Fresno State Football

As of last night, Fresno State head coach Pat Hill was on the phone with the recruits that had given the Bulldogs verbal commitments to sign with the program.

Hill told Bryant-Jon Anteola of the Fresno Bee that he didn't want any surprises, saying, "Every kid has their own unique scenario that we have to make sure is in place so they not only sign but get here when camp starts."

That persistence paid off as all 21 of Fresno State's recruits faxed in their letters of intent, signaling they were ready to become the next official recruiting class for the Bulldogs.

Did this recruiting class top the recruiting class from 2009, one that saw Fresno State land 17 recruits, including quarterback Derek Carr and running back Robbie Rouse, as well as four-star defensive end Donnie Pritchett?

The 2010 class, of Sunday morning, didn't have a single four-star recruit among it, but was still the best recruiting class in the WAC. That class got stronger with the addition of Matt Darr, who had originally committed to USC before Pete Carroll jumped ship to the Seattle Seahawks.

At that point, Darr opened up his recruiting choices and took visits to not only Fresno State, but Arizona State as well, before giving his verbal commit to Fresno State late Sunday night.

The 2010 class filled some holes that were starting to become gaping, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs were ranked 99th out of 120 teams nationally in yards per game (413.7) and 84th in points per game allowed (28.4).

The Bulldogs needed to get better defensively and they needed a pass rush that would have a name other than defensive end Chris Carter.

So with that in mind, Hill received commitments from at least six defensive recruits, with a few more that can play on either side of the ball.

Recruits like defensive backs Derron Smith, Anthony Riggins, Edward Dillihunt, Greg Watson, and Isaiah Burse, along with linebackers Ofa Fifita and John Oglesby and defensive tackle Tyeler Davison.

Smith and Fifita were both huge gets for the Bulldogs as both were being sought after by big time programs.

Smith had received offers from other WAC schools such as Idaho, New Mexico State, and Nevada as well as Mountain West schools San Diego State and UNLV. Smith's biggest offer, however, came from Nebraska of the Big XII.

As for Fifita, he had received offers from WAC schools Hawaii, Nevada, and San Jose State, but had been recruited by Oregon, Colorado, and Washington of the PAC-10.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs received commitments from players that could turn into stars.

With the departure of All-American running back Ryan Mathews, the Bulldogs will be looking for his replacement.

You may not need to look much further than 5'8" running back Robbie Rouse, or "Mighty Mouse" as he's known as to his teammates.

Rouse played backup to Mathews along with senior Lonyae Miller and rushed for 479 yards, 82 carries, and four touchdowns. He has a different style than that of Mathews, but Rouse showed his elusiveness on the field as he was able to slice through the defense and outrun defenders in the open.

After Rouse, there are a few options that head coach Pat Hill can turn to, and a few of those might even come from this recruiting class.

The Bulldogs signed two running backs, both with different styles, to the 2010 recruiting class. After the aforementioned Rouse, it could be a wide-open competition for playing time at the running back spot.

E.J. Schexnayder, a 5'11", 210-pound running back from North HS, and Leslie Rogers, a 6'1", 180-pound running back from Point Loma Senior HS, both have the ability to be in the backfield for Fresno State next season.

Schexnayder brings a Lorenzo Neal-type presence to the Bulldog backfield, while Rogers has an Anthony Daigle-type frame. Taking you back to the 1992 season, am I? You might remember Neal and Daigle in the same backfield during the Bulldogs' 24-7 win over USC in the 1992 Freedom Bowl.

The one problem Hill and the Bulldogs might have going into the 2010 season is their logjam at quarterback.

With starter Ryan Colburn along with Derek Carr and Ebahn Feathers already holding on to three spots, the Bulldogs added Lester Fontenette and Marcus McDade, as well as just recently adding 6'6" junior college transfer Kelly O'Brien.

So with six quarterbacks slated to be in spring camp, how do you rectify that situation? There have been several rumors about Ebahn Feathers changing positions or possibly transferring from Fresno State all together.

Feathers says he's not going anywhere, nor is he ready to change positions.

"I'm not just going to give up that easily," Feathers told Bryant-Jon Anteola of the Fresno Bee . "It's only been a year and a half. A lot can happen. A lot has happened. I'm just going to take my time, not going to rush into decisions. My goal is to become Fresno State's starting quarterback."

Lofty goals for someone that's blocked by not only incoming senior Ryan Colburn but also the highly touted Derek Carr.

When asked if he would consider changing positions, Feathers didn't rule it out, but says he has a lot of work to do to show the coaching staff that he's serious about playing football for the Bulldogs.

So with the recruiting process coming to a close for Fresno State, the Bulldogs and their coaching staff will turn their attention to spring practice, which will get underway in the coming months.

Head coach Pat Hill will look forward to getting this recruiting class into camp as well as seeing last year's recruit class to see how they stack up against each other.

