Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Who Will be Bulldogs' Starting QB at NM Bowl? It's a Secret
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
December 14, 2021

Share

The starting quarterback for Fresno State won’t be known until kickoff, interim coach Lee Marks told the media.

Marks is keeping his choice a secret. Will it be untested Jaylen Henderson or Logan Fife? Or Jake Haener — the season-long starter who briefly left through the transfer portal?

“We’re keep everything, obviously, in-house of how we’re going to handle (the starter and playing time) right now. But again, those guys are doing a really, really good job in the (quarterbacks) room,” Marks said of Henderson and Fife. Fresno State officials encouraged the media not to ask questions about Haener.

Haener, a fifth-year senior, started all 12 games this season, ranking ninth in the nation in both passing yards (3,810) and completions (303), and 11th in touchdowns (32). He briefly left the team after head coach Kalen DeBoer left for Washington.

Fife, a redshirt freshman from Tracy, mopped up in the season-opening win versus UConn, throwing 7-for-13 for 51 yards, with a touchdown and interception.

Henderson, a true freshman from Los Angeles, played in three games, throwing 5-for-8 for 49 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. A player can participate in up to four games in a season and keep a redshirt (extra) year of eligibility.

Haener has practiced since announcing his return to Fresno State last week. Marks wouldn’t tip his hand on who is getting the reps.

“We’re not going to share that information,” Marks said.

Fresno State interim head coach Lee Marks is not revealing who the starting quarterback will be at the New Mexico Bowl. (GV Wire/David Taub)

The Bowl Experience

Fresno State leaves for Albuquerque on Tuesday, where they will maintain a regular week of practice. They will also be involved in several bowl activities.

Sounding like a seasoned coach, Marks says playing in an extra game is “big.”

“(The team) get the chance to go and travel down to Albuquerque and spend time in a hotel and do different bowl events  — all that stuff is going to be fun. They get to be with their teammates. And just how awesome is that, that they get a chance, they get an opportunity to do that and just have that experience as something that they’ll never forget,” Marks said.

Marks looks forward to sending players to a local elementary school.

“Stuff like that means more than a football game. You have a chance to impact young people that are looking up to you,” Marks said.

Head Coach Experience

Marks has said he desires to be a head coach beyond his interim assignment.

“I’m just taking a ton of notes because that’s how you learn, just by actually going through the experience yourself. Because I would say this, I don’t think anyone’s really ready to be a head coach, but the only way you can do that is through opportunity and the actual experience,” Marks said.

What’s the most unexpected part of being the head man?

“I have to sign my name on the dotted line, signing things off,” Marks said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

DON'T MISS

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

DON'T MISS

Pentagon’s Watchdog to Review Hegseth’s Use of Signal App to Convey Plans for Houthi Strike

DON'T MISS

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

DON'T MISS

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

DON'T MISS

As Dem Candidates for Governor Increase, They Wait for Harris to Decide

DON'T MISS

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

DON'T MISS

Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

DON'T MISS

Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks

UP NEXT

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

UP NEXT

Diehard Baseball Fans in Sacramento Welcome Athletics and Hope They Stay Awhile

UP NEXT

Carbon Monoxide Was Cause of Death of Brett Gardner’s Teen Son, Officials Confirm

UP NEXT

Bettors Back Duke Men and UConn Women for National Championships

UP NEXT

Flores Homers, Matos and Wade Also Go Deep to Help Giants Cap Sweep of Astros

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Need Help Finding Family of Alejandro Solis

UP NEXT

Lilly Is a Young Terrier Who Loves Dogs, Cats, and People

UP NEXT

Ohtani’s Walk-off Homer Boosts Dodgers to 8-0 With Another Comeback Win

UP NEXT

Colorado Man Charged with Pointing Laser at Fresno Sheriff Helicopter

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Pentagon’s Watchdog to Review Hegseth’s Use of Signal App to Convey Plans for Houthi Strike

2 hours ago

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

3 hours ago

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

3 hours ago

As Dem Candidates for Governor Increase, They Wait for Harris to Decide

3 hours ago

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

3 hours ago

Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

3 hours ago

Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks

4 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

4 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Armed Robbery After Search Warrant Executed

4 hours ago

Diehard Baseball Fans in Sacramento Welcome Athletics and Hope They Stay Awhile

5 hours ago

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

California’s effort to have no new gas-powered vehicles sold in the state by 2035 is beginning, and it requires 35% of all 2026 models...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

Vice President Mike Pence hands the electoral certificate from the state of Arizona to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., as he presides over a joint session of Congress as it convenes to count the Electoral College votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP File)
2 hours ago

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

2 hours ago

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends a joint news conference with Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP)
2 hours ago

Pentagon’s Watchdog to Review Hegseth’s Use of Signal App to Convey Plans for Houthi Strike

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)
3 hours ago

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

3 hours ago

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

3 hours ago

As Dem Candidates for Governor Increase, They Wait for Harris to Decide

3 hours ago

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend