- LOCATION: Fresno, California (population 541,107)
- CONFERENCE: Mountain West Conference
- 2023 RECORD: 9-4, 4-4 in MWC
- 2024 PREDICTION: 4th
- HEAD COACH: Jeff Tedford, 6th season
- California, 2002-12 (82-57)
- Fresno State, 2017-19, 2022-present (45-22)
- STADIUM: Jim Sweeney Field @ Valley Children’s Stadium (opened 1980, capacity 40,727)
2023 RESULTS
- W, 39-35 @ Purdue
- W, 34-31 (OT) vs Eastern Washington (FCS)
- W, 29-0 @ Arizona State
- W, 53-10 vs Kent State
- W, 27-9 vs Nevada
- L, 19-24 @ Wyoming
- W, 37-32 @ Utah State
- W, 31-24 vs UNLV
- W, 37-30 vs Boise State
- L, 18-42 @ San José State
- L, 17-25 vs New Mexico
- L, 18-33 @ San Diego State
- W, 37-10 vs New Mexico State (Isleta New Mexico Bowl)
2024 SCHEDULE
- Aug. 31 @ Michigan
- Sept. 7 vs Sacramento State (FCS)
- Sept. 14 vs New Mexico State
- Sept. 21 @ New Mexico
- Sept. 28 @ UNLV
- Oct. 12 vs Washington State
- Oct. 19 @ Nevada
- Oct. 26 @ San José State
- Nov. 2 vs Hawai’i
- Nov. 9 @ Air Force
- Nov. 23 vs Colorado State
- Nov. 30 @ UCLA
Bold indicates MW game.
Key MW game: Air Force (Nov. 9th)
A spot in the Mountain West championship might be on the line in this November matchup, the last road contest for Fresno State this fall. The Bulldogs lost the last matchup, 43-24, in 2019.
Key non-conference game: Washington State (Oct. 12th)
Fresno State will have a chance to see if they can upset a Power 5 team at home while coming off a bye week. Their recent track record under Jeff Tedford is good; they’ve beaten Purdue, UCLA and Arizona State (twice).
2024 Recruiting Class – High School
- Damarrion White, DE (Granite Hills HS – El Cajon, California)
- Camrin Cole, CB (Seguin HS – Arlington, Texas)
- Marshel Sanders, WR (Clovis West HS – Fresno, California)
- Logan Studt, LB (Buchanan HS – Clovis, California)
- Marsel Akins, OT (El Diamante HS – Visalia, California)
- Loyall Mouzon, CB (Millikan HS – Rochester, New York)
- Tytus Khajavi, LB (Clovis West HS – Fresno, California)
- Jordan Malau’ulu, WR (Long Beach Poly HS – California)
- Kiontre Harris, CB (Lemoore HS – California)
- Bryson Donelson, RB (Central Valley Christian – Visalia, California)
- Ethan Dasmann, OT (Oak Ridge HS – El Dorado Hills, California)
- Jordan Pierro, CB (Clovis West HS – Fresno, California)
- Auckland Asiata, DE (Sutter HS – California)
- Jace Nixon, TE (Liberty HS – Bakersfield, California)
- Gerayas Grimes, S (Casteel HS – Queen Creek, Arizona)
- Clayton Lawrence, P (Byford Secondary College – Perth, Western Australia, Australia)
2024 Recruiting Class – Transfer Portal
- Korey Foreman, DE (USC/Corona, California)
- Jairus Satele, DT (San José State/Carson, California)
- Chedon James, WR (Idaho State/Bellflower, California)
- Deijon Laffitte, DT (USC/Ontario, California)
- Raylen Sharpe, WR (Missouri State/Allen, Texas)
- Jake Parnagian, WR (Washington/Clovis, California)
- R.J. Regan, S (Arizona State/Lakewood, California)
2024 Recruiting Class – Junior College Transfers
- Ponafatu Kamuta, OG (Fresno City College/Tacoma, Washington)
- Karim McCune II, WR (Monterey Peninsula College/Saginaw, Michigan)
- Jakari Embry, CB (Golden West College/Gadsden, Alabama)
- Michael Eneh, OT (Tyler JC/Houston, Texas)1
1also played at Navarro College
Assistant Coaches
- Pat McCann, offensive coordinator/wide receivers
- 3rd year total, 2nd as OC
- Previously coached at FCS Eastern Washington, Northern Iowa and UC-Davis
- Kevin Coyle, defensive coordinator
- 2nd stint as DC; 7th year total at Fresno State (previously held the title under Coach Pat Hill from 1997-2000)
- Coached defensive backs in the NFL for over a decade with the Dolphins and Bengals
- Served as a defensive analyst on LSU’s 2019 national championship team
- Previously DC at Holy Cross (1986-90), Syracuse (1991-93) and Maryland (1994-96)
- John Baxter, associate head coach/tight ends/special teams coordinator
- 3rd year on staff; 2nd as associate HC
- 2nd stint at Fresno State (previously worked under Hill from 1997-2009 in various roles)