With Fresno State landing 13 verbal commits so far this recruiting period, they've filled a few needs but there are still some needs that have yet to be met, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

I talked to Scout.com's Brandon Huffman about Fresno State's recruiting so far and who they need to land the most before signing day.

Q : Out of the 13 verbal commits for Fresno State thus far, in your opinion, who's the biggest one to this point?
 
A : Victor Dean has NFL size and speed and he'll be a nice big target for Derek Carr down the line but his teammate Davon Dunn is more highly touted, so I'd say both are the biggest gets.

Q: Could any of those verbal commits fall through or do you expect every one to sign letters of intent to Fresno State.
 
A: At this point, I'd expect them all to stick with the Bulldogs.

Q: Derron Smith, Tyeler Davison and Demetrius Williams are expected to make their official visits to the school on Jan. 22nd. I know Williams does not have an offer from Fresno State as of yet but should during or after the visit. Are any of the three favoring Fresno State or do you expect them to land elsewhere?

A: Davison and Smith will likely end up as Bulldogs.  If Williams gets a Fresno State offer, I expect him to join the fray too.  He's been an option QB, but he wants to play DB in college, which is what Fresno State likes him as.
 
Q: Were you surprised that they could potentially sign two more quarterbacks. On top of already having Ryan Colburn, Derek Carr and Ebahn Feathers?
 
A: Not really because Fontenette is more of an athlete; he could play numerous positions.  McDade is the more traditional quarterback of the group.  I'm of the mindset you need to sign at least one every year and on occasion, two of them.

Q: Defense is where the Bulldogs struggled in 2009. Is there a recruit that you think they absolutely need to land?
 
A: Getting Smith will certainly help because he's got the versatility to play both corner and safety. His size is more corner size, but he's played primarily safety for Banning.

Q: Last question, is there a recruit the Bulldogs are looking at that could fly under the radar or you think could be a sleeper pick?
 
A: Williams is my pick.  Like I said, he's been an option quarterback, and that's where he made his mark (Cal Poly wants him to run their spread option), but he's a "football player".  Put him out there, and watch him do work.

There's just a few weeks to go before signing day and the Bulldogs still have offers out to a few more recruits that have yet to make their decision on where they're going to play their college years.

Until then, there's still work to be done.

With just a few weeks to go before signing day, Fresno State head coach Pat Hill still has some work to do. The Bulldogs still have 12 offers out to recruits that have yet to decide where they're going to spend their college years.

One recruit that could be close to deciding is Desert Mountain High School offensive guard Tyeler Davison.

Davison currently has offers from the aforementioned Bulldogs along with Air Force, Portland State, Northern Arizona, and Montana State.

I talked to Davison's high school coach, Tony Tabor, who told me that he enjoyed his visit with Pat Hill when Hill came for a visit.

"Tyeler and his parents were really impressed with Coach [Pat] Hill," Tabor said. "Tyeler does have an official visit set up with Fresno State (scheduled for Jan. 22) and I think if he likes it there and enjoys the visit, he could choose Fresno."

Tabor also had very high regard for his offensive guard and his character and says he's not one you'll ever have to worry about off the field.

"Tyeler is a great kid with great character. You'll never have to worry about that late night phone call and is academically smart. On the field he has a great motor and great stability that he gets from being on the wrestling team."

Though Davison is listed as an offensive guard, Tabor told me that he has the ability to play on both sides of the ball and thinks he could be a natural nose tackle.

He does have a visit set up at the Air Force Academy prior to signing day and could have one to Northern Arizona worked in as well.

Davison could make his decision known not long after his official visit to Fresno State.

For the third time in less than a month, a recruit has chosen to verbally commit to a Western Athletic Conference school instead of accepting the offer of a team from a BCS conference.

On Christmas day, Boise State landed 6'3" 210 pound wide receiver Matt Miller who had received offers from the likes of Arkansas and North Carolina.

On January 12th, San Jose State was next to make headlines as they landed Ja'Rod Watson , a Junior College transfer from Grossmont College in El Cajon, who chose the Spartans over an offer from the University of Illinois.

Today, it was Fresno State's turn to land a recruit with BCS offers . Isaiah Burse, a 5'11" 180 pound athlete from Modesto Christian, chose to verbally commit to Fresno State over offers from Kansas State and Arizona.

He is capable of playing—and making an impact—at several different positions.

Burse threw for 89 yards and three touchdowns, on top of rushing for 139 yards and one score, leading Modesto Christian to a 44-40 win over San Diego Francis Parker for the CIF small school state title.

More than likely he will be brought in as a wide receiver, as they already have overloaded depth at quarterback and running back.

The Bulldogs are not done vying for recruits before signing day comes up. They will host cornerback Derron Smith , offensive guard Tyeler Davison and quarterback Demetrius Williams on January 22nd as they take their official visits to the campus.

