Fresno State Football: Projecting The 2020 Spring Depth Chart
Kalen DeBoer will have a lot of questions to start answering when spring ball begins. Here’s what the Bulldogs two-deep might look like.
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A new era brings unique challenges right away.
After being a part of Jeff Tedford’s instant success and then partaking in a brief sojourn to Bloomington, Indiana, Kalen DeBoer is back with the Fresno State Bulldogs as head coach. The ‘Dogs had a down year in 2019, but it isn’t all doom and gloom as they prepare to bounce back.
Plenty of young talent emerged last fall, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but some questions won’t be quite as clear-cut as they were this time last year. What might the depth chart look like when the Bulldogs take the field for spring practice? I make my best guesses and explain my reasoning.
Note: Projected spring first-teamers in italics.
Quarterback
Jake Haener, Jr.
Ben Woolridge, Soph.
Barring any unforeseen transfers or a late addition to the recruiting class, it seems fair to say the job will be Haener’s to lose. I wouldn’t count Woolridge all the way out, though, because he didn’t look overwhelmed in spot duty last fall and, like Jorge Reyna, neither guy comes into 2020 with all that much in-game experience, having combined for 19 career pass attempts between them.
Running back
Ronnie Rivers, Sr.
Jordan Mims, Jr.
This, at least, is very straight forward. Rivers is the unquestioned starter and proved he could take on a larger role with aplomb, but Josh Hokit’s role as change-of-pace sledgehammer is up for grabs. I’ll guess that Jordan Mims, who missed 2019 with injury, will begin with the inside track but I’m also planning to keep an eye on Jevon Bigelow, who transferred home from Wyoming and, in 2018, had a slightly lower Opportunity Rate but outpaced Mims in Highlight Yards Per Opportunity with the Cowboys.
Wide receiver
Keric Wheatfall, Sr.
Jamal Glaspie, Soph.
Zane Pope, Jr.
Jalen Cropper, Soph.
Emoryie Edwards, Soph.
Josh Kelly, RS Fr.
This projection hedges just a touch because, while it didn’t get as much attention as the offensive line shuffle, eight different receivers received at least one start in 2019. It’s a unit with a massive amount of potential, even if it lacks a big Davante Adams-esque target in its ranks, since this two-deep doesn’t even include Chris Coleman, who was pressed into duty as a cornerback last fall, and former three-star recruits like Patrick Elima-Jeune and Rodney Wright III.
The wild card, as he was last year, is Cropper, who flashed explosiveness that offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has surely spent all off-season scheming to capitalize upon. Whoever ends up as QB1 is going to have a lot of fun growing with these guys.
Tight end
Juan Rodriguez, Sr.
Raymond Pauwels Jr., Jr.
Considering the big leap forward that Jared Rice took when DeBoer was the team’s offensive coordinator, it’ll be fascinating to see how this race shakes out. There’s no shortage of options, either, as the current roster lists seven tight ends, and there’s a reality where this depth chart ends up more like 1 and 1A since four different tight ends caught a pass in 2018. Two tight end sets could be a way of offsetting the lack of size at wide receiver, which Tedford and Grubb utilized in last year’s starting lineups. Pauwels Jr., in particular, is someone I’m keeping my eye on after catching 55 passes in his last year at Arizona’s Glendale Community College.
Offensive line
Left Tackle
Dontae Bull, Jr.
Alex Akingbulu, Sr.
Left Guard
Jace Fuamatu, Soph.
Bula Schmidt, Soph.
Center
Matt Smith, Sr.
Tyrone Sampson, Soph.
Right Guard
Quireo Woodley, Jr.
Nick Abbs, Sr.
Right Tackle
Syrus Tuitele, Sr.
Tim Anderson, Jr.
Last year’s offensive line suffered through a lot of carnage — nine different players made at least one start — so better health luck could help this unit rebound to being one of the Mountain West’s best. It doesn’t even include intriguing prospects like Marc-David Bien-Aime, the Canadian impact who’s the largest lineman on the roster, or incoming freshmen Joseph Church and Julian Polendo, who may get a chance to start earning a rotation spot right away.
Defensive line
Defensive End
Kwami Jones, Sr.
Alex Cruz, Jr.
Isaiah Johnson, Jr.
Leevel Tatum III, Sr.
Defensive Tackle
Kevin Atkins, Sr.
Leonard Payne Jr., Soph.
Alex Dumais, Soph.
Kurtis Brown, Jr.
The defensive line, where nine players appeared in at least six games last fall, had plenty of its own trials and, hopefully, you’re sensing a theme. Last year’s frustrations are this year’s experience, however, but the Bulldogs have at least one new face in Brown who could play his way into the interior rotation. There may not be an obvious Tyeler Davison-like talent, but it could be deep and productive if healthy.
Linebacker
Justin Rice, Sr.
Devo Bridges, RS Fr.
Arron Mosby, Sr.
Rian Fields, Soph.
Levelle Bailey, Soph.
Sherwin King Jr., Soph.
Thankfully, the Bulldogs don’t have to replace the entire unit this time around, so the focus around this unit is building depth. Because the first time is likely already in place, there’s not much to say here.
Cornerback
Chris Gaston, Jr.
Deven Jarvis, RS Fr.
Randy Jordan, Soph.
Deshawn Ruffin, RS Fr.
Gaston figures to have at least one spot locked down, but the race to replace Jaron Bryant could take a while to sort out. Several young guys should have an opportunity to state their case, but a veteran like senior Deonte Perry could make this their moment to launch themselves into the starting lineup, too.
Safety
Free Safety
Evan Williams, Soph.
L.J. Early, RS Jr.
Strong Safety
Wylan Free, Jr.
Reggie Strong, RS Fr.
Juju Hughes leaves some massive shoes to fill, but I’d guess that Free will get first crack to do so after an up-and-down 2019. Williams, who replaced Free opposite Hughes in November, came on strong and figures to have every chance to keep his hold on that job. Beyond that? The defensive backfield is long on youth, so the best bet is new coordinator William Inge will begin filling in the gaps with that in mind.
Kicker
Cesar Silva, Sr.
Asa Fuller, Jr.
The switch to Silva last fall left a lot to be desired because he made just 12-of-21 field goal attempts, so expect Silva, Fuller, and Mateo Thompson to get as much work as they can to create some clarity. Chances are, however, that this competition remains open long into fall camp.
Punter
Carson King, Soph.
Cade Fuller, RS Fr.
Blake Cusick is going to be very difficult to replace and the odds are that this race, too, will extend into the fall. King, by virtue of being Cusick’s backup last fall, will probably start in the pole position.
