8:37 AM
BarkBoard takes a look at the newcomers on defense and who has earned playing time in their first year, along with commentary from defensive coordinator Nick Toth.
Rookie Report The Fresno State Bulldogs added four scholarship defensive linemen in the class of 2015. You will likely only see one of them in 2015, however.
Nick Kristofors
Fresno State left spring ball with few answers at defensive end. The Bulldogs returned one starter in Todd Hunt and two contributors with Nate Madsen, who moved to noseguard, and Claudell Louis. Kristofors came into fall camp and immediately impressed, pushing Louis for his starting spot. At 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, he was able to come in physically ready to compete at a level the Bulldogs need.
Coach’s comment: “Nick, depth chart wise, it was a little bit better situation for him to get on the field. He picked up the defense pretty well,” defensive coordinator Nick Toth said. “Great motor. He fits with the Nikko Motta (types) we have had, that kind of mold. We’re expecting him to play a lot. We’re really impressed with that guy, he’s an everyday guy.
Patrick Belony
With Madsen as an unknown at nose and unproven underclassmen Ryan Steele and Tyler Puccio as reserves, incoming junior college noseguard Patrick Belony was expected to take a big role in his first season with the team. Big offseasons by Steele and Puccio have given Fresno State the luxury of redshirting Belony, however.
Coach’s comment: “Patrick had a really good camp,” Toth said. “I think where we are at, we are in a lucky position to treat him like some of the other four-for-three junior college guys we have had… We don’t have to play Patrick this year. We could. I think he’s in a position where he could get some reps in a game. But I think we’re probably better served letting him play three years - Let him take this year to redshirt and develop.
"He had a good camp, he was coming along at the end. I think with where we are on the depth chart, we’re better off redshirting him. It’ll be good for him to get a year with coach Boese. One thing about Patrick, he’s got good strength, but he’s carrying some weight we can change. I think that’s going to give him the half-step he needs. He’s done so many special things in camp with his hands and kind of things you can’t coach.” Two defensive linemen that weren’t expected to make an immediate impact in Mason Bradley and Jaleel Carter will redshirt as thought. Bradley reported to camp undersized while Carter reported to camp overweight.
“We knew that before they came in, like we knew about Kyle Hendrickson a year ago,” Toth said. “We knew we were taking them to redshirt them. Those two guys are going to be good football players.”
Jaleel Carter
Carter reported to camp at 340 pounds but he may not have to lose a massive amount of weight to perform. He plays quick for his size and will likely end up targeting a playing weight of well over 300 pounds.
Coach’s comment: “Jaleel was really a surprise,” Toth said. “He gained a little bit of weight, a lot of weight, but he flashed a lot in camp. He has got feet like Tyeler Davison had. He’s going to be a 330-pound guy. I’m really excited about that guy.”
Mason Bradley
Bradley meanwhile, has been compared closely with Kyle Hendrickson. Hendrickson reported undersized last year and is now in the two-deep after a redshirt year. Bradley opened camp at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds.
Coach’s comment: “Mason is exactly like Kyle was,” Toth said. “Kyle is playing this year after redshirting last year. We feel that they are identical football players… We took Kyle and Kyle was a 6-foot-4 268-pound linebacker. Mason is a little bit shorter than that. That’s the thing, can they keep their dynamic movement and their change of direction.”
The Bulldogs only took two linebackers in the class of 2015 and they appear to have hit home runs with their two picks. Both Nela Otukolo and James Bailey are in the initial two-deep.
Nela Otukolo
Otukolo was already expected to have a role on the defense as a true freshman, but the competition has dwindled. Xavier Ulutu, projected to at least be a second teamer, was dismissed from the team. Michael Lazarus has faced injuries and a one-game suspension, freeing up a second spot for Otukolo to compete for.
Coach’s comment: ”He reminds me of Sean Porter who played for us at Texas A&M,” Toth said. “Sean was a tremendously smart football player. I think he’s with the Cincinnati Bengals now, drafted in the 3rd or 4th round. One of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around. Nela is the same way. Nela is very, very football savvy.
“It’s always up and down because everything is the first time for him. He’s a fun-loving guy. You can coach his butt off. He’s got a great future and the bad thing for him is that I’m going to coach him like he’s a senior this year. We’re aggressive with those guys. But he’s going to be good. There’s not a lot of young linebacker so we need him to play well.”