- Had two separate stints as an assistant at USC (2010-14, 2016-18), as well as a year as special teams coordinator at Michigan (2015)
- Also worked at Maryland, Arizona and Tulane
- Tim Skipper, assistant head coach/linebackers
- Fresno State alum (class of 2011)
- 3rd year on staff after serving in a similar role under Jim McElwain at Central Michigan for two years
- Second stint at Fresno State (previously worked under Hill from 2006-11)
- Served as interim coach during the 2023 New Mexico Bowl
- Also worked with McElwain at Colorado State (2012-14) and Florida (2015-18), as well as stints at UNLV (2019) and FCS program Sacramento State (2003-05)
- Jethro Franklin, defensive line/defensive run game coordinator
- Fresno State alum (class of 1988)
- 2nd stint at Fresno State (previously worked there from 1991-96 under head coaches Jim Sweeney and Pat Hill)
- Coached in the NFL with the Packers, Buccaneers, Texans, Raiders and Seahawks
- Coached two separate seasons at USC (2005 & 2009) and spent several years at both Miami (FL) and Missouri
- J.D. Williams, defensive backs/defensive pass game coordinator
- Fresno State alum (class of 1997)
- 3rd stint on staff – worked as a graduate assistant in 1997 and came back as DBs coach in 2000-01 under Pat Hill
- 8th season as DBs coach; 6th as defensive pass game coordinator)
- Also coached the secondaries at Cal Poly (1998), San José State (1999), Cal (2002-05), Washington (2006-08), Utah (2009) and Georgia State (2013-14), in addition to five years at UNLV
- Jim Nelson, nickelbacks
- 5th year on staff; 3rd as nickels coach
- Promoted from within after previously serving as a defensive quality control assistant (2020-21)
- Previously worked as a grad assistant at South Florida, Indiana and North Carolina State
- Aaron Prier, running backs
- 2nd year on staff
- Native of Richmond, CA
- Previously spent time at Idaho State, his alma mater (2016-21), and fellow Big Sky Conference team Eastern Washington (2021-22), before joining the Bulldogs
- Matt Wade, quarterbacks
- 3rd year on staff; 2nd as QBs coach
- Promoted from within after a year as offensive quality control assistant
- Spent seven years as an assistant at UC-Davis and was also an offensive coordinator at Division II Pacific University and FCS Southern Utah
- Bay Area native (Concord, CA)
- Matt Smith, offensive line
- 3rd year on staff; 1st as OL coach
- Former Bulldog center and former walk-on (class of 2020)
- Promoted from within after two years as a grad assistant
THREE KEY PLAYERS
- QB Mikey Keene (Redshirt Junior)
The former UCF transfer completed just over 67 percent of his throws for 2,976 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
- WR Jalen Moss (Redshirt Sophomore)
Moss finished second on the team in catches with 55 and was tied for the team lead with six receiving TDs.
- S Dean Clark (Redshirt Senior)
Clark posted 83 tackles from his secondary spot, in addition to picking off three passes, breaking up three more and recovering a fumble.
THREE KEY LOSSES
- CB Carlton Johnson (undrafted free agent, Seattle Seahawks)
The ballhawking Johnson had four interceptions and seven pass breakups in his final season as a Bulldog before landing in the NFL.
- WR Erik Brooks (graduated)
The Bulldogs’ leading receiver (60 receptions, 788 yards, 5 TDs) exhausted his eligibility.
- LB Levelle Bailey (undrafted free agent, Denver Broncos)
The multi-year starting linebacker capped off his Fresno State career with 82 tackles, five TFLs, three INTs and five pass breakups.
THREE KEY ADDITIONS
- WR Karim McCune II (Junior)
This JUCO transfer is only 5’11”, 175, but he averaged over 28 yards per catch and scored 16 TDs in his career at Monterey Peninsula College. He was on campus in time for spring practice at Fresno State.
- DE Korey Foreman (Redshirt Sophomore)
The former five-star prospect joins the Bulldogs after three seasons at USC. He might finally be ready to break out after recording a modest 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception in his Trojans career.
