Last Thanksgiving, George Helmuth was a fairly anonymous special teams guy on a Fresno State team playing out a 1-11 turkey season.
On this one, Helmuth is a starting linebacker, second-leading tackler and owner of a new nickname (“The Hammer,” courtesy of coach-turned-radio color commentator Pat Hill) for the 8-3 Bulldogs, with the main course (a two-week tussle with Boise State) and dessert (a bowl game) still to come.
Does the current Mountain West defensive player of the week comprehend how big a leap that is, both for himself and the program?
“It’s a huge leap, but things are moving so fast during the season it’s hard to sit back and look at it,” Helmuth said.