Fall Preview: Fresno State

Fresno State:

Head Coach: Tim DeRuyter
2014 Record: (6-8, 5-3 MWC)
Basic Offense: Multiple
Basic Defense: 3-4
Starters Returning: 14 (6 Off., 5 Def., 3 Spec.)
Starters Lost: 11 (5 Off., 6 Def., 0 Spec.)

Offense:

The Bulldogs head into the 2014 season with a bit of a question at quarterback with sophomore Zack Greenlee (18-41/213/1TD), redshirt freshman Kilton Anderson, freshman Chason Virgil, and West Virginia transfer Ford Childress all in the mix. Greenlee and Virgil seem to be the front runners for the starting job but Childress, a former starter at West Virginia, could sneak in and win the job.

While questions abound at quarterback, the Bulldogs are very comfortable at running back with senior Marteze Waller (225/1,368/11TD) back for one more season. Waller is the players to watch on offense for Fresno State and is excellent in the passing game with 27 catches for 120 yards during his second team All-MWC campaign. Redshirt senior Malique Micenheimer (1/-2/0TD) is the backup and showed glimpses of great play with seven catches for 48 yards and a touchdown but only carried the ball once last season.

Fresno State needs several players to step up this fall in the receiver corps as only three return with double digit catches in 2014. Tight end Chad Olsen (13/150/4TD) leads the group after a freshman season that saw him make five starts. Redshirt freshman Kyle Riddering is the backup. Leading returning receiver Aaron Peck (32/419/3TD) will man the X-Receiver spot and should be able to stretch the field for the Bulldog offense. At 6-3, 213 pounds, Peck is the largest wide receiver on the Bulldogs roster. Sophomore Darrell Fuery is the backup at the position. Sophomore Delvon Hardaway (23/279/2TD) and redshirt freshman KeeSean Johnson are in a battle for the Z-Receiver position. Hardaway has the experience but Johnson has come on in spring and summer drills and will get some playing time this fall. At the Y-Receiver position, senior Justin Johnson (8/72/1TD) leads the way after making two starts and playing in all 14 games last season. Redshirt freshman Jamire Jordan is looking to make his name this fall as a reserve and slide into a starting role in 2015. The H-Receiver position is a redshirt freshman battle as Keyan Williams and Justin Allen lock in for the starting role. Williams saw action in one game and is the front runner for the starting spot.

The Bulldogs have 60% of a solid offensive line back this fall led by senior left tackle Alex Fifita (25 career starts). The Honorable mention All-MWC member will be expected to lead an offensive line that features lots of youth in the two-deep. Sophomore David Patterson will be the left tackle backup. Moving inside to left tackle, former JUCO transfer Jacob Vazquez will be seeing his first starting action after playing in one game last fall. At 6-3, 287 pounds, he has the size but has to prove he can handle things on the field. Redshirt freshman Jacob Hicks is the backup. Bo Bonnheim (21 career starts) will be the center this fall after making all 14 starts last fall. Hicks made the transition from left guard in 2013 to center in 2014 and looks like a solid piece in the Bulldogs offensive line puzzle. Redshirt freshman Ben Simonds will be Bonnheim's understudy. In similar fashion to the other guard spot, right guard will be a question mark as sophomore Aaron Mitchell looked to make the jump from reserve to starter. Mitchell saw action in only one game last fall and must prove that he is ready for the promotion. Redshirt freshman Micah St. Andrew will be ready in case he is needed this fall. The Bulldogs have another 14 game starter from 2014 in senior Justin Northern (27 career starts). The 6-4, 290 pound lineman has made each start in the last two seasons and could break 40 career starts this fall. Redshirt freshman Bobby Johnson is his backup.

Defense:

In the Fresno State three-man front, the Bulldogs are led by senior defensive end Todd Hunt (54 tkl, 5 tfl, 2.5 sacks). The senior made all 14 starts last fall and will be the vocal leader in the trenches for Fresno State this fall. Redshirt sophomore Gabe Newman, with not in game experience, will be the backup. At the other defensive end spot is another senior in Claudell Louis (10 tkl, 1.5 tfl, 0.5 sacks). The 6-4, 292 pounder originally came from the JUCO ranks and should be in line for a good 2015 season. Fellow senior Suli Faletuipapai (1 tkl) is looking to find his first significant action of his college career this fall as a backup. In the middle is sophomore Nathan Madsen (11 tkl, 2 tfl), an underclassman that made four starts last fall. Fellow sophomore Ryan Steele, at 6-0, 271 pounds, will play thr backup role behind Madsen.

At linebacker, a pair of seniors lead the way for the Bulldogs heading into the upcoming season. Senior outside linebacker Ejiro Ederaine (64 tkl, 12.5 tfl, 2 sacks) led the team in tackles for loss and has the ability to make game changing plays in the offensive backfield, something desperately needed by the Bulldogs. Sophomore Tobenna Okeke (5 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1.5 sacks) showed skill as a freshman and should see even more playing time this fall. At the other outside linebacker spot, junior Brandon Hughes (40 tkl, 3 tfl, 1 sack) leads the way for the upcoming season. Sophomore Justin Green (1 tkl) is the backup and should see limited playing time one defense while helping on special teams. At one inside linebacker spot, senior leader Kyrie Wilson (90 tkl, 6.5 tfl, 1 sack) leads the way after a very good junior year in 2014. The team's leading returning tackler was good against the run while also intercepting two passes and scoring a defensive touchdown last fall. Senior Jaamal Rose is the backup and is looking to finally see some playing time. The other inside linebacker spot is the biggest question mark with sophomore Xavier Ulutu (20 tkl) battling junior Jeff Camilli (42 tkl, 4 tfl, 1 sack) for the starting role. Camilli's 42 tackles were the most by a non-starter last fall.

The Bulldogs bring back a secondary group that has returning starters at all four positions led by senior cornerback Charles Washington (78 tkl, 5 tfl, 0.5 sacks, 2 INT). The 5-11, 197 pound cornerback had a very good 2014 season and must play at an even higher level this fall for Fresno State to repeat as division champs. Junior Jamal Ellis (25 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 INT) is the backup and made four starts of his own last fall. On the other side is sophomore Malcolm Washington (37 tkl, 1 tfl), who saw action in all 14 games with seven starts last fall. Washington should be able to work himself into all conference honors before his career with Fresno State ends. Redshirt freshman Anthoula Kelly will be the backup at that spot. Junior strong safety Dalen Jones (15 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 sack) made five starts and should be able to hold off JUCO transfer Alan Wright for the starting role this fall. Senior Shannon Edwards (27 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 sack) will look to continue the tradition of excellent play at free safety this fall after making three starts last fall. Junior Stratton Brown (3 tkl) will be a solid backup that can come in from time to time to give Edwards a breather.

Special Teams:

The Bulldogs head into the upcoming season with no question who the punter is as Garrett Swanson returns for his senior season. Swanson punted the ball 82 times with a 40.7 average, a long of 65, 26 punts inside the 20, and nine over 50 yards. Swanson also kicked off 69 times with 15 touchbacks. JUCO transfer Jimmy Camacho is expected to take over all kicking duties this fall after a storied JUCO career.