Fresno State Athletics
Berrian Selected in Third Round of NFL Draft
4/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 24, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - Former Fresno State wide receiver Bernard Berrian was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He was the only Bulldog to be selected on the draft's first day.
The Bears made Berrian the 78th pick of the draft and the second player from a WAC school to be selected. Only Travis LaBoy of Hawaii, selected 42nd overall, went higher than did Berrian.
A native of Winton, Calif., Berrian wowed Fresno State fans throughout his career with his dual abilities as a receiver and kick returner. His biggest year came in 2001, when he caught 85 passes for 1,364 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns. He was named first-team All-WAC as a receiver and first-team All-American as a returner.
Berrian contemplated turning pro after that 2001 season but elected to return to Fresno State. In the 2002 season opener at Wisconsin, he suffered a knee sprain on the final play of the first quarter and missed the rest of the year. However, Berrian bounced back last year, leading Fresno State with 63 receptions for 668 yards and four TDs. He was a second-team All-WAC honoree.
In his Bulldog career, Berrian racked up 2,849 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns. He caught 199 passes in his four-plus years.
In being drafted, Berrian became the sixth Fresno State football player to be chosen in the draft since 2002. Other Bulldogs chosen were David Carr (2002, first overall pick), Alan Harper (2002, fourth round), Maurice Rodriguez (2002, seventh round), Rodney Wright (2002, seventh round) and Sam Williams (2003, third round).
Other Fresno State players who have exhausted their eligibility but do not get drafted may be signed as free agents upon the completion of the draft. One such former Bulldog who went that route and has earned much success is quarterback Billy Volek. He signed with the Tennessee Titans after not being drafted and is currently the backup to Steve McNair.
Volek is one of three former Fresno State QBs -- Carr and Trent Dilfer being the others -- who currently play in the NFL.
BERRIAN AT FRESNO STATEReceivingYear Rec Yds Avg TD LG1999 6 58 9.7 1 262000 43 705 16.4 6 712001 85 1,364 16.0 13 702002* 2 54 27.0 1 542003 63 668 10.6 4 50Totals 199 2,849 14.3 25 71
Kick ReturnsYear Ret Yds Avg TD LG2000 10 175 17.5 0 272001 32 765 24.7 1 962002* 0 0 0.0 0 02003 26 631 24.3 0 48Totals 68 1,571 23.1 1 96
Punt ReturnsYear Ret Yds Avg TD LG2000 15 158 10.5 1 882001 41 556 14.2 1 702002* 1 1 1.0 0 12003 42 429 10.2 1 68Totals 99 1,144 11.6 3 88
* Indicates redshirt year