- WR Jordan Malau’ulu (Freshman)
This slot receiver graduated from powerhouse Long Beach Poly and chose to enroll early at Fresno State after spending time with his family in American Samoa for signing day festivities in December. “He’s high energy all the time…He’s a superstar athlete and he embraces and accepts everybody,” said his coach, Stephen Barbee.
2024 Preview – Offense
The Bulldogs should be well-positioned to equal last year’s 30.4 points-per game average, and the optimism starts with the one-two punch of quarterback Mikey Keene (2,976 passing yards, 24 TDs, 10 INTs) and running back Malik Sherrod (966 yards, nine TDs).
Keene is prioritizing cutting down on those 10 picks in 2024.
“Can’t put the ball in jeopardy. We need to give ourselves a shot at ending very drive with a kick, whether it’s a field goal, PAT, or a punt. Working on that, trying to get that completion rate up, and just letting my playmakers make plays,” he said in the spring.
More depth is needed behind both Keene and Sherrod—Keene’s leading backup, Logan Fife, transferred to Montana, while backup tailback Elijah Gilliam rushed for only 397 yards—but the Bulldogs know what they have in their two veterans.
Fresno State has some solid athletes at receiver, including Jalen Moss, a Bay Area product who caught 55 passes last season, and senior Mac Dalena (47 catches, 509 yards, three scores). More depth is needed here as well, although junior Josiah Freeman and JUCO transfer Karim McCune could be candidates to emerge.
Idaho State transfer Chadron James (an FCS All-American) and Missouri State transfer Raylen Sharpe were late additions in the spring portal window and could make an impact if they can adjust to the FBS level quickly.
Three senior starters (Mose Vavao, Osmar Velez and Jacob Spomer) return to what could be one of the Mountain West’s best lines, although the unit will have a new position coach after Brian Armstrong left for Nevada. Former Bulldog center Matt Smith was promoted from within and will lead his old group.
2024 Preview – Defense
Fresno State’s takeaway-heavy defense helped them finish top 20 nationally in turnover margin, but veteran coordinator Kevin Coyle still needs to replace several playmakers, including linebacker Levelle Bailey, cornerback Carlton Johnson and nickel Morice Norris Jr.
New front seven leaders include senior linebacker Malachi Langley (84 tackles, five tackles for loss), junior defensive tackle Gavriel Lightfoot (20 tackles, three QB hurries) and senior defensive end Devo Bridges (eight TFLs, seven QB hurries and 3.5 sacks). Coaches can’t wait to see USC transfer Korey Foreman, a former five-star recruit.
Undersized Phoenix Jackson looks ready to step into a bigger role at linebacker alongside Langley after an encouraging sophomore campaign (33 tackles in 12 games off the bench). The Bulldogs are also excited to bring back veteran cornerback Cam Lockridge, who was injured after four games last fall and earned a redshirt. In 2022, his first year with Fresno after transferring in from Hawai’i, Lockridge had a team-high four picks, so the hope is that he’ll return to form with a clean bill of health.
Senior Camryn Bracha (38 tackles), JUCO transfer Jakari Embry and sophomore Al’zillion Hamilton (two INTs, eight pass breakups) will also be competing for playing time.
There’s some questions at safety beyond the consistent Dean Clark (three INTs). Kosi Agina, Jayden Davis, Jomarion Briggs and Julian Neal all have some experience, but none have been regular starters. Arizona State transfer R.J. Regan arrives in the fall.
2024 Preview – Special Teams
Left-footed junior Dylan Lynch went 24-of-30 on field goals for the Bulldogs in 2023, including a season-long 52-yarder in the upset win over Purdue. There were two punters on the spring roster: senior Landon Ogles, who didn’t play last year, and Old Dominion transfer Nick Verdugo. Aussie punter Clayton Lawrence arrived in June and should compete as well.
Summary
Fresno State had another solid 9-4 season in 2023, but will be searching for some more stability as they try to challenge in what could be a wide-open Mountain West conference race. On paper, there’s a lot to like here, with Keene, Sherrod, Bridges and Lockridge among a slew of experienced playmakers returning. The Bulldogs lost fairly few players to the portal compared to their Mountain West peers, and the two-deep is littered with upperclassmen.
With that said, Fresno State significantly cooled off after roaring out to an 8-1 start that included Power Five upsets over Purdue and Arizona State. The Bulldogs suffered head-scratching defeats to San José State, New Mexico and San Diego State before rebounding with a bowl win over New Mexico State, but head coach Jeff Tedford had to miss that game due to undisclosed health issues. If the Bulldogs can be more consistent, they can still contend in the Mountain West.
Letters from Las Cruces 