(Photo Credit: David Becker/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Jake Haener, RB/PR Ronnie Rivers, WR Jalen Cropper, WR Josh Kelly, WR Keric Wheatfall, OC Matt Smith, OG Dante Adkins, OT Dante Bull, DE Kwami Jones, DE Arron Mosby, DT Kevin Atkins, LB Levelle Bailey, LB Sherwin King, LB Malachi Langley, CB Wylan Free, CB Bralyn Lux, NB Justin Houston, NB Reggie Strong, FS Deonte Perry, FS Evan Williams, KR Jalen Cropper, KR Josh Kelly, and PK Cesar Silva.
Key Players Departing:
OG Quireo Woodley, OT Syrus Tuitele, LB Jacob Hollins, CB Chris Gaston, and PT Cade Fuller.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: CB Elijah Gates (UCLA transfer).
3 Star Recruits: RB Jordan Hornbeak (Fresno, California), LB Isaac Garcia (Oregon State transfer), CB Jalen Williams (Lancaster, California), QB Jaylen Henderson (West Hills, California), DT Evan Bennett (Oregon State transfer), OT Braylen Nelson (Aurora, Colorado), DE Ja’Quez Harvey (Los Angeles, California), ATH Kamron Beachem (Oceanside, California), and RB Johnathan Arceneaux (Lawndale, California).
2020 Results:
G01 HAWAII L 19-34
G02 COLORADO STATE W 38-17
G03 at UNLV W 40-27
G04 at Utah State W 35-16
G05 at Nevada L 26-37
G06 vs. New Mexico L 39-49
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 3-3 (6th in MWC)
Home: 1-1
Away: 2-1
Neutral: 0-1
MWC: 3-3
Non-MWC: 0-0
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer
Fresno State: 3-3
Career: 70-6
Bowls: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jake Haener (150-232, 2021 yards, 64.7%., 8.7 avg., 14 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Ronnie Rivers (100 car., 507 yards, 5.1 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Jalen Cooper (37 rec., 520 yards, 14.1 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: Ronnie Rivers (9)
Sacks: Kwami Jones (5)
Tackles: Bralyn Lux (30)
Interceptions: Wylan Free/Bralyn Lux (1)
Pass Deflections: Wylan Free/Bralyn Lux (4)
Tackles For Loss: David Perales (8.5)
Forced Fumbles: David Perales (4)
Kick Returns: Josh Kelly (12 ret., 225 yards, 18.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Ronnie Rivers (6 ret., 46 yards, 7.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Cesar Silva (5-5 fg/fga., 100%, 15-16 xp/xpa., 30 pts.)
Punting: Carson King (4 punts, 164 yards, 41.0 avg., 2 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 9 Jake Haener (RS SR/TR)
RB: 20 Ronnie Rivers (SR)
WR: 1 Keric Wheatfall (SR/TR)
WR: 11 Josh Kelly (RS SO)
WR: 5 Jalen Cropper (JR)
TE: 80 Juan Rodriguez (RS/TR)
LT: 72 Dontae Bull (RS SR)
LG: 51 Mose Vavao (SO)
OC: 59 Matt Smith (RS SR)
RG: 54 Bula Schmidt (JR)
RT: 75 Alex Akingbulu (RS SR/TR)
KR: 7 Jordan Mims (RS SR)
PK: 28 Cesar Silva (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 99 David Perales (RS SR/TR)
DT: 90 Kevin Atkins (RS SR)
DT: 55 Leonard Payne (RS JR)
DE: 3 Arron Mosby (SR)
LB: 58 Tyson Maeva (GR/TR)
LB: 6 Levelle Bailey (JR)
NB: 13 Justin Houston (SO)
CB: 38 Bralyn Lux (RS SO)
CB: 4 Wylan Free (RS SR)
FS: 32 Evan Williams (JR)
SS: 2 Elijah Gates (GR/TR)
PR: 20 Ronnie Rivers (SR)
PT: 45 Carson King (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/28 CONNECTICUT HUSKIES | First meeting between schools.
09/04 at Oregon Ducks | Fresno State trails the series 2-7. The Bulldogs lost (25-42) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
09/11 CAL POLY MUSTANGS | Fresno State leads the series 32-10-2. The Bulldogs won (59-10) the last meeting between schools in 1985.
09/18 at UCLA Bruins | Fresno State trails the series 3-6. The Bulldogs won (38-14) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/25 UNLV REBELS | Fresno State leads the series 16-7. The Bulldogs are 5-3 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (16-26) was in 2017.
10/02 at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | Fresno State leads the series 29-23-1. The Bulldogs are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series win (41-38) was in 2019.
10/16 at Wyoming Cowboys | Fresno State leads the series 7-5. The Bulldogs are 4-1 since renewing the series in 2012, and they won (27-3) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/23 NEVADA WOLF PACK | Fresno State leads the series 29-22-1. The Bulldogs are 5-5 since 2011, and their last series win (21-3) was in 2018.
10/30 at San Diego State Aztecs | Fresno State trails the series 25-30-4. The Bulldogs are 5-4 since 2011, and they lost (7-17) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/06 BOISE STATE BRONCOS | Fresno State trails the series 7-15. The Bulldogs are 3-6 since 2011, and they won (19-16 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
11/13 NEW MEXICO LOBOS | Fresno State leads the series 13-5. The Bulldogs are 5-1 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series win (38-7) was in 2018.
11/25 at San Jose State Spartans | Fresno State leads the series 42-38-3. The Bulldogs are 3-5 since 2011, and they lost (16-17) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 4-4
Non-MWC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (4th in MWC West)
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