Left tackle Brayden Walton (no. 76) protects quarterback E.J. Warner. Walton announced he will remain with Fresno State, as the transfer portal opened Friday, Jan. 2, 2025. (X/Brayden Walton)
- Several key Fresno State starters announced they are returning as the transfer portal opened.
- The Bulldogs face major roster turnover on the offensive line and defense due to graduation.
- Fresno State could still turn to the portal to add experience at quarterback and other positions.
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The college football transfer portal opened Friday, and several Fresno State Bulldogs say they are staying put.
Among the top 2025 players announcing they will remain Bulldogs are tackle Brayden Walton and defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte.
“From the Valley, for the Valley, and back to represent it again next year!” Walton, the 6-foot-7, 325-pound left tackle, wrote on X. He started 12 of 13 games in his freshman season.
Proclaimed Laffitte on X: “We got work to finish. let’s do it red wave.”
Based on their productive play during the Bulldogs 9-4 season under first-year coach Matt Entz, Walton and Laffitte figured to generate interest from Power 4 programs, along with NIL contracts.
We got work to finish ! let’s do it red wave. @FresnoStateFB @CoachGigli 🔒 pic.twitter.com/xDtFyxLVLc
— 4D4 💰 (@DeijonLaffitte_) December 30, 2025
Richie Anderson III — the team’s tight end — has entered the portal, his agent Ty Stover told GV Wire. Anderson caught 31 passes for 300 yards.
The Bulldogs are entering the transfer portal themselves, moving to the Pac-12 in the fall.
The left side of the offensive line will stay intact. Left guard Edward Fonua, a rising senior, also announced he is staying.
Three starting linemen are graduating — center Jacob Spomer, right guard Julian Polendo and right tackle Rolan Fullwood. Backup Toreon Penright is also graduating.
Backup Marquise Thorpe-Taylor, who did not see action in 2025, announced he is returning.
2026 Quarterback?
Which quarterback will the offensive line protect? E.J. Warner finished his eligibility.
Three quarterbacks remain on the roster. Carson Conklin, a rising junior, started three games in 2025. Jayden Mandal, who started the 2024 Potato Bowl, would be returning from surgery. Freshman Jonathan Craft did not see action.
Brayden Turner, another freshman who saw no action, announced he is entering the portal.
Deagan Rose (Clovis High School) and Jacob Chambers (Rancho Cucamonga High School) will be incoming freshmen.
Could the Bulldogs use the portal to find experience? Warner and Conklin both came through the portal last year. And Entz and his staff fortified the Bulldogs into conference title contenders via the portal after his hiring.
Avit Returning
Wide receiver Ezekiel Avit, a rising junior, announced on X he is returning.
Leading receiver Josiah Freeman is graduating, as is Jordan Brown.
Running backs Johnathan Arceneaux and Elijah Gilliam graduated.
Several key 2025 running backs remain, including Rayshon Luke, Bryson Donelson, and Brandon Ramirez.
Defensive Holes
There are several defensive holes to fill because of graduation.
The Bulldogs are losing several members of the front seven: defensive linemen Korey Foreman, Michael Jordan Jr., and Finn Claypool, along with linebacker Jadon Pearson, the team’s leading tackler.
Laffitte’s return will help the defensive line. He recorded three sacks and five tackles for loss.
Four starters in the defensive backfield are graduating — Al’zillion Hamilton, Camryn Bracha, Ryan Wilson, and Jakari Embry.
Hamilton will play in the American Bowl, a senior all-star game Jan. 22 in Orlando.
Reserve defensive backs Jayden Davis and RL Miller announced they are leaving.
Rising junior Jaden Carrillo, a special teams contributor and backup defensive back, announced he is staying. He returned an errant Oregon State punt for a touchdown.
Bark Board’s Jackson Moore reported that safety Ethan Tierney and linebacker Tytus Khajavi, who filled in for an injured K’vion Thunderbird, will also return.
Special Teams
Dylan Lynch, the Bulldogs’ fourth all-time leading scorer, graduated. Two other kickers are listed on the roster — Connor Tripp and Ryan Kobzeff.
Long snapper Wes Brown also graduated. Jack Baldi is the only remaining snapper on the roster.
Portal List
A recap of Fresno State players entering the portal:
- QB Brayden Turner
- WR Josiah Ayon
- RB Devon Rivers
- DL Isaiah Chala Jr.
- DL Jack Metzler
- DB Ah’Marion Ashley
- DB Jayden Davis
- DB RL Miller
The portal runs through Jan. 16. A player entering the portal can still return to his original team.
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