A member of the Mountain West Conference, the Fresno State Bulldogs football team is a part of California State University in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has a rich history of generating remarkable football players, many of whom have had successful NFL careers.
Fresno State’s Most Legendary Football Players, Including NFL Stars Derek Carr And Davante Adams
A product of Fresno State football, Derek Carr announced his retirement this year from the NFL after playing for the league for 11 years. Following his stunning career, looking back at the top 5 players the program has produced.
No. 5. Ryan Mathews
The former Fresno State Bulldogs football player Ryan Mathews played in three seasons for the Bulldogs as a running back. A fast and high-power back has recorded 31 touchdowns in his 25 career contests. Mathews ran for 3,280 yards with 39 rushing touchdowns, and ran for 1,808 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2009, both of which are single-season records.
He was named a second-team All-America and a first-team All-WAC recipient.
No. 4. Davante Adams
Davante Adams formerly played as a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. Adams appeared for Fresno State for two seasons and ended his football career with 233 receptions for 3,030 yards and 38 touchdowns. The American football player is a two-time All-America selection in 2012 and 2013. He is also the winner of the Paul Warfield Award in 2013, including 2012 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and was named a two-time first-team All-Mountain West.
No. 3. Kevin Sweeney
The Dallas Cowboys’ football quarterback, Kevin Sweeney, is a former National Football League player. Earlier, he played in the Fresno State program from 1983 to 1986. Bulldogs won thirty-two games, lost thirteen and tied one contest during Kevin Sweeney's time with the team. The 6-foot player set the school’s all-time passing record with 10,808 yards, which set a new NCAA record when he graduated.
No. 2. David Carr
The quarterback, David Carr, is a former Fresno State professional football player. Carr has played in 11 seasons in the National Football League. The 45-year-old played from 1997 to 2001 at Fresno State and had his jersey retired in 2007. He helped the Bulldogs to an 11-3 record and tied the school record for most wins in a season during his senior year. Carr grabbed the Bulldog passing record for most touchdowns in a career, 70, passing yards in a season, 4,839, including touchdowns in a season, 46 and total offence yards in a season, 4,906, reportedly.
No. 1. Derek Carr
The American professional football quarterback has retired after playing for 11 seasons in the National Football League; Carr competed in five seasons for Fresno State from 2009 to 2013. He was a Two-time All-America selection as a junior and a senior, and he additionally became the third player in league history to win Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year twice in back-to-back seasons. Also, the winner of the Sammy Baugh Award in 2013.