Fresno State Bulldogs 2024 Preview and Predictions

(QB Mickey Keene – AP Photo)

Key Players Returning:

QB Mikey Keene, RB/KR Malik Sherrod, WR Mac Dalena, WR Jalen Moss, OC Mose Vavao, OG Julian Polendo, OG Osmar Velez, OT Braylen Nelson, DE Devo Bridges, DT Jacob Holmes, LB Phoenix Jackson, LB Malachi Langley, CB Ar’zillion Hamilton, CB Cam Lockridge, NB Camryn Bracha, SS Dean Clark, KR Malik Sherrod, and PK Dylan Lynch.

Key Players Departing:

WR Jaelen Gill, OT Jacob Sporner, DE Devo Bridges, DT Johnny Hudson Jr., LB Levelle Bailey, CB Carlton Johnson, NB Morice Norris, and PT Carson King.

(EDGE Korey Foreman – AP Photo)

Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
EDGE Korey Foreman (USC transfer).

3 Star Recruits:  WR Raylen Sharpe (Missouri State transfer), EDGE Damarrion White (El Cajon, California), CB Camrin Cole (Arlington, Texas), ATH Marshel Sanders (Fresno, California), DT Deijon Laffitte (USC transfer), LB Logan Studt (Clovis, California), OT Marsel Akins (Visalia, California), OT Loyall Mouzon (Long Beach, California), LB Tytus Khajavi (Fresno, California), and RJ Regan (Arizona State transfer).

2023 Results:

G01  @ Purdue  W  39-35
G02  EASTERN WASHINGTON  W (2OT)  39-35
G03  @ Arizona State  W  29-0
G04  KENT STATE  W  53-10
G05  NEVADA  W  27-9
G06  @ Wyoming  L  19-24
G07  @ Utah State  W  37-32
G08  UNLV  W  31-24
G09  BOISE STATE  W  37-30
G10  @ San Jose State  L  18-42
G11  NEW MEXICO  L  17-25
G12  @ San Diego State  L  18-33
BOWL  vs. New Mexico State  W  37-10

Team Info:

2023 Overall:  9-4 (6th in MWC)

Home:  5-1
Away:  3-3
Neutral:  1-0
MWC:  4-4
Non-MWC:  5-0

Head Coach:  Jeff Tedford

Fresno State:  45-22
Career:  127-79
Bowls:  9-3

(RB Malik Sherrod – 247Sports)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Mikey Keene (283-422, 2976 yards, 67.1%., 7.1 avg., 24 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing:
Malik Sherrod (172 car., 966 yards, 5.6 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: 
Jalen Moss (55 rec., 706 yards, 12.8 avg., 6 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
Malik Sherrod (11)
Sacks: 
Jacob Holmes (5)
Tackles: 
Malachi Langley (84)
Interceptions: 
Dean Clark (3)
Pass Deflections: 
Alzillion Hamilton (8)
Tackles For Loss: 
Devo Bridges (8)
Forced Fumbles: 
Jacob Holmes (1)
Kick Returns: 
Malik Sherrod (8 ret., 236 yards, 29.5 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns:  None
Kicking: 
Dylan Lynch (24-30 fg/fga., 80%, 40-40 xp/xpa., 112 pts.)
Punting: 
Carson King (52 punts, 2172 yards, 41.8 avg., 20 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  1  Mickey Keene  (RS JR/TR)
RB:  2  Malik Sherrod  (RS SR)
WR:  0  Mac Dalena  (SR)
WR:  18  Jalen Moss  (RS SO)
WR:  4 Chedon James (JR/TR)
TE:  86  Jake Boust  (RS SR/TR)
LT:  69 Jacob Sporner (SR/TR)
LG:  78  Osmar Velez  (RS SR)
OC:  51  Mose Vavao  (SR)
RG:  63 Daniel Taumalolo (SR/TR)
RT:  75  Braylen Nelson  (SR)
KR:  2  Malik Sherrod  (RS SR)
PK:  46  Dylan Lynch  (JR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  5  Devo Bridges  (RS SR)
DT:  23  Jacob Holmes  (JR)
DT:  92  Gavriel Lightfoot  (JR)
DE:  0  Korey Foreman  (RS JR/TR)
LB:  9  Malachi Langley  (RS SR)
LB:  44  Tuasivi Nomura  (SR/TR)
NB:  22 Camryn Bracha (SR/TR)
CB:  1 Cam Lockridge (SR/TR)
CB:  3  Al’zilloion Hamilton  (RS JR)
FS:  10 Kosi Agina (SR)
SS:  32  Dean Clark  (RS SR/TR)
PR:  18  Jalen Moss  (RS SO)
PT:  49 Clay Lawrence (FR)

(WR Jalen Moss – 247Sports)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  A
Punters:  B

Schedule:

08/31 
@ Michigan Wolverines  |  First meeting between schools.

09/07  SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS  |  Fresno State leads the series 8-0.  The Bulldogs won (34-20) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

09/14  NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES  |  Fresno State leads the series 19-1.  The Bulldogs won (37-10) last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (30-17) the prior meeting in 2019.

09/21  @ New Mexico Lobos  |  Fresno State leads the series 19-1.  The Bulldogs are 5-2 since 2014, and their last series win (41-9) was in 2022.

09/28  @ UNLV Rebels  |  Fresno State leads the series 20-6.  The Bulldogs are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (16-26) was in 2017.

10/12  WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS  |  Fresno State trails the series 2-3.  The Bulldogs won (29-6) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

10/18  @ Nevada Wolf Pack  |  Fresno State leads the series 32-22-1.  The Bulldogs are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (26-37) was in 2020.

10/26  SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS  |  Fresno State leads the series 44-39-3.  The Bulldogs are 5-4 since 2014, and their last series win (17-10) was in 2022.

11/02  HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS  |  Fresno State leads the series 30-24-1.  The Bulldogs are 6-3 since 2014, and they won (55-13) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

11/09  @ Air Force Falcons  |  Fresno State trails the series 3-7.  The Bulldogs lost (24-43) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

11/23  COLORADO STATE RAMS  |  Fresno State trails the series 6-10.  The Bulldogs won (38-17) the last meeting between schools in 2020.

11/30  @ UCLA Bruins  |  Fresno State trails the series 4-6.  The Bulldogs won (40-37) the last meeting between schools in 2021.

Predictions:

Home: 6-0
Away:  3-3
Neutral:  0-0
MWC:  7-1
Non-MWC:  2-2

Overall:  9-3 (3rd in MWC)