You can call me a homer if you want. You can call me an eternal optimist or you could simply say that I make sense.

Any of the three, or some combination, would be just fine with me.

Last season didn’t finish the way Fresno State fans wanted it to finish. It wasn’t supposed to end with an embarrassing loss to Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl. A game where the Bulldogs wanted to show up and be handed the trophy so they could go home.

When the dust settled, it was Wyoming that was on the field celebrating. But amidst that celebration, something stood out that made me open my eyes and think, “Maybe this team is finally figuring it out. Maybe there’s leaders on this team that will make sure they never feel this way again.”

Standing in the corner of the stadium was freshman quarterback Derek Carr and freshman running back Robbie Rouse, watching Wyoming celebrate.

"We wanted to watch it all, take it all in," they told Matt James of the Fresno Bee . Why you ask?

“Because we don’t this to happen ever again.”

If you’re a Bulldog fan, those words should excite you. Those words should have you fired up for 2010 and those words should make you believe that this team is about to become something we haven’t seen in several years.

Pat Hill and his coaching staff have turned their attention to recruiting and, so far, it looks as if they could have more depth at three different positions than they have had since David Carr was under center.

Quarterback:

Starter - RS Senior Ryan Colburn 6’3” 220 lbs

Colburn finished the 2009 season fourth in the WAC in total passing yards (2,459), sixth in passing yards per game (189.2), fourth in touchdown passes (19) but had the second highest number of interceptions (11) behind Jeff Fleming of New Mexico State.

Backups:

RS Soph. Ebahn Feathers - 6’1” 210 lbs
Soph. Derek Carr - 6’3” 195 lbs

Feathers and Carr didn’t get much time on the playing field in 2009, but prior to the season most thought that Carr could actually beat out Colburn for the starting job.

Going into the 2010 season, I’m almost ready to guarantee that will happen. Though Carr doesn’t have the experience in big games, or games in general,  I believe he could establish himself as a leader during fall camp leading up to the start of the season.

As for Feathers, it doesn‘t look like he‘s going to see much time at all at quarterback, especially with Colburn and Carr possibly holding the starting job for the next three to four years.

Incoming recruits:

Lester Fontenette 6’2” 210 lbs (Madison Senior HS - San Diego, CA)
Marcus McDade   6’3” 195 lbs (St. Marys HS - Stockton, CA)

Though Fontenette is listed as the three-star recruit, it’s McDade that has the better arm. He has the arm strength to throw the long ball as well as zip in a short pass.

McDade didn’t get a lot of attention especially sitting behind Oregon State recruit Cody Vaz in 2008. But in 2009, McDade was able to show his true potential and committed to Fresno State in mid-December, not long after the Bulldogs decided to send him an offer.

Running back:

Starter - unknown

The Bulldogs will have a lot to look at when fall camp begins. After All-American Ryan Mathews decided to forego his senior season at Fresno State and head to the National Football League, the Bulldogs will have to make a decision as to who will be the heir and fill the big shoes left by Mathews.

Candidates:

RS Soph. A.J. Ellis 5’11” 175 lbs
RS Soph. Michael Harris 5’11” 195 lbs
RS Soph. Justin Webber 5’9” 190 lbs
Soph. Robbie Rouse 5’7” 185 lbs

In 2009 it was Robbie Rouse, or known to his teammates as “Mighty Mouse,” was the backup to Mathews and should be the odds-on favorite to be the starter when fall camp opens.

As a backup, Rouse finished the 2009 season with 479 yards on 82 carries, 194 carries fewer than Mathews’ 276, averaging 39.9 yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry.

If Rouse were to continue that 5.8 yards per carry average, he would have finished the year with over 1,100 yards rushing (1125.2).

Though Rouse could be named the starter, don’t think for a second that he doesn’t have guys behind him that are equally as dangerous.

Incoming recruits:

Leslee Rogers 6’1” 180 lbs (Point Loma Senior HS - San Diego, CA)
Emery “E.J” Schexnayder 5’11” 210 lbs (North HS - Riverside, CA)

These two incoming freshman could very well make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs. They won’t be factoring in every down situations, but they provide another aspect that makes Fresno State’s running game even better than the last few seasons.

Wide Receiver:

Starters: Unknown

After losing four wide receivers to graduation (Ajirotutu , Moore , Newborne , and West ), the Bulldogs have little to worry about as they have Devon Wylie , Rashad Evans , and Jamel Hamler returning to the team next season.

Joining them are redshirt senior Jevon Stallworth , junior Matt Lindsey , and freshmen Anthony Johnson and Taylor Stewart .

Along with those four is arguably the deepest list of recruits that Pat Hill has brought in for quite some time.

