2011 Fresno State Football Predictions

Written by Steve Janus

After finishing the regular season 5-3 in the WAC and 8-4 overall, the Fresno State Bulldogs got crushed 40-17 in the Humanitarian Bowl by Northern Illinois. While the season may not have ended like the Bulldogs had wanted, it was the fourth straight winning season under head coach Pat Hill. With Boise State leaving to join the MWC this season (Fresno State will join MWC in 2012), the Bulldogs are considered to be one of the favorites to win the WAC in 2011. While the Bulldogs have just 10 starters back and have to play four road games inside the conference, this has been a situation where Hill has got the Bulldogs to respond in years past. Here is a closer look at what the Bulldogs will send to the field on both sides of the ball, plus my prediction on where they will finish the season in the WAC.

Offense:

Fresno State loses 2010 starting quarterback Ryan Colburn, who threw for 2,817 yards with 23 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. Normally when a small school like Fresno State loses a quarterback of this talent, you would expect to see a big drop off in the next season, but the Bulldogs can’t wait to get sophomore Derek Carr onto the field. While Carr comes in highly regarded by a lot of scouts, he still has to prove he can get it done on the field.

In 2010 the Bulldogs had the difficult task of replacing running back Ryan Matthews, who rushed for 1,808 yards and 19 touchdowns before leaving for the NFL. Sophomore Robbie Rouse proved to be a solid replacement, leading the Bulldogs with 1,129 yards and eight touchdowns in just nine starts. If Carr is as good as advertised, Rouse should be even better in his junior season.

Fresno State loses leading wide out Jamel Hamler, who caught 54 passes for 812 yards and six touchdowns, but has plenty of experience coming back. Sophomore Jalen Saunders started seven games as a true freshman, and wound up catching 30 passes for 462 yards and three touchdowns. Also back are junior Rashad Evans and sophomore A.J. Johnson. Senior Devon Wylie is back after missing last season with an injury, and keep your eye out for redshirt freshman Josh Harper and Victor Dean.

The biggest concern for the Bulldogs heading into the 2011 season comes on the offensive line, where senior right guard Leslie Cooper and senior left tackle Bryce Harris are the only starters back. Gone is 1st-Team right tackle Kenny Wiggins, 3rd-Team left guard Devan Cunningham, and 1st-Team center Joe Bernardi. If this unit struggles to replace these three, the offense could have a hard time living up to expectations.

Defense:

Fresno State showed some big improvements against the run in 2010. They went from giving up 214 ypg in 2009 to just 158 in 2010. It won’t be easy to repeat that success in 2011, as they lose WAC Defensive Player of the Year in defensive end Chris Carter, along with starters Cornell Banks (DT) and Chris Lewis (DE). They do bring back talented defensive tackle Logan Harrell, but will need guys like junior defensive end Matt Akers and senior defensive tackle Chase McEntee to step up their play.

At linebacker the Bulldogs return one of the top outside linebackers in the conference in junior Travis Brown, who was second on the team with 79 tackles to go along with two sacks and seven tackles for loss. Also back is senior outside linebacker Kyle Knox, but this unit will likely have to rely on sophomore Jeremiah Toma in the middle.

In the secondary Fresno State will welcome back free safety Phillip Thomas and junior corner Jermaine Thomas. Phillip Thomas led the team with three interceptions, and should be one of the top safeties in the WAC this season. Heading into the fall it looks likes sophomore Derron Smith will take over at strong safety, while senior Isaiah Green steps in at the other starting corner spot.

2011 Prediction: 1st WAC – I am going out on a limb and taking the Bulldogs to win the WAC this season. It won’t be easy with four of their seven conference games on the road, but Fresno State is 11-5 away from home in the WAC over the last four years. While there are concerns on both the offensive and defensive lines, great quarterbacks have excelled in this conference, and I think Carr is ready to become a star right in 2011.

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