James Bailey
James Bailey finds his way on the two-deep despite facing a different situation. The Bulldogs left spring with a solid two-deep, but when the depth chart released on Monday, Bailey was listed on the second team ahead of Justin Green - who played as a true freshman.
Bailey is a dynamic player. He is explosive on the edge rush, fast in the open field and can drop back into pass coverage.
Coach’s comment: “He’s a slashing football player," Toth said. "He’s aggressive, he’s not hesitant. He’s attacking the ball and he’s athletic. He can cover. He can be a vertical cover guy. Probably the biggest thing is that we recruit his high school, Lake Travis High School. Lake Travis prepares guys for college football. You look at where we’ve gotten guys in Houston, those guys are prepared for college. They have a weight program… it’s a huge benefit with their background.”
Fresno State signed Mike Bell, A.J. Greeley and Jalen Smith in the backfield on signing day. Greeley is still working on qualifying and Smith’s camp ended prematurely due to injury.
Jalen Smith
Coach’s comment: "Jalen, I was pleased with him in camp," Toth said. "In the end he kind of had ball skills very similar to Derron (Smith) so I’m encourage with that."
Mike Bell
Bell, however, earned first team reps at cornerback in the first weeks of camp. It now appears that Bell will get to redshirt if the Bulldogs’ secondary stays healthy.
Coach’s comment: “He’s still taking reps with the two’s. We’re playing him at corner and free safety," Toth said. "He’s got a good future. What I don’t want to do is play him three plays per game and look back and say he only took 40 plays in the year. That would be a waste because that guy is an NFL player down the road potentially, if he keeps developing. We’re going to take it easy on him a little bit. We’re not certain if he’ll redshirt. We’ll see how he progresses in the next three weeks, but I have no doubt he could play corner or free safety. I’m not certain he couldn’t play outside linebacker if he put on another 10 pounds.”
Tyquwan Glass
Fresno State also made two late junior college additions just before camp. Isaac Brutton is out for the year with an ACL tear, but Tyquwan Glass will undoubtedly be in the mix this season.
Coach’s comment: “He’s going to play, he’s going to play a bunch," Toth said. "He’s got to make up for the time in the summer he’s missed, but he’s a phenomenal dude. Very physical, he reminds me of L.J. Jones we had. That’s who he plays like. He’s going to get playing time this year.”
Nick Kristofors
Fresno State left spring ball with few answers at defensive end. The Bulldogs returned one starter in Todd Hunt and two contributors with Nate Madsen, who moved to noseguard, and Claudell Louis. Kristofors came into fall camp and immediately impressed, pushing Louis for his starting spot. At 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, he was able to come in physically ready to compete at a level the Bulldogs need.
Coach’s comment: “Nick, depth chart wise, it was a little bit better situation for him to get on the field. He picked up the defense pretty well,” defensive coordinator Nick Toth said. “Great motor. He fits with the Nikko Motta (types) we have had, that kind of mold. We’re expecting him to play a lot. We’re really impressed with that guy, he’s an everyday guy.
Patrick Belony
With Madsen as an unknown at nose and unproven underclassmen Ryan Steele and Tyler Puccio as reserves, incoming junior college noseguard Patrick Belony was expected to take a big role in his first season with the team. Big offseasons by Steele and Puccio have given Fresno State the luxury of redshirting Belony, however.
Coach’s comment: “Patrick had a really good camp,” Toth said. “I think where we are at, we are in a lucky position to treat him like some of the other four-for-three junior college guys we have had… We don’t have to play Patrick this year. We could. I think he’s in a position where he could get some reps in a game. But I think we’re probably better served letting him play three years - Let him take this year to redshirt and develop.
"He had a good camp, he was coming along at the end. I think with where we are on the depth chart, we’re better off redshirting him. It’ll be good for him to get a year with coach Boese. One thing about Patrick, he’s got good strength, but he’s carrying some weight we can change. I think that’s going to give him the half-step he needs. He’s done so many special things in camp with his hands and kind of things you can’t coach.” Two defensive linemen that weren’t expected to make an immediate impact in Mason Bradley and Jaleel Carter will redshirt as thought. Bradley reported to camp undersized while Carter reported to camp overweight.
“We knew that before they came in, like we knew about Kyle Hendrickson a year ago,” Toth said. “We knew we were taking them to redshirt them. Those two guys are going to be good football players.”