Incoming recruits:

Sean Alston 5’9” 172 lbs (Los Osos HS - Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
Victor Dean 6’6” 198 lbs (Lincoln Senior HS - San Diego, CA)
Davon Dunn 6’0” 185 lbs (Lincoln Senior HS - San Diego, CA)
Jalen Saunders 5’10” 157 lbs (Pleasant Grove HS - Pleasant Grove, CA)

When you look at this list of recruits, one name stands out that could make an immediate impact as a freshman.

Victor Dean, a 6-foot-6-inch, 195-pound wide receiver from Lincoln Senior High School, and a teammate of Davon Dunn, is the tallest wide receiver on the Bulldog roster and that will work to his advantage coming into his first season with Fresno State.

Not only is he a high school teammate of incoming recruit Dunn, but he was also a Pop Warner teammate of current Bulldog Robbie Rouse and another incoming recruit Lester Fontenette.

Though Dean did give his verbal commitment to Fresno State, he still plans on taking official visits to Arizona, Colorado State, and Washington to gauge them against Fresno State to make sure the Bulldogs are the right choice for him and his college football career.

Dean not only wants to play football, but Bulldog basketball head coach Steve Cleveland has already been notified that Dean was interested in walking on to the basketball team.

Alston, Dunn and Saunders can play both ways. Not only being able to line up at wide receiver but all three could be worked out at corner or safety to see if they’re needed more at those positions.

The 2010 Fresno State Bulldogs are in good hands and with the depth of recruits they’ve received verbal commits from, Pat Hill will have a lot to work with.

The recruiting period isn’t quite over just yet so there could be more players added to their list of players already committed to being Bulldogs next season. What Fresno State has to hope for at this point is none of their recruits changing their minds and de-committing.

Letter of intent day is right around the corner, and the excitement is still at it’s peak.

With the holidays wrapping up, coaches and staff in the Western Athletic Conference will try to do some last-minute recruiting before players sign letters of intent in February.

Unfortunately for the WAC, they remain second to last among FBS schools in recruiting, in front of only the Sun Belt Conference.

They've landed 93 players combined, 68 of those being high school commits along with 25 junior college transfers.

There are teams that have filled their needs on both sides of the ball and some that still have work to do.

From San Jose State to Boise State, from Nevada to Fresno State, here are the biggest impact recruits that each team has signed.

 

San Jose State Spartans : 2 verbal commits (T-118th in the country, last in the WAC)

Bringing up the rear in the WAC, though no surprise to most, is the San Jose State Spartans.

They've landed just two verbal commits during this recruiting season, both from the high school level and both on the offensive side of the ball.

• RB - Derek Muaava 6'1" 215 lbs (Independence HS - San Jose, CA)

Despite missing his entire senior season, after undergoing knee surgery, Muaava was told that the offer from the Spartans would stand and he committed to them back in September.

“I was so excited when I heard that San Jose State still wanted me to play there,” Muaava told Don Hoekwater of Scout.com . “It’s definitely frustrating to miss my senior year, but now I have to worry about the bigger picture and get ready to play college ball.”

Even his high school coach, an SJSU alum in his own right, Norm Brown had high compliments of his running back.

"Derek is an outstanding player, probably the best prospect to come out of here since Andre Riley," Brown told Scout.com . "I'd say he looks to be the next Johnny Johnson, who I played with in college and was my roommate."

 

New Mexico State Aggies : 10 verbal commits (100th in the country, 8th in the WAC)

After finishing dead last in the conference in 2009 (1-7, 3-10), the Aggies have had a pretty good recruiting period thus far. They've landed 10 verbal commits, five from the high school level and five junior college transfers.

There are two inparticular that stand out and make definite improvements to their team for next season.

• QB - Matt Christian 6'3" 220 lbs (Palomar Junior College - San Marcos, CA)

Christian was 104 of 178 passes for 1,331 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in his very first season as a starter for Palomar in 2008. 

It's possible that Christian could be an immediate starter in 2010, especially after starter Jeff Fleming threw just four touchdowns to 12 interceptions in 2009.

• MLB - Dylan Davis 6'0" 210 lbs (St. Bonaventure HS - Ventura, CA)

Leading one of the top high school programs in the West as their middle linebacker, Davis is finally getting attention but he says getting New Mexico State's offer came as a surprise to him.

“Oh yeah it was definitely something I’ve been waiting for,” Davis told Scout.com's Brandon Huffman . “I didn’t really know anything about New Mexico State, they hadn’t talked to me, so I was kind of surprised when they just offered me.”

He also received offers from WAC schools Fresno State and Idaho, as well as Colorado, Colorado State and San Diego State.

Utah State Aggies : 18 verbal commits (T-95th in the country, T-7th in the WAC)

The Aggies are tied with Hawaii with the same number of verbal commits (18) so far during this recruiting period. They've landed 12 high school recruits and six junior college transfers, four of which have already signed letters of intent.

