WIDE RECEIVERS OUTLOOK
Fresno State lost its top three wide receivers from last season, one to the NFL and two to the NCAA transfer portal, leaving the group notably inexperienced heading into the 2025 season.
The Bulldogs lost Mac Dalena, who is in training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. Jalen Moss also transferred to Arizona State, and Raylen Sharpe to Arkansas. Dalena was the biggest loss, after racking up 1,065 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season. He averaged 81.9 yards per game, which ranked second in the Mountain West.
Fresno State did add 10 newcomers to offset the loss of production and provide stability in the passing game, working alongside two new quarterbacks in E.J. Warner and Carson Conklin.
Former Bulldog wideout DelVon Hardaway, a graduate assistant last season, was promoted to assistant coach in January and enters his second year working with the group.
WHO'S BACK: It's a short list, headlined by Josiah Freeman.
Freeman appeared in four games last season before suffering a season-ending injury against Washington State on Oct. 12, finishing with eight receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2023, Freeman saw action in all 13 games in his sophomore season, earning his first career start against Eastern Washington. He had 19 receptions for 249 yards on the year, averaging 13.1 yards per catch, and scored his first career touchdown against New Mexico State in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.
Jordan Brown enters his sixth season with the Bulldogs. He has appeared in 36 games, recording 11 receptions for 49 yards as a receiver and contributing as a return specialist with multiple kickoff and punt returns.
Additional returners include Jordan Malau'ulu and Joshua Johnson.
WHO'S NEW: The newcomers include six transfers and four freshmen.
Jayon Farrar transferred in from Ventura College. He was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection last season, totaling 1,054 all-purpose yards in 11 games. He had 47 receptions for 542 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 18 kickoff returns for 511 yards, highlighted by a season-long 72-yard return. As a true freshman at Riverside City College in 2022, he appeared in 11 games, recording six catches for 118 yards and one touchdown.
Josiah Ayon returns home to play for the Bulldogs after spending the 2024 season at NCAA Division II Western Colorado, where he was named a second-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection, catching 44 passes for 651 yards with nine touchdowns. He averaged 14.8 yards per catch. The Buchanan High graduate also contributed 14 kickoff returns for 333 yards. He spent the previous two seasons at Fresno City College where he was a two-time All-Valley Conference selection.
Ezekiel Avit has been turning heads during fall camp. He spent two seasons at Maryland, where he utilized a redshirt year and appeared in five games.
Jahill McClain (Louisville), Luke Jones (Purdue) and Jaylen Garrison (Eastern Washington) also join the room.
Local product Harold Duvall has had some highlight reel plays during fall camp. Duvall attended Clovis East High and was rated a four-star recruit. He was a two-way standout playing both wide receiver and defensive back and earned first-team all-state and all-league honors. He also was named a Fresno Bee All-Star, and received the TRAC Specialist of the Year award. He helped lead Clovis East to a 12-1 record as a senior, finishing the season with 1,320 all-purpose yards, including 48 receptions for 908 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.
Keynan Cotton graduated from Omaha Westside High where he was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports and earned 2024 All-Nebraska Team honors, as well as the 2024 Nebraska Preps Football Awards Class-A Special Teams Player of the Year award. He finished the season with 45 receptions for 706 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 15.7 yards per catch.
Isaiah Dillon (Pacifica High) and Malakai Sumter (Hughson High) round out the newcomers.
WHAT TO WATCH: With a new quarterback and a group of experienced running backs, opposing defenses may key on stopping the run, potentially opening up the passing game. For the Bulldogs to maintain a balanced attack, this group will need some playmakers to emerge.