#11 Rashad Evans (Sophomore)
Career Stats
2008 - 21 receptions for 232 yards, no touchdowns
2008 - 13 punt returns for 171 yards, one touchdown
Sometimes size does not tell the complete story when it comes to football players and their impact on the team they play for. This holds true when it comes to Rashad Evans. Evans may be the smallest receiver on the Fresno State football team, but do not let his size fool you. Evans is as talented a football player on offense as the bulldogs have. As a freshman Evans did not have the most catches. Evans did not have the most yards receiving either. However, Evans did make an impact in a big way. Countless times Evans reeled in passes he had no business catching in the first place. A great example took place at Louisiana Tech in early November. Late in the game Evans caught a pass over the middle only to be drilled by La. Tech’s secondary. Most Bulldog receivers would not have able to hold on to the ball after receiving such a vicious hit. In the same game Evans showcased how dangerous he can be when returning punts as he took one fifty-six yards for a touchdown. 2008 may have been full of disappointments but Rashad Evans was not one of them.
2009 should be a very good year for Evans. Evans has the ability to be used as Clifton Smith was in the past. Evans is quick and is lost on the field at times due to his size. Fresno State QB’s will love the effort and dedication that Evans gives each time he steps on the field. At the same time Bulldog QB’s will be able to use Evans on swing passes and such. His ability to make something out of nothing is only seen in the best of college football players. Once again Evans probably will not lead the team in receiving. Evans will not reel in the most catches either. Evans will have the ability to completely change the game with one play as bulldog fans will see him returning kicks quite often. If Evans is able to improve on his ability to make defenders miss bulldog fans will see him in the end zone far more than they did in 2008. In the past undersized sophomores have contributed to Fresno State football in great ways. Look for Evans to do the very same and allow Bulldog fans to become even more excited about him in the near future.
BB.C Player Prediction
Rashad Evans will be a very important part of the offense in 2009. Whether he is returning kicks, running the ball, or catching passes he will be involved one way or another. A player with Evans ability becomes a coach’s dream as he can be used in many different ways on the football field. Look for Jeff Grady to do the most he possibly can with Evans as it will only help the Bulldogs achieve success on the offensive side of the ball.
#13 Matt Lindsey (Freshman)
No Career Stats
If all goes well in 2009 Matt Lindsey will become an important part of Fresno State’s offense. Lindsey is listed at 6’0” on the roster but you would be hard pressed to convince BB.C that he is that short. Lindsey has very good hands and as they like to say in college football he is also a very good “route runner”. Lindsey may end up being a possession type receiver this season who gives the bulldogs even more options on offense than they have in the past. At Clovis High Lindsey was the type of receiver that continually found a way to get his hands on the ball. When things were tough it almost seemed as if the Clovis High coach told his QB “just throw the ball up to Matt, he’ll catch it”. Luckily Lindsey is still considered a freshman this season as he has gone through both a grey-shirt and red-shirt season. By doing so Lindsey now has four full years of college football left. By spending two years in the system Lindsey already has a great grasp of the playbook which will only makes things much easier for him when the season rolls around.
During spring practices Lindsey proved that he was the type of receiver that could be counted on. Opposite of J.J. Stallworth, Lindsey became a threat on every single play during the offensive portion of practice. He also was able to run clean routes and looked as if he knew every single play before the QB called them. Lindsey did his best to help the offense better understand what was going on in the spring. With his level of intelligence there is no way that Lindsey will not log some playing time this season. Lindsey has the height, is fast enough, and has soft hands. Each of those three attributes will allow the bulldogs to fully utilize Lindsey when he is in the game.
BB.C Player Prediction
Look for Lindsey to be similar to Chastin West with respect to ball control. There are few receivers you can count on to make a tough catch on third down and BB.C feels Lindsey will be that type of player for the Bulldogs.