Xepera's Fresno State journey leads to first-generation graduate milestone

FRESNO, Calif. - With Fresno State graduation week underway, the Bulldog football team has eight student-athletes set to cross the stage and complete their degree this week. One of those graduates is defensive lineman Merhauti Xepera, who will be the first in his family to earn a college degree.

Xepera is a native of Maricopa, Arizona and joined the Bulldogs' roster as a true freshman in 2022. He has seen the program go through many changes, and has experienced shifts of his own during his career.

Xepera was offered a scholarship to play tight end for the Bulldogs by former head coach Kalen DeBoer and tight ends coach Paul Creighton, but Xepera soon would learn that both DeBoer and Creighton had moved on from Fresno State. However, his scholarship offer was still valid and Xepera remained loyal to the Bulldogs.

"Fresno State was still a place that I wanted to be," said Xepera.

On the field, Xepera contributed in all 13 games in 2025 and earned five starts on the season. Off the field, he was working towards completing his degree in business management. The Craig School of Business at Fresno State is an AACSB accredited program, signifying one of the top business schools nationwide.

Through his studies and experiences, he learned that he wants to become a school counselor after his collegiate journey.

Further than just being the first person in his family to earn a collegiate degree, he is also the first to have completed high school.

"I am just trying to hit different milestones," added Xepera on his motivation. "One of the biggest inspirations that I have to carry on academic success is my younger brother. He is a freshman [in high school] this year, and he looks up to me. I am really trying to show him that with hard work and resiliency, there is a way."

Xepera was always academically advanced, participating in honors and AP classes in high school. His decision to attend college wasn't just because of football, he enjoyed school.

"Once I graduated high school, that was a huge accomplishment. Then I thought that if I put that much effort into it, then maybe I can get my college degree. This is still a surreal moment for me too."

Xepera's family is from the Chicago area, but his mother moved them to Arizona for better opportunities. It would eventually pay off. Fresno State gave Xepera the opportunity to play at the collegiate level, earn a scholarship, grow his faith, and set the foundation for his future.

"I just would say how much this Valley and Fresno mean to me," said Xepera when reflecting back on his time at Fresno State. "It really is bigger than football. The people that I have gotten to know here, its family. There are so many faces that I know, and people who come and go."

Xepera will graduate on Friday morning, officially earning his business degree from Fresno State. He will see another milestone in his life, one that he is proud of and will hold onto forever.

"There are times where people that I know put all their eggs in one basket, and then when football is over with, they don't know what to do with themselves," said Xepera on the importance of his scholarship and education. "One of the things that I am thankful for is to have my degree and to have something that I can transfer into different areas. A business degree is pretty practical too. I am thankful that I have something that I can be proud of. These four years of school were rough. It was really difficult. I know it is just a piece of paper. That's what social media would say. To me, it means more than that. It is an accumulation of all of my hard work."

In his initial recruitment to Fresno State, he recalls the family-like atmosphere being a selling point for him in choosing the program. His parents enjoyed Fresno, and he felt that through them. So, he stayed, not knowing who the new head coach was in Jeff Tedford or the tight ends coach in John Baxter.

After a year and a half on campus, Xepera knew that the tight end position wasn't for him. He finished high school solely as a defensive player, so getting back into the swing of things on offense was a hard adjustment to make. He went and spoke with Baxter, who was the tight ends coach at the time, and told him he wasn't sure being a tight end was the best thing for him. However, he still wanted to contribute for the Bulldogs and felt the defensive line was a good spot for him.

Tedford was unsure at first, but pulled up his high school film to review. He took the film, removed all traces of Xepera's name and went to the defensive staff to ask if he would be an able defensive lineman for Fresno State. The defensive staff agreed, and he was officially moved to the defensive line.

Fast forward to 2026, and Xepera has played for his third head coach and third position coach while in his second position as a Bulldog. Notably as not a local product, or even a California native, many would ask what kept Xepera loyal to Fresno State.

Xepera found his sense of community within the church, inspired by former Bulldog and Fresno State team chaplain Cam Lamanuzzi. The way his church supported the community gave him a sense of belonging and a family away from football.

His football community is just as important to him, and he has had the opportunity to dig deeper into the football alumni through a special connection with a former Bulldog.

Ahead of the 2025 season, Xepera was looking to change his number. The number 9 was available, but the number had been retired as worn by former quarterback Kevin Sweeney. The former Bulldog has let active players wear his number, after meeting and having a conversation with that athlete before giving the blessing, including Jake Haener, Jeff Allison and Josh Hokit. Xepera figured it wasn't going to happen, so elected to wear number 24.

However, at the 2025 Fresno State Football Kickoff Dinner, Xepera caught himself in conversation with a guest at the dinner and upon leaving the event, he learned he was in great conversation with Sweeney himself. After the dinner, Sweeney let Coach Entz know that Xepera had his blessing to wear his number. Sweeney and Xepera have remained in contact, and the relationship has grown over the past year.

"The biggest thing for me is that I love the Valley and I love being here," said Xepera on his loyalty to the program. "Fresno State has changed my life. It feels like I was born here in the aspect that I matured here in the process of adolescence to adulthood. The Valley has done so much for me. It isn't necessarily who the coach is, but I just love the program. The coaching staff matters, obviously, and I am happy that they are here. I just love Fresno. This is where I found my faith and my fiance. Fresno State has transformed me from a boy to a man."

Joining Xepera at Fresno State commencement this weekend are teammates Jomarion Briggs, Jahzon Jacks, Dylan Lynch, Caden Rodgers, Seth Scheidt, Kyson Van Vugt, and Ryan Warkentin. The following Bulldog football student-athletes also completed their degrees in December -- Johnathan Arceneaux, Camryn Bracha, Korey Foreman, Campbell McHarg, Zane Rix, Jake Tarwater, Rolan Fullwood and RJ Regan.

It is a busy month for the senior Bulldog as he will also celebrate his marriage at the end of the month. Xepera will get back to work with the Bulldogs this summer for his final season of eligibility in 2026. Academically, he will pursue postgraduate studies to further assist in his dream of becoming a school counselor.

Fresno State Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Johnathan Arceneaux

Camryn Bracha

Jomarion Briggs

Korey Foreman

Rolan Fullwood

Jahzon Jacks

Dylan Lynch

Campbell McHarg

RJ Regan

Zane Rix

Caden Rodgers

Seth Scheidt

Jake Tarwater

Kyson Van Vugt

Ryan Warkentin

Merhauti Xepera

Xepera's Fresno State journey leads to first-generation graduate milestone

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