Fall Camp 2025 Spotlight: Running Backs

By: Taylor Martinez / Strategic Communications August 6, 2025 RUNNING BACKS OUTLOOK

Fresno State is set to debut a new offense under first-year offensive coordinator Josh Davis, with the running backs expected to take on a larger role than in previous seasons. “This backfield has a lot of depth and versatility,” said Davis. “We have speed. We have power. We have guys with tremendous football IQs.” The Bulldogs return their top two rushers from 2024 in Elijah Gilliam and Bryson Donelson and running backs coach Aaron Prier, one of three assistants retained by coach Matt Entz, enters his third season. WHO’S BACK: Gilliam rushed for 489 yards on 122 carries last season, averaging 35.8 yards per game with eight touchdowns. With 39 career games under his belt, he is the most experienced offensive player returning this season. Nicknamed ‘Third-and-Gilliam,’ he’s become the Bulldogs’ go-to back in short-yardage situations. Although the team struggled on third-and-short, converting just 13-of-27 attempts, Gilliam accounted for seven of those conversions on only 10 tries. This season, Gilliam wants to showcase his versatility and prove he’s more than just a short-yardage running back. “Over the offseason, I worked on my speed and my ability to make defenders miss,” Gilliam said. “So I can shake off that third defender and give myself the opportunity for big runs. I want to keep getting those short-yardage first downs, but I also want more of those bigger, longer runs this season.” Donelson, recently named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, shined as a freshman, appearing in 12 games and starting the final three. The Valley native rushed for 462 yards and three touchdowns on 77 carries, averaging 6.0 yards per play, the highest by a Bulldogs’ freshman since legend Ryan Mathews averaged 6.0 yards in 2007. Donelson kept getting better as the season went on, making the most of his increased reps after Malik Sherrod went down with an injury. In his first six games, Donelson averaged 29.6 all-purpose yards per game, but that number jumped to 63 yards per game over the final six. He posted his first 100-yard rushing performance in the Bulldogs’ MW finale against Colorado State, racking up 140 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He followed that with his first multi-touchdown game against Northern Illinois in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Johnathan Arceneaux, who has battled injuries throughout his three seasons at Fresno State, added depth to the back field last season. He appeared in 11 games, rushing for a career-high 104 yards on 22 carries and adding four receptions for 42 yards. The Bulldogs also return Devon Rivers, Ryan Warkentin and Brandon Ramirez to the back field. WHO’S NEW: The group adds one transfer and one true freshman. Rayshon Luke, who goes by the nickname “Speedy”, spent three seasons at Arizona where he appeared in 24 games and totaled 271 rushing yards and one touchdown on 56 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. He also caught five passes for 96 yards, including a career-long 66-yard reception against UCLA in 2023. His best rushing performance came that same season at Washington State, where he ran for a career-high 71 yards on 10 carries and scored his first collegiate touchdown. He added two kickoff returns for 22 yards during his time with the Wildcats before redshirting in 2024 and entering the transfer portal. “They call him ‘Speedy,’ and he’s really fast,” said Prier. “He plays at a different speed than a lot of other people. The way he runs is effortless, and he covers a lot of ground. I’m excited to see what he does this season with the ball in his hands.” Julius Gillick began his high school career at Garfield in Seattle before transferring to Edison High in Huntington Beach, where he lettered each season and helped lead the team to the 2025 California State 1A Championship. After a standout senior season, he was named a Sports Illustrated first-team All-American, Orange County player of the year, CIF Division III player of the year, and ALPHA League offensive player of the year. He finished his senior season with 2,489 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns, along with 300 receiving yards and two receiving scores. WHAT TO WATCH: This group will be the most experienced among the skill positions and will need to take a significant step forward from its 2024 performance, as the Bulldogs lost 66.4 percent of their all-purpose yards from last season They figure to get plenty of opportunities. In Entz’s last three seasons at North Dakota State, the Bison rushed the ball on 66 percent, 75.9 percent and 72.5 percent of their plays from scrimmage. Last season, Fresno State ran the ball on only 47 percent of its plays, and ranked just 10th in the Mountain West rushing yards per game at 98.2 and last in rushing yards per play at 3.3. Bulldogs make return to New Mexico Bowl

By: Savannah Stoeckle / Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications

December 3, 2023

Fresno State accepted its invitation to play in the 18th annual Isleta New Mexico Bowl and will face New Mexico State (10-4, 7-1 CUSA) in the postseason matchup. The game will be played Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:45 p.m. PT at University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M. and will be televised nationally on ESPN and broadcast on Bowl Season Radio.

