SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Former Sacramento State Hornet Ryan Coogler won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for “Sinners.” It’s his very first, but he’s also up for more awards tonight.
Coogler is a Bay Area native and known as the director behind hit films “Black Panther” and “Creed.” But his roots still run deep in Sacramento, especially from his football playing days at Sacramento State.
During a 2025 appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” the filmmaker sat down to promote his now-Oscar winning screenplay “Sinners,” but the conversation quickly turned to his years as a wide receiver for the Hornets from 2004 to 2007. He transferred to Sacramento State after starting his collegiate career at Saint Mary’s College, which canceled its football program…