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- KICKER: New QB1 Jayden Mandal is the first Fresno State Bulldog out for pregame warm-ups (besides special teams).
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Breaking down the new official Fresno State football depth chart
- Healthy fourth-year quarterback Jayden Mandal won Fresno State's starting job over Maryland transfer Khristian Martin after recovering from eight to nine months of elbow trouble.
- Rayshon Luke will lead Fresno State's backfield with Bryson Donelson also expected to play heavily after the pair combined for 1,302 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
- Fresno State returns tackles Brayden Walton and Rolan Fullwood around a new interior line of Marquise Thorpe-Taylor, Oscar Weigel and redshirt freshman Jonah Leaupepetele.
- The Bulldogs return four experienced defensive linemen but shifted their alignment, with Sacramento State transfer Dylan Hampsten winning an edge job and Sione Noa, Jairus Satele and Logan Goodspeed returning from injuries to bolster the rotation.
- Redshirt sophomores Kiontre Harris and Loyall Mouzon will start at corner despite limited experience, while Northern Illinois transfer Taylor Powell joins returning safety Ryan Wilson on the back end.
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What the Fresno State depth chart says, what it means
- Jayden Mandal decisively won Fresno State's quarterback job over transfer Khristian Martin; the staff described Mandal as the clear starter rather than planning a two-quarterback rotation.
- The offense plans broader rotations than the two-deep shows: Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson will lead a three-back weekly rotation, while seven receivers and five tight ends are expected to be ready for roles.
- The offensive line has veteran starters and flexible reserves, with Gino Quinones able to cover all three interior positions and Kyson Van Vugt the likely first tackle off the bench; Braylan Henderson's omission suggests an unresolved injury.
- Fresno State expects heavy defensive-front rotation despite naming Deijon Laffitte and Martin Owusu at tackle and Dylan Hampsten as its lead edge rusher; five ends are projected to have roles, with three or four potentially receiving similar top-line snaps.
- The secondary remains the clearest personnel concern: the five listed cornerbacks have almost no college experience at the position, Jomarion Briggs still appears limited by injury, and Kiontre Harris and Loyall Mouzon have separated as the top pair.
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- Injury: The media had its first access to Fresno State practice today in 2 weeks.
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