Blinksportsnews247Welcome to the fifth post in our twelve-part recruiting breakdown series. Today will look at the #5 team in our rankings, Fresno State.
The Bulldogs have had a few different approaches over the past few years under Coach Tedford and that is the case again this year. After reloading with junior college and transfer talent last season, the staff took almost exclusively high school players this time around. That strategy worked well for Fresno State, as they put together a great class with lots of talent at the top and lots of depth sprinkled throughout. To learn more about the influx of talent coming in, read below.
The skinny: 18 recruits signed 15 players from high school, 2 players from JUCO, and 1 transfer.
Three-star rankings for 6 offensive, 11 defensive, and 1 athlete out of 247 are reported.
Players scoring 85 or more on the composite rating: 7.
Players scoring 82 or more on the composite rating: 7.
States broken down (transfers excluded): 15 (California), 1 (Arizona), 1 (Texas)
247 Composite Rankings—which could alter
As a whole: 90
- Hiring: 85
- Transfer: 96
The Players:
RB Bryson Donelson
Bryson is one of this class’s excellent tailbacks. He has excellent vision and makes a powerful burst while hitting the hole. In traffic, Donelson is elusive and appears to perform best when he cuts quickly to elude tackles. He is proficient at rushing between or outside of tackles and appears to be highly at ease in an RPO scheme. Running backs are something Fresno State excels at producing, and Bryson seems destined to continue that legacy.
WR Marshel Sanders
The Bulldogs signed Marshel Sanders, a player with extraordinary talent. He is a skilled route runner who excels at tricking opponents with his cutbacks. Due of his ability to follow the ball efficiently in the air and make a catch quickly, Sanders excels on deep routes. He won’t back down from a physical altercation with defenders in order to win the ball. Marshel has the talent to start playing right away if things go well for him the following season.
WR Karim McCune, JUCO
Karim, who switched to the Bulldogs at the last minute, is coming over from junior college. He thrives at long routes where he can routinely go behind defensive backs and possesses noticeable straight-line speed. By catching the ball in space and producing chunk plays, McCune can also do damage closer to the line of scrimmage. He is an extremely skilled receiver who can give opponents a great deal of trouble. Karim ought to be able to participate early in the upcoming season.
TE Jace Nixon
Jace, who spent a lot of time playing quarterback in high school, is switching to tight end. Despite the fact that he might need to gain weight and get used to blocking frequently, his excellent height and bulk will work well for him in his new role. Nixon’s experience seeing the field and making reads as a QB could benefit him moving forward when it comes to evaluating defenses and routes. As a receiver, he is expected to have a large target and a broad catch radius. Jace has all he needs to be successful at the next level, but he will need some time to get used to his new role.
OL Ethan Dasmann
Ethan was signed by Fresno State as an offensive lineman. He makes good use of his stature and hogs a lot of room on the line. Due to his great mobility, Dasmann can outmaneuver opponents during screen passes or run plays, taking them out at the second level. At the next level, where he can be pulled frequently, he has more of a guard profile. Due to his enormous size, Ethan should be able to succeed at the collegiate level.
Marsel Akins, OL
Marsel enters the game as an attacking lineman. He makes eye contact off the line and is very physical. Akins always looks for the next player to hit a big block and plays through the whistle. His greatest role is that of a run-blocker, resetting the line of scrimmage by forcing opponents back. Marsel is a versatile player who can play guard for the Bulldogs or tackle a lot.
Asiata DL Auckland
Auckland is a two-way player who plans to play defensive lineman full-time in the future. He plays with a lot of energy and is unrelenting in his pursuit of the backfield. Asiata is a strong tackler who can easily take down blocks and wrap up to drag opponents to the ground. His exceptional strength and speed combination make him a terrific pass-rusher. For the Bulldogs, Auckland might see the field sooner rather than later.
DL Korey Foreman transfer
Korey is a well-known transfer from USC that the Bulldogs managed to acquire. He is an explosive player who gives it his all from the snap, creating havoc along the line of scrimmage. With his strength and ability to counter offensive lineman, Foreman may swat the ball or go past blockers with his hands moving. He is coming in full force, using a variety of moves, and he is determined to make a play on the quarterback. Expectations will be high for Korey, and Fresno State seems like an excellent location to meet them.
EDGE White Damarrion
Talented player Damarrion arrived at Fresno State towards the end of the cycle. He keeps a low center of gravity throughout the play and is explosive off the snap. White makes outstanding use of his body to take accurate angles to the quarterback and maintains hand activity throughout. He easily removes double teams and outmuscles opponents to win his individual encounters. One of the top players in this class, Damarrion have the talent to see the field at a young age.
LB Logan Studt
Logan is a linebacker for the team. He plays with excellent game speed and makes good use of his instincts to rush the ball and score. Studt is a powerful hitter who easily knocks down opponents and an amazing open-field tackler. After the snap, he charges into the gaps, rapidly blocking the run lanes. Logan has what it takes to be a strong middle linebacker, and Fresno State will soon see that.
