Seniors prepare for all-star games

FRESNO, Calif. - A handful of Fresno State seniors from the 2021 football team have accepted invites to play in senior postseason games this offseason. Each Bulldog playing in a game has exhausted his collegiate eligibility, and will be playing in his respective game with the opportunity to get looks by professional scouts.

Defensive tackle Kevin Atkins, defensive back DaRon Bland, defensive tackle Ryan Boehm, defensive end Arron Mosby, running back Ronnie Rivers and wide receiver Keric Wheatfall all plan on playing in a collegiate senior game in the upcoming weeks. Mosby is the only Bulldog who will play in two all-star games this year.

Fresno State's six representatives in postseason games this season are its most in a single season since 2007. With games still extending invites, there is the possibility of more Bulldogs getting the opportunity for postseason play.

Atkins is set to play in the 2022 College Gridiron Showcase. The College Gridiron Showcase and Symposium will be held from January 8-12 in Fort Worth, Texas. This event is the first all-star event to implement an OTA format, CGS showcases players through practices and a controlled scrimmage with professional coaches. Players will also perform individual and team drills, participate in 1-on-1s, attend meetings, and, in many cases, have the opportunity for personal interviews with scouts and executives. In addition to exposure to scouts, CGS provides participants with a strong professional football education component that includes mentoring, life coaching, and seminars that will benefit them as they move forward in their professional lives in or outside of football. Seminars related to financial education, the life of a professional athlete, and on- and off-field player expectations are offered.

More information on the 2022 College Gridiron Showcase can be found here.

Boehm and Wheatfall will play in the Tropical Bowl, with its bowl week spanning from Jan. 12-15. The SPIRAL Tropical Bowl is a premier FBS Division I level College Football All-Star Game played in Orlando, Florida annually in mid January at Camping World Stadium during SPIRAL "Bowl Week". The SPIRAL Tropical Bowl showcases the top college football seniors to NFL scouts and GM's who travel from around the country to the event. The weekend is focused on scouting, teaching, and football.

More information on the Tropical Bowl can be found here.

Mosby will play in the 2022 All-Star Hula Bowl Classic Football Game, scheduled for Jan. 15 at the UCF Bounce House in Orlando, Florida. The Hula Bowl was established in 1946 as the Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic game. The top 100 college football players are selected from all across the United States as well as Australia, Japan and Canada. The football players that are selected to come and showcase in the Hula Bowl are given a great opportunity to perform and impress all 32 NFL Scouts and Player Personnel with their abilities. This all-star game remains one of the longest running football all-star games today.

Mosby is the 23rd Bulldog to play in the Hula Bowl since 1978. Fresno State has had one player represented in the postseason game every season since 2019 - TE Jared Rice, 2019; OL Syrus Tuitele, 2020. More information on the Hula Bowl can be found here.

Mosby, Rivers and Bland are all set to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, scheduled for Jan. 29, 2022 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl is the premier postseason all-star game for any draft-eligible college football players. More than just a game, this week-long experience provides players with the opportunity to showcase their game to NFL scouts and coaches, while learning from the best in the business. The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl not only prepares players for the speed and intensity of professional football, but also for the business and lifestyle changes that come with it.

The Bulldog trio represents the first Bulldogs to play in the postseason all-star game since Da'Mari Scott in 2018. It is the first season since 2016 that several Bulldogs will play together at the bowl game. More information on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl can be found here.

A look back at 2021
Kevin Atkins: Atkins started all 13 games as a defensive tackle for the Bulldogs. As a sixth-year senior in 2021, Atkins brought experience to the defensive line day in and day out. Atkins finished the season with 41 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two recovered fumbles. He set single-season personal-best numbers in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and fumble recoveries. The sixth-year senior finished his Bulldog career with 142 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and two fumble recoveries - all in 59 games played.

DaRon Bland: Bland, in his first year as a Bulldog cornerback after transferring in from Sacramento State, appeared in all 13 games and had nine starts on the year. He quickly became a crucial part of the Bulldog defense, having finished tied for fourth on the team with 45 total tackles. He added two interceptions and five broken up passes in the pass defense. He had one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble on the year.

Ryan Boehm: Boehm, also in his first season as a Bulldog after transferring in from Cal Poly, played in all 13 games and got the start in the final three games of the year. He finished with 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one recovered fumble. He also registered a safety on the year.

Arron Mosby: Mosby thrived in his first season as a defensive end, finding a home at the position after beginning his collegiate career as a safety, then transitioning into a linebacker and eventually settling in on the defensive line. Not only was Mosby a vocal leader on the team, but he led the team in tackles for loss, recording 15.5 on the year. His 15.5 TFLs in 2021 tie for 11th all-time in program history. Mosby's stat line included 40 tackles, six sacks, three broken up passes, two quarterback hurries, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also scored points this season, forcing and recovering a fumble, then returning it for a touchdown in the season opener against UConn. In his five-year career, Mosby accumulated 156 total tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, nine forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.

Ronnie Rivers: Rivers leaves the Fresno State program as one of the best running backs to ever wear a Bulldog uniform. He became the program's all-time leading scorer in the first game of the 2021 season, scoring touchdown number 45 of his career. On the season, Rivers led the team in rushing while totaling 788 net rushing yards on 162 carries. He added 364 receiving yards on 34 catches. Rivers totaled seven touchdowns on the year - five rushing and two receiving. Rivers completed his collegiate career with 3,417 rushing yards, 672 carries, 40 rushing touchdowns, 150 pass receptions, 1,417 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, 46 punt returns and 361 punt return yards. He leaves with 5,208 career all-purpose yards, fourth all-time in program history.

Keric Wheatfall: Wheatfall spent three seasons as a Bulldog after transferring from Blinn College in Texas. After making an immediate impact in 2019, Wheatfall emerged in 2021 as a starter. This season, he had his best statistical season as a 'Dog, finishing as the team's third-leading receiver with 616 yards receiving on 38 catches. He was second on the team with four receiving touchdowns. In his stint as a Bulldog, Wheatfall recorded 78 receptions for 1,286 yards and six touchdowns.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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Fresno State Athletics

Seniors prepare for all-star games

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Players Mentioned

Kevin Atkins

DaRon Bland

Ryan Boehm

Arron Mosby

Ronnie Rivers

Syrus Tuitele

Keric Wheatfall

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