Hankins Transfers Home to Bakersfield, CSUB

Bakersfield, Calif. – Sophomore right back Bryson Hankins has signed his National Letter of Intent to transfer to CSU Bakersfield, head coach Richie Grant announced. Hankins, a Bakersfield, Calif., native spent the 2020 season as a member of the men's soccer program at San Diego State University, where he saw action in 10 games, making eight starts against Pac-12 competition and registering 784 minutes played.

"We are pleased that Bryson has decided to return home and play with our program," said Grant. "I'm confident that our program and the Big West Conference represent a great place for Bryson to show his quality. He showed a lot of maturity when he left Bakersfield as a teenager to join the Seattle Sounders, and we are excited that his football journey will come full circle and bring him back home to Bakersfield."

Hankins was a three-star recruit as a prep and was ranked as high as the No. 129 prospect in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. He was also tabbed as the No. 37 defensive recruit, while suiting up for the Seattle Sounders Soccer Academy from 2017-19.

The 5-9, 165-pound wing back, was a part of Sounder clubs that captured Adidas Cup Division Championships in 2018 and 2019, along with a 2018 USSDA National Championship.

In 2019, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches' All-American Team, honoring the top 51 youth talents in the United States.

The same year, he also made a handful of appearances with the Tacoma Defiance of the United Soccer League.

Additionally, Hankins was invited to multiple US National Team camps, making the US U-17 team for the Nike International Friendlies competition in 2019.

Prior to joining the Sounders, Hankins played club soccer for the Central California Aztecs, where he was coached by current CSUB assistant James Garces, and attended Highland High School in Bakersfield.

Bryson is the son of Brandon and Nikki Hankins, and the nephew of John Carson who played collegiately at UCLA from 2000-04.

He'll join the `Runners in the fall of 2021, with four seasons of eligibility remaining.

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