Fresno State Athletics
Football Continues Presence in NFL Draft
4/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 26, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State's football program continues to produce players for the NFL draft on a regular basis. When receiver Bernard Berrian was chosen in the third round of the weekend's NFL draft, it marked the 17th time in the last 18 years a Bulldog has been selected. Berrian was the 10th Bulldog to be selected among the top 100 picks since the Bulldogs joined the WAC in 1992. That figure is more than any other non-BCS school.
Last season, 13 former Bulldogs were on NFL rosters on the opening weekend, the third-highest total of any non-BCS school and the second-most among western non-BCS schools.
"It is a great tribute to Bernard and the rest of the Bulldogs who have been drafted before him," said head coach Pat Hill. "The NFL is a viable option for Fresno State players, but that will always be a secondary goal to ensuring our players earn their degree. Fresno State is becoming a program that is consistently sending quality individuals into the public sector, which includes a career in the National Football League. I feel strongly that a good education and degree from Fresno State is something that is more important than signing an NFL contract and our players know that. It's great to have a program that can compete at a high level of education and competition."
Since Fresno State joined the WAC, the Bulldogs have had 22 players selected in the NFL Draft. For three consecutive years, the Bulldogs have had at least one player taken among the top 100 selections, which primarily encompasses the first three rounds. Those are the best figures of any current WAC program and more than several notable non-BCS schools.
The Bulldogs, winners if six of their final seven games in 2003, return 18 starters, nine on offense and eight on defense. The Bulldogs have won 29 games over the last three seasons, sixth most of any program in the nation.
Season ticket renewals are underway and season tickets to the general public go on sale via gobulldog.com May 10.
The Bulldogs open the 2004 season at Washington on Sept. 5.
NFL Draft Summary (1993-04)
| WAC School | No. of Top 100 Selections | No. of Years With Player Drafted |
| Fresno State | 10 | 11 |
| Hawaii | 8 | 8 |
| Nevada | 3 | 6 |
| Nevada | 3 | 6 |
| San Jose State | 3 | 4 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2 | 5 |
| UTEP | 1 | 7 |
| SMU | 1 | 7 |
| Rice | 1 | 3 |
| Tulsa | 0 | 7 |
| Boise State | 0 | 4 |
Notable Non-BCS Schools
| School | No. of Top 100 Selections | No. of Years With Player Drafted |
| Fresno State | 10 | 11 |
| BYU | 7 | 10 |
| Louisville | 7 | 9 |
| Marshall | 7 | 6 |
| Utah | 6 | 9 |
| San Diego State | 6 | 8 |
| TCU | 5 | 7 |
| Colorado State | 3 | 6 |
