UC Davis in the NFL: Week 1, 2026
For one Wednesday night in Seattle, the Aggies had a man on the field.
Lan Larison — the former UC Davis running back who has been grinding on New England's practice squad — earned a roster elevation for the Patriots' 2026 season opener against the Seahawks at Lumen Field, giving the program a foothold in the NFL before the calendar had even turned to Week 2.
The Larison Story
The elevation wasn't a fluke or a desperation move. With starter Dameon Henderson apparently unavailable, Patriots running backs coach Tony Dews made clear the staff had real confidence in Larison heading into the game. Dews called the former Aggie a "security blanket" — the kind of language that signals earned trust, not just emergency depth. ESPN's Mike Reiss had reported Larison as a leading candidate for the elevation before it was made official, and New England followed through.
On the field at Lumen Field, Larison delivered a quiet but functional performance: two receptions for nine yards in a 10–13 Patriots loss to Seattle. It wasn't a breakout night, but it wasn't supposed to be. In a game where New England's offense struggled to get going, Larison handled his role and didn't put the ball on the ground — exactly what a security blanket is supposed to do.
Following the game, both Larison and punter Mitch Wishnowsky — also elevated as a standard elevation — reverted to the practice squad, per standard procedure for practice squad call-ups.
The Bigger Picture
Larison's moment matters for UC Davis fans tracking alumni at the sport's highest level. Practice squad life in the NFL is grinding, anonymous work — weekly uncertainty, no guaranteed game checks, and no spotlight. Getting elevated for a Week 1 opener, with a position coach publicly vouching for your reliability, is a meaningful signal that Larison has carved out genuine value in Foxborough.
The Aggies' alumni footprint in the league remains small but real. Larison is joined on active rosters by receiver Keelan Doss (Chargers), running back Joshua Kelley (Titans), linebacker Teddye Buchanan (Ravens), linebacker McCallan Castles (Packers), and punter Daniel Whelan (Packers) — a half-dozen FCS products holding NFL jobs as the 2026 season kicks off.
Larison didn't rewrite the story of New England's opener. But he showed up when his number was called, and in the NFL, that's how practice squad players become roster players. Aggie fans have reason to keep watching.
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