“It’s great to welcome Fresno State back to the Isleta New Mexico Bowl,” said New Mexico Bowl Executive Director Jeff Siembieda. “Having appeared in the national polls this season with wins over the Mountain West champion and runner-up, as well as victories over a Big Ten and PAC-12 team the Bulldogs had an impressive season.”

Fresno State will participate in its third bowl game in the past three seasons, and its 32nd bowl game in program history. This is Fresno State’s fourth trip to the New Mexico Bowl with its last being a 31-24 defeat of UTEP in 2021.

Fresno State is 16-15 all-time in bowl games and has won its last four dating back to 2017.

New Mexico State finished the season with a 10-4 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play, falling to Liberty 49-35 in the Conference USA championship game. For just the second time in program history, NM State has chalked up a double-digit winning season.

Fresno State leads the all-time series with the Aggies, 18-1. The lone loss came in a 48-45 loss on the road in 2011.The last meeting between the teams was in 2019 with Fresno State earning a 34-17 win in Las Cruces.

This season’s bowl game matchup will serve as a preview to the nonconference meeting between the teams set for Sept. 14, 2024 in Fresno.

For more information on the New Mexico Bowl, visit the official website. 

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Bulldogs wrap up nonconference play vs Kent State

• Fresno State won its 12th-straight game last Saturday, extending its active winning streak and keeping a hold on the second-longest streak in the FBS, behind only the top-ranked Georgia. 
• Fresno State has started a season 3-0 for the first time since 2013. Two of those three wins came on the road in Power 5 territory at Purdue (Sept. 2) and at Arizona State (Sept. 16). It was the first time since 2004 that Fresno State defeated two Power 5 opponents in the regular season, both on the road. 
• Fresno State has scored points in 17 consecutive quarters, dating back to the fourth quarter of the 2022 Mountain West Championship Game on Dec. 2. 
• Fresno State’s defense gained eight turnovers (5 INT, 3 FR) last weekend at Arizona State, tying the program’s record for most turnovers gained in a game. The record was set when Freson State had six INTs and two FR in its game against Montana State on Nov. 16, 1968. 
• Fresno State senior cornerback Carlton Johnson was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week, leading Fresno State’s defense to a 29-0 shutout victory on the road at Arizona State last Saturday.
• Sixth-year senior Erik Brooks began his career as a walk-on in 2018, and has since earned his scholarship, a starting spot on the offense, and the title of team captain. Brooks leads the Bulldogs with 28 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging 123.0 yards per game. He ranks fifth in the FBS in receiving yards per game and sixth in total receiving yards. The senior has had two 100-yard receiving games in three games played this season.
• Brooks and Keene connected on 11 completions last weekend, it was the most receptions by a Bulldog since Josh Harper (12) on Oct. 10, 2014 at UNLV.
• DE Kemari Munier-Bailey has had a hand in three of Fresno State’s turnovers this season as he has two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Munier-Bailey became the first Bulldog player since 2020 to record one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in a game as he did both at Arizona State. He is currently second in the FBS standings in fumbles recovered this season.

ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• The teams will be meeting for the first time in program history this weekend. Saturday’s game marks the third game this season where Fresno State is meeting with an unfamiliar opponent. 
• Saturday’s contest is also Fresno State’s third this year against a first-year head coach.
• Fresno State safety and Ohio native Dean Clark will meet his former teammates this weekend. Clark spent three seasons at Kent State as a safety. During his time there he played 34 games and totaled 109 solo tackles in his career. Clark also earned a career high 13 tackles in a single game vs. Wyoming (’21). 
• Wide receiver Isaiah Batton transferred to Kent State from Fresno State and has seen participation in two games (UCF, CCSU) in his first season with the Golden Flashes. Batton spent two seasons with the Bulldogs (2021-22). He appeared in two games and was a Mountain West scholar-athlete in his final season with the ‘Dogs. 
• Saturday is Boots and Buckles Night at Valley Children’s Stadium. 
• Fresno State looks for its sixth-straight home win, dating back to Oct. 15, 2022.
• If Fresno State wins, it will be the first time since 2013 that the ‘Dogs finish undefeated against nonconference opponents. 

