How UC Davis Builds Variety Around a Simple Boot Concept

UC Davis does a solid job in the boot game, leaning on variations that keep the defense honest. The real value, though, is in how they disguise it. They can run the same core concept out of multiple looks by changing formations, personnel, and backfield actions to present what feels like a new play every time. This article walks through how the Aggies keep defenses off balance while sticking to a simple, repeatable boot concept.

The core concept in most of these clips is simple: a short route like a hitch, stop, or curl, a deep shot over the top, and something in the flats to stretch the defense horizontally. What makes it effective is how UC Davis rotates who gets where. They put different players in those roles and get to those spots through a variety of looks using shifts, motions, and formations, all without changing the play’s structure.

In this clip, the Aggies line up in 12 personnel with a Trey formation to the field. They use Jet motion from the outside receiver to sell the boot, then run a version of Stick with the tight end and running back. Cal brings pressure, which lets the quarterback get the ball out fast and hit the Stick route for a first down. The tight spacing on this variation simplifies the read and gives the quarterback a clean, quick decision.

In this variation, UC Davis aligns in 11 personnel with a condensed 2x2 formation. They use the running back to sell the boot action, then slip the opposite slot receiver across the formation and out into the flat. This again works off a Stick concept. This time, the quarterback takes the flat throw for another easy completion. Stick continues to do its job here, putting pressure on the curl-flat defender and creating a clean window for the quarterback.