He will be most highly touted QB in Central California this season. Despite the accolades, he was not sure Fresno State was going to offer him officially. Coach Pat Hill had told him “he always had a home” at Fresno State, but was not until the last few days that everything came together.

“Coach Hill used his one phone call to call me Friday and gave me my official offer,” said Carr. “I didn’t think they would offer, but I am glad they did. I talked it over with my father and brothers and made my decision to commit this morning. [When I called] Coach Hill he was so happy, he didn’t know what to say.”

Carr had offers to SMU, Utah, and UCLA was showing strong interest. However, despite a verbal offer, he says a UCLA did not seem like a place he would like better than Fresno State. “Fresno felt right,” said Carr.

One school that he was also strongly considering was California.

“If they would have offered it would have been down to [Cal and Fresno State],” said Carr.

He was at Berkeley last weekend where he competed against some of the quarterbacks in the nation at the Elite 11 camp.

“[Elite 11 QB Guru] Bob Johnson told me I did well,” said Carr. “I was told I was one of the top two or three quarterbacks there.”

Carr says if Fresno State had not offered, he would have waited until after his senior year to make his decision. Obviously, the comparisons between him and David are going to be with him his entire career. When David was the star quarterback at Fresno State earlier this decade, players, coaches, and fans referred to Derek as a little David Carr when he was just in grade school. Derek recalls the days when he told fans that he would come walking down the Bulldog Stadium ramp.

“I remember,” said Carr. “I’ve always dreamed about becoming a Bulldog. And I’m glad it’s going to come true. But it’s not about [David]. I called him right before I called Coach Hill. We talked and said if that is where you want to play your college ball, then do it. I felt I would have the most fun, most success [at Fresno State]."

Despite entering a loaded quarterback situation at Fresno State, it does not concern him.

“I’m going to work my butt off,” said Carr. “I’m not going to say I’m taking over or anything. Those are my teammates, and we are all Bulldogs.”

Carr will be moving to Bakersfield in a few weeks and plans on taking a few visits up to Fresno this summer. More importantly, he will be working on getting himself ready for the upcoming season with his commitment out of the way.

“I’m done,” said Carr about his college recruitment. “I’m definitely into Fresno. I might go to a combine for the competition. But I am not going to any other school camps.”

With the extra time, Carr might take up the role as honorary recruiter since he is the Bulldogs’ first verbal commit of the 2009 class.

“I know of a few players that Fresno State is recruiting,” said Carr. “One is somebody my brother is going to be coaching at BHS (Bakersfield HS). I know I am going to be calling him. And there are a few players at [Bakersfield Christian] that I am going to try to get [to Fresno State].”

Bakersfield Christian is expected to have another loaded team after winning the Central Section DV title a year ago. The addition of Carr makes them that much stronger, and a solid contender for the state title.

“I’m going to have the same mentality I had at Clements,” said Carr. “We don’t want to lose a game; no one is going to beat you.”