QUARTERBACKS OUTLOOK
Fresno State, with its strong tradition of producing quarterbacks, has had few fall camp battles through the years as competitive and wide open as the one this season.
Senior E.J. Warner transferred into the program from Rice after 2024 starter Mikey Keene entered the transfer portal following the season, ending up at Michigan. Redshirt sophomore Carson Conklin transferred in from FCS Sacramento State after backup Joshua Wood hit the portal after spring practices and transferred to Idaho.
The only returner in the group is Jayden Mandal, the former Buchanan High star, who started for the Bulldogs in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Fresno State also had two high school quarterbacks committed when coach Matt Entz was hired on national letter of intent signing day in Brayden Turner and Jonathan Craft.
But Warner, Conklin and Mandal have been in a competition since the summer, and split reps equally through the first two weeks of fall camp.
Josh Davis, the Bulldogs' new offensive coordinator, comes to the Valley after spending the past two seasons at FCS South Dakota where he elevated the team's offensive identity and efficiency. The Yotes reached the FCS quarterfinals in 2023 and advanced to the semifinals for the first time last season behind a record-setting offense, including the program's first pair of 1,000-yard rushers in its FCS era.
WHO'S BACK: The only returning quarterback is Mandal, a redshirt sophomore. He appeared in six games in 2024 behind Keene, completing 4-of-9 passes for 39 yards with two interceptions. He got off to a strong start in the bowl game, hitting Mac Dalena with a 21-yard pass to the Northern Illinois 4-yard line on the Bulldogs' second series in the game. Two plays later, Fresno State scored to take a lead. Fresno State turned to Wood for its next three series, and Mandal returned at the start of the third quarter. Interim head coach Tim Skipper went back to Wood to finish the game, a 28-20 loss in overtime.
Mandal might not have the game experience that the incoming transfers do but he was recruited and developed by quarterback guru Jeff Tedford.
WHO'S NEW: Warner is the most experienced quarterback in the room and the son of NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.
He completed 62% of his passes last season in throwing for 2,710 yards and 17 touchdowns, including 300-yard performances in victories over UTSA and South Florida. His season passing total ranked fifth all-time in Rice history.
In 2023 at Temple, he set single-season records with 23 passing touchdowns and 445 passing attempts, while surpassing 3,000 passing yards for a second year in a row. He averaged 307.6 passing yards and 25.6 completions per game, ranking among the top five nationally. In his freshman season in 2022, he was honored as the American Athletic Conference rookie of the year.
Conklin joined the Bulldogs after two seasons at Sacramento State. He played in four games toward the end of the 2023 season while maintaining a redshirt season, before delivering a record-setting campaign in 2024. He set school freshman records with 2,876 passing yards and 28 touchdowns—the latter ranking second in program history for a single season regardless of class.
Conklin completed 62.3% of his passes (261-of-419) and recorded four 300-yard games. His standout season earned him freshman All-America honors from FCS Central and Stats Perform, and he finished third in voting for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman in the FCS.
A late addition who missed spring ball, he has quickly impressed Davis with his progress.
"Carson had to play catch up after not being here in the spring and he's done that," said Davis. "I'm really impressed with his play-making ability."
Turner, a three-star recruit completed 62.8% of his passes (120 of 191) for 1,698 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior at Monte Vista High, the alma mater of former Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener. Turner hit 59.7% (148 of 248) in throwing for 2,134 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior.
Craft, also a three-star recruit, appeared in five games for El Cerrito in 2024. He threw for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing four four touchdowns in 2023.
WHAT TO WATCH: The Bulldogs' starting quarterback has ranked in the top three in the Mountain West Conference in passing yards per game four of the past five seasons - Fresno State did not have a qualifying quarterback in 2022, when Haener missed four games due to injury. That could shift this season, with an offense that is expected to lean toward the run game under Entz, who had great success at FCS North Dakota State, winning two national championships in his five seasons as head coach.
But quarterback play is always important, and Fresno State has solid options in Warner, Conklin and Mandal. Bulldogs' fans will not have to wait long to find out who the starter will be for the Aug. 23 opener at Kansas. Entz targeted practice No. 15 to have a starter, which is scheduled for Monday. He also wants to go into game prep for the Jayhawks 10 days out from kickoff, which is Wednesday.
"We have three guys with experience, high football IQs and talent," said Davis. "The foundation had been set. There's teams out there that are bringing back a star quarterback but they don't know who their backup is going to be. We're not in that situation. We have three guys that we feel like we can pursue a championship with. Whoever is named the starter, we will build a game plan around them and play to their strengths."