Fresno State Bulldogs: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Fresno State season with what you need to know.

Fresno State Bulldogs College Football Preview 2021: Top Players

Best Fresno State Bulldogs Offensive Player

QB Jake Haener, Sr.
Yeah, yeah, yeah … Ronnie Rivers is probably the best Fresno State offensive player. Haener, though, is going to be the star who makes everything go. He’s not all that big, but the 6-1, 195-pound former big recruit for Washington can sling it, hitting 65% of his passes for 2,021 yards and 14 touchdowns with five picks in his first season with the Bulldogs. He ran for three scores, but he’s not going to do much on the ground.

Great as the season wore on, he threw for over 400 yards in two of the last three games and gave up just two picks over the last five games after starting out the season with three picks against Hawaii.

2. RB Ronnie Rivers, Sr.
3. WR Jalen Cropper, Jr.
4. WR Keric Wheatfall, Sr.
5. WR Josh Kelly, Soph.

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Best Fresno State Bulldogs Defensive Player

DE David Perales, Sr.
The Bulldogs got a top pass rusher who rocked right away from the JUCO ranks. The All-Mountain West performer led the way with 8.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 27 tackles as a quick playmaker off the edge. He’s only 6-3 and 245 pounds, but he can move.

2. DT Kevin Atkins, Sr.
3. LB Tyson Maeva, Sr.
4. DE Kwami Jones, Sr.
5. S Evan Williams, Jr.

Top Incoming Fresno State Bulldogs Transfer

LB Tyson Maeva, Sr.
The Bulldogs are bringing in several solid transfers who’ll play big roles right away. The 6-0, 230-pounder, though, should be a star from the moment he steps on the field. He put up 185 tackles with five sacks and 12 tackles for loss for Boise State, transferred to FIU and made 19 tackles with a sack in his four games, and now he should be one of Fresno State’s leading tacklers.

NEXT: Fresno State Bulldogs College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season