The Aggies needed serious help on defense after finishing dead last in the WAC, giving up 455.1 yards per game. They may have gotten some help with that this recruiting period, signing three cornerbacks all from the junior college level.

• CB - Alfred Bowden 5'11" 180 lbs (Phoenix College - Phoenix, AZ)

Bowden led the league with five interceptions last season and was named 1st team all-WSFL and 1st team all-ACCAC in 2009.

He will bring much needed speed and defensive ability to an Aggies team that gave up 249.6 passing yards per game and 28 touchdowns to only 12 interceptions.

• TE - Jason Fanaika 6'4" 240 lbs (Pleasant Grove HS - Pleasant Grove, UT)

The Aggies were more than thrilled to land the in-state tight end, especially since Utah State only got 58 yards receiving and one touchdown from the tight end position in 2009. The Aggies definitely need a pass catching presence from that position.

Nevada Wolfpack : 6 verbal commits (T-95th in the country, T-7th in the WAC)

Though the Wolfpack finished 7-1 in conference play, they had a disappointing end to their season after a 45-10 drubbing at the hands of SMU in the Hawaii Bowl. To add insult to injury, it was SMU's first bowl game in 25 years.

Head coach Chris Ault has landed six verbal commits, four on the defensive side, including three junior college transfers who have all signed letters of intent to play for the Wolfpack in 2010.

• WR - Lemar Durant 6'2" 203 lbs (Centennial Secondary - Coquitlam, B.C.)

A big wide receiver who can play on both sides of the ball. In fact, Nevada's defensive coordinator wanted him, but Heach Coach Chris Ault decided he wanted him as a wide receiver.

Though the Wolfpack led the nation, and the WAC, in rushing (362.3 ypg) their passing attack was second to last in the conference (159.3 ypg). Obtaining just 10 of the team's 21 passing touchdowns from the wide receiver position.

Bringing in someone like Durant gives them a second threat next to Brandon Wimberly (6'3" 195 lbs) who led the team with 733 yards receiving and six touchdowns.

• S - Chris Boudreaux 6'0" 197 lbs (Palomar JC - San Marcos, CA)

The Wolfpack had the best rush defense in the WAC in 2009, giving up just 114.7 yards per game. What they lacked, was a passing defense which was the worst in the conference, giving up 284.3 yards per game.

Safety Chris Boudreaux could be a definite improvement for Nevada. The 6'0" 197 lbs junior college transfer from Palomar uses his 4.5 40 speed to get to any ball in the air, as he told Scott Eklund of JCFootball.com .

"I can play anywhere, but I love playing free safety," Boudreaux told Eklund . "I can see the field and make a play on the ball when it's in the air. With my speed and my instincts, I feel I can get it down anywhere."

Idaho Vandals : 11 verbal commits (93rd in the country, 5th in the WAC)

The Idaho Vandals seemed to be the surprise of the WAC in the first few weeks of the season, winning six of their first seven, including a streak of five straight.

Unfortunately, that came crashing down around them as they closed out the regular season losing four of their next five and giving up 50 or more points in three of those games.

Where Idaho needs the biggest improvement is protection of quarterback Nathan Enderle. Through 11 games, Enderle was sacked 20 times, fifth highest in the conference.

• C - Sam Tupua 6'3" 315 lbs (Palomar JC - San Marcos, CA)

Tupua was the leader for one of the best offensive lines in the country, leading the Palomar Comets to the state semi-finals. An offense that averaged 420 yards per game and 31.9 points per game.

Leadership like that is exactly what Idaho was looking for and Tupua said he was excited to join the Vandals in 2010.

"Idaho was the school that showed me they wanted me the most," Tupua told Scott Eklund of JCFootball.com . "I've been talking to them all year and about two weeks ago I took a visit there and just knew it was the place for me."

"Their top lineman, Mike Iupati, is graduating, so there is time available up there and they said they really like me at center because of how smart I am and how I play."

• S - Thaad Thompson 6'2" 210 lbs (Ellsworth JC - Iowa Falls, IA)

The Vandals finished the 2009 season with one of the worst passing defenses in the country, giving up 268.9 yards per game and the second highest passing touchdown total (30).

The team needed to find someone that could cover a lot of ground in the defensive backfield and they may have found their man in Ellsworth JC transfer Thaad Thompson.

The 6'2" 210 lbs safety was clocked at 4.39 in the 40-yard, the kind of speed that this team needs to cover receivers and help out on the deep balls.

Boise State Broncos : 6 verbal commits (86th in the country, 4th in the WAC)

The conference champion Broncos have less work to do than most teams in the conference, only losing five seniors from the undefeated team in 2009.

But, that being said, the Bronocs still went out and landed six verbal commits, five of which were from the high school level.

On offense, the Broncos scored 80 touchdowns and even that number was split right down the middle (40 rushing, 40 passing).

On defense, they led the conference with 22 interceptions, three of those were taken back for touchdowns.

