Bryson Donelson will be Fresno State’s top running back at the start of the season, and offensive coordinator Josh Davis is eying a 1,000-yard season from the powerfully built sophomore from Visalia.

In fact, Donelson is on the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, awarded to the nation’s top running back. He closed the 2024 campaign impressively and finished with 77 carries for  462 yards in 2024.

After Malik Sherrod went down with an injury, Donelson increased his workload, rushing for 140 yards against Colorado State, and two touchdowns in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Northern Illinois.

However, Davis says the Bulldogs’ ground game has multiple options that will stop opponents from focusing in on one tailback.

“We’re so talented in that room. It’s a physical game. We’ll see how healthy we are and how much we spread that one ball around,” Davis said.

Fresno State’s opening test under first-year coach Matt Entz is Saturday, Aug. 23, at Kansas in a game broadcast on Fox. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m., PDT.

Speedy Transfer Rayson Luke

Davis expects junior transfer Rayson Luke and returning senior Elijah Gilliam to also figure in the mix as the Entz Era begins with a ground-and-pound attack supplemented by the passing of quarterback E. J. Warner.

“Bryson’s our starter and we’ll complement him accordingly,” Davis said of the running game. “We will present some two-back formations to where two are on the field at the same time.”

Luke picked up the name “Speedy” while playing youth ball in southern California.

“Growing up, I played basketball, track and football, and it stuck with me throughout those years. I’m now 21, so it’s been living for a long time. I love it. I love the nickname,” Luke said.

He arrived at Fresno State in January, transferring from Arizona. Playing 24 games in three years, Luke averaged 4.8 yards per attempt.

Luke said he is now fully acquainted with the system, and the heat.

“Cali got a little baby breeze here and there. Arizona, there’s no breeze, it’s a desert, so you’re just in heat all day. But I feel like it’s pretty much similar. So this transition, it was a cakewalk for me,” Luke said.

He looks forward to being closer to his family in South Central. His 2-year old daughter lives with him in Fresno.

Who Else Will Run

Gilliam brings the most experience. The senior from Merced rushed for 489 yards last season, with eight touchdowns.

Davis praised another returner, Jonathan Arceneaux, who has battled injuries in his three seasons as a Bulldog. The senior from Los Angeles gained 104 yards on 22 carries in 2024.

“Arceneaux is having his best camp since I’ve been here,” said Davis, who added that running backs coach Aaron Prier says Arceneaux is handling the ball more cleanly than before.

Brandon Ramirez, a redshirt sophomore from Hanford, “is hard to tackle,” Davis said. He missed last year with an injury.

Redshirt soph Devon Rivers carries on the name of two other great Bulldog rushers — father Ron and brother Ronnie.