Fresno State QB battle could go to fall camp. When you can see Haener successor hopefuls

Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene has been as advertised through the Bulldogs’ first 14 spring practices, taking quick hold of a new offense, displaying a deftness in the pocket, a strong arm.

“He plays like we expected, like we saw him on film,” quarterbacks coach Matt Wade said. “We evaluated him off college film, which is a little bit unique. But Mikey is super decisive, he’s super smart and accurate. He has all of those traits. It’s a brand-new offense, but he’s playing like he has been in this thing for two or three years. To be able to come out and do that from Day One of spring, be able to come out and function, get out signals, communicate and run the offense and make the reads and the throws, I think it shows what kind of special player he is.”

But Keene has not worked his way well clear in a quarterback competition that is deeper than might have been anticipated, and with junior Logan Fife and redshirt freshman Joshua Wood limited recently with minor injuries coach Jeff Tedford and staff will likely go into the summer with multiple quarterbacks still in the mix to start.

Fife has continued to progress off a four-game stint as the Bulldogs’ starter last season when Jake Haener was down with an ankle injury. Wood has impressed with his command and an intriguing physical skill set.

Third-year sophomore Jaylen Henderson has thrown the ball well, though inconsistently at times. Freshman Jayden Mandal, who graduated early from Buchanan High to enroll at Fresno State in time for spring practices, has had an impressive three weeks. Senior Matt Robinson, who transferred in from Illinois last season, also has taken advantage of additional reps with Fife and Wood slowed.

The Bulldogs’ quarterback situation could be cumbersome; ideally one QB takes the majority of snaps.

But there is one number that stands out: 776. That is the number of snaps that Keene played at Central Florida before hitting the transfer portal, and could be a determining factor in the quarterback competition.

It could also push the Bulldogs through a pattern with their quarterbacks that goes back several years and has been a factor in 2013, 2018 and 2022 when winning Mountain West Conference championships.

In 2018, Marcus McMaryion went into the season with 1,377 snaps played including 543 in two seasons at Oregon State. Fresno State won a Mountain West Conference championship and the Las Vegas Bowl.

Last season, Haener went into his final season with 1,384 snaps under his belt including 34 in one season at Washington. The Bulldogs again won a conference championship and a L.A. Bowl victory.

Here’s where the Bulldogs quarterbacks were with the number of snaps played, when starting the past 10 seasons and the season record.

2022 - Haener 1,384; 10-4-*

2021 - Haener 472; 10-3

2020 - Haener 34; 3-3

2019 - Jorge Reyna 69; 4-8

2018 - McMaryion 1,377; 12-2-*

2017 - McMaryion 543; 10-4

2016 - Chason Virgil 129; 1-11

2015 - Zack Greenlee 95; 3-9

2014 - Brian Burrell 58; 6-8

2013 - Derek Carr NA; 12-2-*

*-won conference championship

The more snaps the merrier the Bulldogs have been at the end of the season and while Fife played 312 last season when Haener was sidelined, they were in an offense that was fairly buttoned-up. Fresno State rushed the football on 57.4% of its plays in the four games Fife started, and just 46.7% of the time when Haener started.

“The thing that I think has been really cool is to see none of them have backed down from the competition,” offensive coordinator Pat McCann said. “That’s the No. 1 thing that stands out to me. They’re all competing for it. I’m not surprised by that, but that has been the most promising thing, that they’re embracing the competition.”

From a competition standpoint, Mandal as a true freshman likely to redshirt is at least one year away and Robinson is in a tough spot with just one season of eligibility remaining.

“They each have their moments, which is good,” Wade said. “It’s them playing well. It’s not like they’re bringing the level down. Obviously, Jake Haener last year was as good as it gets, in my opinion. I’m not going to say we’re at Jake Haener level, but we’re playing to a high level at quarterback so far and have good competition. Obviously, we have some things we need to improve and clean up, but I’ve been pleased with all those guys.”

If you go: Spring Preview

Fresno State’s last spring practice is also the only one open to the public. Entry to Saturday’s Spring Preview (1 p.m., Valley Children’s Stadium) is free; fans can watch the Bulldogs run through individual drills and live plays from scrimmage.

The Spring Preview is part of the Bulldog Block Party. Tailgate lots open at 9 a.m. and require a $20 pass available only online. The pass comes with two tickets to the 3 p.m. Fresno State baseball game against Mountain West-leading San Diego State, the second of a three-game weekend series. The Bulldogs come into the weekend 7-7, 15-16 overall.

Also Saturday is a block party on Bulldog Boulevard and Fresno State Vintage Days.