• QB - Grant Hedrick 6'1" 180 lbs (Central HS - Independence, OR)

If there is a name to remember in the future, it will absolutely be this 6'1" 180 lbs quarterback from Independence, OR.

Grant Hedrick finished his senior season , falling just short of the state championship game, with an astounding 2,500 yards passing, 34 touchdowns, and even more incredible than that, he threw just one interception.

Though the Broncos are in good hands with quarterback Kellen Moore, Hedrick will no doubt be taking over the reins after Moore's days at Boise State are through.

• DE - Tyrone Crawford 6'4" 258 lbs (Bakersfield College - Bakersfield, CA)

Not that Boise State needs any help on the defensive side of the ball, especially after giving up 17.7 points per game last season. But adding a big and fast defensive end sure won't hurt things at all.

Bakersfield College defensive end Tyrone Crawford signed his letter of intent to play at Boise State and he is excited to don the blue and orange.

Bringing in a guy like Crawford and adding him to an already dominant rushing defense only makes this Boise State team that much better.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs : 12 verbal commits (83rd in the country, 3rd in the WAC)

Defensively, this Louisiana Tech team seems to get better although their 4-8 record this past season seems to dictate otherwise.

What plagued this team last season was their offensive line who gave up 27 sacks last season, second highest in the conference behind Utah State (31). It was one of the biggest reasons for their third worst passing average (188.1 ypg) in the conference.

• OT - Ryan Zeller 6'4" 280 lbs (St. Michael HS - Baton Rouge, LA)

Offensive lineman Ryan Zeller could make an immediate impact on Louisiana Tech's offensive line, committing to the Bulldogs this past October.

"I liked the way the offensive line played, they were real physical," Zeller told Jason Jones . "I felt like I would fit in well."

"I really like Tech, it's going in the right direction. Coach Derek Dooley is a great Coach. Im excited."

• DE - Josh Tillman 6'5" 255 lbs (Copiah-Lincoln JC - Wesson, MS)

Tech landed a recruit that could have easily headed to Ole Miss, especially since Tillman's cousin, Marcus Tillman, is a senior there. But, after learning that the Rebels already had a junior college transfer in front of him, Tillman moved on and decided to commit to the Bulldogs.

"They had another junior college player ahead of me," Josh told Jason Jones . "I don't want to be anyone's second option."

"I decided to get it over with. Recruiting can be stressful. I want to be where I'm wanted and I'm excited to play for Louisiana Tech." 

Tillman is a huge signing for Louisiana Tech, especially since they will have just two defensive tackles and three defensive ends with significant experience returning for next season.

Hawaii Warriors : 17 verbal commits (79th in the country, 2nd in the WAC)

The post-June Jones era hasn't been kind to the Hawaii Warriors. After winning their first two games of the season, the Warriors dropped their next six games, effectively ending any hopes of a postseason bowl game.

Where the Warriors need the most help is on their running game, where they averaged just 4.5 yards per carry and 100.5 yards per game. Not only that, but the offensive line had given up 36 sacks this past season.

• OG - London Sopolu 6'1" 295 lbs (Orange Coast College - Costa Mesa, CA)

The son of two time Pro Bowler and four time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, Jesse Sopolu, London Sopolu decided to continue the family legacy and committed to Hawaii.

Sopolu originally played on the defensive side of the ball, but his coaches at OCC decided to move him to the offensive side of the ball and he says he's gotten comfortable there.

"They said I was a better fit on this side and I feel real comfortable there now," Sapolu told Scott Eklund of JCFootball.com . "I'm rotating right now at guard and center and there is where Hawaii likes me too.

• RB - Samson Anguay 5'7" 145 lbs (Campbell HS - Ewa Beach, HI)

The Warriors need a tailback that's going to give them a definite running attack. The team's leading rushers, Leon Wright-Jackson and Alex Green, were both averaging less than seven carries per game.

Bringing in someone like Anguay gives them a running back with 4.53 speed gives them the ability to not count on their passing game as much as they did in 2009.

Fresno State : 11 verbal commits (77th in the country, 1st in the WAC)

The Bulldogs will come into the 2010 season having already given head coach Pat Hill a contract extension, but they will also be coming off a disappointing end to their season after a 35-28 loss to Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl.

They will be without All-American running back Ryan Mathews who decided to forego his senior season and declare for the NFL draft and the next chapter of his football career.

• S - Edward Dillihunt 5'10" 194 lbs (Tulare Union HS - Tulare, CA)

Dillihunt is one of those players that put a feather in Pat Hill's cap after Dillihunt decided against going to Washington State and instead committed to Fresno State.

He has the ability to play on both sides of the ball and told Scout.com that Hill was going to give him a shot on both sides during spring drills to find out where he fit in.

He has the speed to score on offense and the speed and ability to land hard hits on defense to give Hill and the Bulldog coaching staff the win win situation wherever they decided to play him.

