. “Okay, that’s great, but are you going to prepare to win? There’s a huge difference. You have to know your stuff. They do.”