Jaleel Carter
Carter reported to camp at 340 pounds but he may not have to lose a massive amount of weight to perform. He plays quick for his size and will likely end up targeting a playing weight of well over 300 pounds.
Coach’s comment: “Jaleel was really a surprise,” Toth said. “He gained a little bit of weight, a lot of weight, but he flashed a lot in camp. He has got feet like Tyeler Davison had. He’s going to be a 330-pound guy. I’m really excited about that guy.”
Mason Bradley
Bradley meanwhile, has been compared closely with Kyle Hendrickson. Hendrickson reported undersized last year and is now in the two-deep after a redshirt year. Bradley opened camp at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds.
Coach’s comment: “Mason is exactly like Kyle was,” Toth said. “Kyle is playing this year after redshirting last year. We feel that they are identical football players… We took Kyle and Kyle was a 6-foot-4 268-pound linebacker. Mason is a little bit shorter than that. That’s the thing, can they keep their dynamic movement and their change of direction.”
The Bulldogs only took two linebackers in the class of 2015 and they appear to have hit home runs with their two picks. Both Nela Otukolo and James Bailey are in the initial two-deep.
Nela Otukolo
Otukolo was already expected to have a role on the defense as a true freshman, but the competition has dwindled. Xavier Ulutu, projected to at least be a second teamer, was dismissed from the team. Michael Lazarus has faced injuries and a one-game suspension, freeing up a second spot for Otukolo to compete for.
Coach’s comment: ”He reminds me of Sean Porter who played for us at Texas A&M,” Toth said. “Sean was a tremendously smart football player. I think he’s with the Cincinnati Bengals now, drafted in the 3rd or 4th round. One of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around. Nela is the same way. Nela is very, very football savvy.
“It’s always up and down because everything is the first time for him. He’s a fun-loving guy. You can coach his butt off. He’s got a great future and the bad thing for him is that I’m going to coach him like he’s a senior this year. We’re aggressive with those guys. But he’s going to be good. There’s not a lot of young linebacker so we need him to play well.”
James Bailey
James Bailey finds his way on the two-deep despite facing a different situation. The Bulldogs left spring with a solid two-deep, but when the depth chart released on Monday, Bailey was listed on the second team ahead of Justin Green - who played as a true freshman.
Bailey is a dynamic player. He is explosive on the edge rush, fast in the open field and can drop back into pass coverage.
Coach’s comment: “He’s a slashing football player," Toth said. "He’s aggressive, he’s not hesitant. He’s attacking the ball and he’s athletic. He can cover. He can be a vertical cover guy. Probably the biggest thing is that we recruit his high school, Lake Travis High School. Lake Travis prepares guys for college football. You look at where we’ve gotten guys in Houston, those guys are prepared for college. They have a weight program… it’s a huge benefit with their background.”
Fresno State signed Mike Bell, A.J. Greeley and Jalen Smith in the backfield on signing day. Greeley is still working on qualifying and Smith’s camp ended prematurely due to injury.
Jalen Smith
Coach’s comment: "Jalen, I was pleased with him in camp," Toth said. "In the end he kind of had ball skills very similar to Derron (Smith) so I’m encourage with that."
Mike Bell
Bell, however, earned first team reps at cornerback in the first weeks of camp. It now appears that Bell will get to redshirt if the Bulldogs’ secondary stays healthy.
Coach’s comment: “He’s still taking reps with the two’s. We’re playing him at corner and free safety," Toth said. "He’s got a good future. What I don’t want to do is play him three plays per game and look back and say he only took 40 plays in the year. That would be a waste because that guy is an NFL player down the road potentially, if he keeps developing. We’re going to take it easy on him a little bit. We’re not certain if he’ll redshirt. We’ll see how he progresses in the next three weeks, but I have no doubt he could play corner or free safety. I’m not certain he couldn’t play outside linebacker if he put on another 10 pounds.”
Tyquwan Glass
Fresno State also made two late junior college additions just before camp. Isaac Brutton is out for the year with an ACL tear, but Tyquwan Glass will undoubtedly be in the mix this season.
Coach’s comment: “He’s going to play, he’s going to play a bunch," Toth said. "He’s got to make up for the time in the summer he’s missed, but he’s a phenomenal dude. Very physical, he reminds me of L.J. Jones we had. That’s who he plays like. He’s going to get playing time this year.”
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