• WR - Victor Dean 6'6" 200 lbs (Lincoln Senior HS - San Diego, CA)

Possibly the most talented recruit that Fresno State has landed during this recruiting period. The 6'6" 200 pound wide receiver and two-sport star could become a favorite target of either quarterbacks Ryan Colburn or Derek Carr, whoever wins the job out of spring.

The Bulldogs have a few playmakers already, but having a wide receiver that can go get the ball or out jump a 5'10" cornerback is something that will give the Bulldogs an even bigger threat.

Not only could he be a starter his freshman year, but Dean also wants to walk on to the basketball team at Fresno State. Current Head Coach Steve Cleveland might be all too happy to have him aboard.

After the holidays are over and the ball drops to welcome in a new year, Fresno State will prepare for the arrival of three players making their first official visit to the campus.

Derron Smith, Tyeler Davison and Demetrius Williams will all make their way to Fresno State on Jan. 22 to meet with coaches and staff. Smith is the only one thus far that has received an official offer from the Bulldogs, though that could change after Davison and Williams make their visits as well.

Smith, a 5-foot-10, 173-pound cornerback from Banning HS in Banning, CA., is currently favoring the University of Washington and has made two official visits to the University of Nevada-Reno.

Davison, a 6-foot-1, 281-pound offensive guard from Desert Mountain HS in Scottsdale, AZ., has received offers from Northern Arizona, Portland State and Mountain West teams Air Force and UNLV. Though Davison has not received an official offer from Fresno State, he was told that he could possibly get one during his visit.

Williams, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound quarterback from Inderkum HS in Sacramento, CA, while likely recruited as a defensive back for the Bulldogs, he has gotten offers from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Sacramento State as a quarterback.

During his senior season at Inderkum, Williams was 60-for-95 for 1,321 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, while rushing for 307 yards on 49 carries and three scores.

December visits:

-Garret Gilliland  12/10/2009

6’0” 210 lbs 

Middle Linebacker 

Lutheran HS (Orange, CA)

National rank: 52

Offer: Yes

Commit: Leaning towards University of Washington

-Lester Fontenette 12/11/2009

6’2” 210 lbs

Quarterback

Madison Senior HS (San Diego, CA)

National rank: 76

Offer: Yes

Commit: Fresno State (verbal)

-Lamar Bratton  12/11/2009

6’1” 268 lbs

Offensive Guard

North HS (Riverside, CA.)

National rank: 106

Offer: No

Commit: No

-Emery Schexnayder  12/11/2009

5’11” 210 lbs

Running Back

North HS (Riverside, CA)

National rank: 131

Offer: Yes

Commit: Fresno State (verbal)

-Isaiah Burse  12/11/2009

5’11” 180 lbs

Cornerback

Modesto Christian (Modesto, CA)

National rank: 158

Offer: Yes

Commit: Has received an offer from University of Arizona and interest from Cal, UC Davis, Oregon, Alabama and Georgia.

November visits:

-Andrew Gustafson  11/28/2009

6’6” 262 lbs

Offensive Tackle

Chaparral HS (Scottsdale, AZ)

National rank: 135

Offer: Yes

Commit: Fresno State (verbal)

-Davon Dunn  11/20/2009

6’0” 185 lbs

Wide Receiver

Lincoln Senior HS (San Diego, CA)

National rank: 66

Offer: Yes

Commit: Fresno State (verbal)

-Victor Dean  11/21/2009

6’6” 198 lbs

Wide Receiver

Lincoln Senior HS (San Diego, CA)

National rank: 157

Offer: Yes

Commit: Fresno State (verbal)

-Sean Alston  11/20/2009

5’9” 172 lbs

Wide Receiver

Los Osos HS (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)

National rank: 168

Offer: Yes

Commit: Fresno State (verbal)

September visits:

-Jordan McDonald  9/5/2009

6’4” 215 lbs

Defensive End

Saguaro HS (Scottsdale, AZ)

National rank: 63

Offer: Yes

Commit: Arizona State (verbal)

The Fresno State Bulldogs were apparently a little too eager and decided to check under the Christmas tree a day early. What they found was an even bigger surprise than they had hoped for.

Wide receiver/defensive back Davon Dunn, son of former Fresno State standout David Dunn, backed out of his verbal commitment to Cal and has verbally committed to the Bulldogs.

The three-star standout from San Diego, Calif. had originally committed because of Cal head coach Jeff Tedford, who used to be the offensive coordinator under Jim Sweeney at Fresno State at the same time his father was a standout wide receiver.

Prior to Dunn's commitment to Cal, he admitted to Scout.com that the Bulldogs have always been his favorite and not only because it was where his dad played.

“I used to go to all their games growing up," he told Scout.com. “I know my dad would like me to go there, but he said he’s gonna support my decision."

