Fresno State fielded a young football team a year ago in a rough 3-9 season. Nineteen players made their first career starts, including 14 playing FBS football for the first time – true and redshirt freshmen as well as transfers.
The Bulldogs will be young again while trying to rebound from their worst season since 1978, with seven returning starters on offense and five on defense. And while there are teams in the Mountain West Conference with as many returning starters, there is only one with fewer, Colorado State.
But that is not necessarily a negative, though the Bulldogs are sure to miss Ejiro Ederaine and Kyrie Wilson, Alex Fifita and Bo Bonnheim, Marteze Waller and Justin Northern, Charles Washington and Todd Hunt.