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Fresno State Athletics unveils the Elevate Campaign

CVV News l May 9, 2023

University officials announced on Tuesday the ‘Elevate’ campaign, a transformational, multi-year vision for the modernization of Fresno State’s athletic facilities, including Valley Children’s Stadium and other venues. The aspirational master plan provides a roadmap to help position Fresno State athletics for sustained success while the Bulldogs continue to compete and win at a national level.

“The time is now,” says Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval. “For over a century, Fresno State athletics has rallied the Valley, uniting people from all walks of life behind a common cause and generating excitement about our university. Just as our winning teams fuel passion and pride in our fan base, they also fuel interest in future students near and far, giving them a pathway to become familiar with the university. In addition, our teams are the gateway to national and international brand recognition.”

With an estimated goal of over $250 million to implement this master plan, Fresno State is exploring several innovative sources of funding for the numerous projects outlined – most importantly, private support.

“The extent of our facilities upgrades is dependent upon securing the necessary funding,” Jiménez-Sandoval says. “This type of investment in Fresno State’s future opens the doors to limitless opportunities for the university, on and off the court, as well as our entire region.” 

erry Tumey, Fresno State’s Director of Athletics, says this is a critical time for the future of Fresno State, and with community support, the Bulldogs can ascend to new heights. 

“Ascension to the level we envision requires regional investment. To complete all of the much-needed facilities enhancements identified in this master plan, it will take a significant investment from everyone associated with our university,” Tumey says. “This campaign will not only enhance our ability to provide championship experiences for our dedicated student-athletes and the Red Wave – but, perhaps most importantly, it will ensure that Fresno State, with our storied tradition of athletic success, is positioned to compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics nationally while further shining a bright light on the entire Central Valley region we so proudly serve.”

The master plan outlines a vision to elevate all 18 of Fresno State’s sports programs and further helps to advance gender-equity efforts on campus. The vision identifies areas of facility renovation as well as new construction, including:

• Significant renovations to Valley Children’s Stadium, home of Bulldog football, including: a new press box and premium club tower, improved accessibility to the stadium, multiple new premium seating and social gathering spaces, renovated suites, new video boards, new bathrooms and concessions offerings, and many other structural and brand enhancements throughout the venue. 
• A fully renovated and expanded Duncan Athletic Building, including new locker rooms, meeting spaces and coaches’ offices, plus a nutrition center for all student-athletes. 
• A renovated Ricchiuti Academic Center to enhance and expand the academic support provided to student-athletes, allowing them to excel in the classroom and as  future leaders.
• The expansion of the Ricchiuti Strength and Conditioning Center.
• The build-out of new team offices for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs and a new sports performance center inside the Save Mart Center. 
• A new clubhouse for the baseball program, including a new locker room, team meeting spaces and a hospitality deck for fans. 
• A hospitality deck at Margie Wright Diamond with modernized amenities for Bulldogs softball fans.
• The construction of a new stadium to house both the soccer program and the track and field and cross country programs, located at Warmerdam Field. The relocation of the soccer stadium also allows for enhanced pregame festivities and expanded tailgating opportunities for Bulldog football games.
• The construction of a dive tower and enhanced seating at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
• The construction of a new clubhouse for the tennis program and a new scoreboard at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
• Enhancements to team facilities for the volleyball program. 
• The construction of a new covered arena for the equestrian program.

With the master plan unveiled, Fresno State will launch significant fundraising efforts to move the plan forward. Future construction will take place in phases as the approval and funding for each phase is secured. 

he university’s announcement of its plan to elevate athletics facilities follows a banner football season in which Fresno State won its fourth Mountain West championship, won the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press top 25 poll. Average attendance during the 2022 season spiked to 39,067 per game, representing one of the largest home crowds in all of “Group of Five” football and Fresno State’s highest season average since 2005.

The university continues to elevate academically and athletically. Fresno State ranked No. 36 in Washington Monthly’s 2022 National University Rankings of colleges and universities that best serve the country in the areas of social mobility, research and public service. This is the seventh straight year Fresno State has been the highest-ranked California State University campus.

Fresno State was one of just five universities to appear in both the college football AP top 25 poll and the Washington Monthly top 40 national universities ranking, alongside Michigan, Washington, Notre Dame and UCLA.

More information, including the full master plan, can be found at GoBulldogs.com/elevate. 

“Fresno State Athletics – Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities” – The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California’s Central Valley.  For more information, visit GoBullldogs.com/elevate or call the Bulldog Foundation offices at 559-278-7160.

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