Dunn also said that he respects Pat Hill's "Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime" mantra that has put Fresno State on the college football map.

“I like how Fresno State isn’t a huge program. Sometimes they get dogged for not being in a major conference, but they play on the big stage a lot and always put up a fight. They aren’t afraid to play anyone.”

Though it's not an official commitment until he signs a letter of intent in February, the Bulldogs like Dunn as both a wide receiver and a running back, giving them even more depth at both positions.

• Devon Dunn 6'0" 185 lbs (Lincoln Senior HS - San Diego, CA)
• 40 time: 4.5 seconds
• Postions: Wide Receiver, Defensive Back, Running Back
• Position Rank: 66
• "A good slot receiver, runs good routes and is tough to catch. Has nice hands and will compete for every ball. Not the biggest, but plays much tougher for his size and has good strength. Loves to compete." -- Scout.com

The last time expectations have been this high, current NFL players David Carr and Bernard Berrian both donned the Bulldog red, but that was back in 2001.

Nine years later, expectations are just as high with possibly more riding on this year than any other year in the program's history.

The university announced an extension for head coach Pat Hill just a few weeks ago, and fans and the university itself will be waiting to see if Hill and his players live up to their potential in 2010.

There will be familiar faces and big shoes to fill when spring drills begin, but this Bulldogs squad could have more talent than any year since the Carr and Berrian era.

Fresno State will lose All American running back Ryan Mathews to the NFL Draft as well as Lonyae Miller, Anthony Harding, and Jamal Rashad to graduation. Losing four running backs responsible for over 7,000 career rushing yards and 39 combined starts is not going to be easy to replace.

Fortunately for the Bulldogs they could have the most talented corps of running backs led by rising sophomore Robbie Rouse who has already earned the nickname "Mighty Mouse" by his teammates and fans alike.

The speedy freshman gained 479 yards on 82 carries along with four touchdowns and looks like the odds-on favorite to take over the hole left with Mathews' departure.

Behind Rouse, the Bulldogs have redshirt freshmen A.J. Ellis and Michael Harris but they could also add two incoming freshmen who could make themselves known right off the bat.

Running backs E.J. Schexnayder and Leslee Rogers have both verbally committed to Fresno State but that won't become official until national signing day takes place in February.

Until then, Hill and his coaching staff will have to count on the aforementioned three running backs, as well as redshirt freshman Justin Webber, to fill the large void at the position.

The one position that could be a battle come spring is at quarterback where incumbent Ryan Colburn could get a run for his money from Derek Carr who most say has the stronger, more accurate arm of the two.

There are some that believe Carr could be the better offensive leader and is more capable of making the passes that Colburn struggled to make at times last season, especially the deep ball.

But, for those that know Pat Hill's style, it's more likely that Colburn will be the starter when the season opens unless he proves he's incapable of holding on to it. However, if Carr does impress all throughout spring, Hill may have no choice but to hand the reigns over to the young incoming sophomore.

Another position that is losing starters to graduation is at wide receiver. Seyi Ajirotutu, Marlon Moore, Darren Newborne, and Chastin West will all be graduating. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they have a lot of depth at the position and it gives them the ability to give teams different looks.

Devon Wylie, Rashad Evans, and Jamel Hamler will all be returning next season, flanked by guys like Jevon Stallworth, Matt Lindsey, and freshmen Anthony Johnson and Taylor Stewart.

They also await three very talented receivers who have also, like Schexnayder and Rogers, verbally committed to Fresno State. Sean Alston, Victor Dean, and Jalen Saunders bring a combination of size and speed to the wide receiver position.

Bringing on guys like that with guys like Wylie, Evans, and Hamler already in place makes this wide receiving corps a definite strength for next season.

Where Fresno State will have to make a huge improvement is on the defensive side of the ball where they gave up almost 30 points per game (27.8) this year. If they ever hope to beat the Boise State's of the world, that is going to have to improve dramatically next season.

Their secondary wasn't horrible, but eight interceptions on the year isn't going to get it done. They need to make more of an impact and not allow themselves to get beat on the long balls.

Where the team will need the biggest improvement is on the defensive line. The lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the inability to keep them from running led to severe problems against teams like Boise State, Nevada, and Wyoming.

Once teams watched game film and realized that they could take advantage of that weakness, they exposed it in a big way. The Bulldogs gave up 200 or more rushing yards in seven of their thirteen games this season including 250 or more yards twice (Utah State, Boise State).

That continues to be the team's biggest weakness. Fix that and this team goes from a mediocre team with only third place expectations, to a possible conference title contender, something they haven't gotten close to since they earned a share of the title back in 1999.

Though it's too early to give a prediction, this team has the potential to be far and away better than the team that ended the 2009 season with a disappointing loss to Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl.

Next season could bring the excitement back to Bulldog Stadium and California's Central Valley.