Fresno State Football Ring of Honor
Fresno State Athletics transitioned its football retired jersey recognition format to a Ring of Honor format in 2023. The adjustment allows the department to appropriately honor the contributions of the deserving individuals throughout its history who have made a transformative impact on the Bulldog football program.
COACHES
Jim Sweeney
Fresno State head coach
1976-77; 1980-96
Sweeney led the Bulldogs for 19 years on the sidelines, finishing as Fresno State’s all-time wins leader with his 143 victories. Sweeney compiled a 143-75-3 record (1976-77; 1980-96) as head coach at Fresno State. He has coached the most games by a head coach in Fresno State history.
Sweeney won eight conference championships as head coach at Fresno State - 1977 (PCAA), 1982 (PCAA), 1985 (PCAA), 1988 (Big West), 1989 (Big West), 1991 (Big West), 1992 (Western Athletic), 1993 (Western Athletic).
The Bulldogs were ranked in the Top 25 in seven of Sweeney’s years and won five bowl championship games.
Under Sweeney, dozens of Bulldogs polished their skills well enough to move on to professional football. The list includes Henry Ellard, Trent Dilfer, Stephone Paige, Stephen Baker, Ron Cox and Aaron Craver. Overall, 35 players went on to be drafted by NFL teams from Sweeney’s years.
Sweeney, considered to be the Godfather of Fresno State Football, spoke the team’s mantra and tradition of “I’m Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred and I’m going to be a Bulldog until the day I’m Dead! Go Dogs!”
In his 32 seasons as a head coach he finished with 200 wins.
Sweeney was inducted into the Fresno Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Montana State Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted into the Fresno State Ring of Honor posthumously on September 9, 2023.
Pat Hill
Fresno State head coach
1997-2011
Hill led the Bulldogs for 15 years, ending his career with the second-most wins by a head coach in program history. Hill totaled a 112-80 all-time record at Fresno State. Hill’s Bulldogs saw 11 bowl game appearances. The Bulldogs won a share of the 1999 WAC title under Hill.
The Bulldogs defeated five Top 25 programs in his time as head coach - No .17 Air Force (1997), No. 10 Oregon State (2001), No. 23 Wisconsin (2001), No. 13 Kansas State (2004), and No. 18 Virginia (2004). The win over No. 10 Oregon State remains the highest-ranked win for Fresno State.
The 2001 team compiled an 11-3 record, tying the program’s single season win record (at the time). It stands as the second-most wins in a single season in program history.
During his tenure, he coached a number of NFL players including: QB Tom Brandstater, QB David Carr, QB Derek Carr, QB Billy Volek, RB Ryan Mathews, RB Lonyae Miller, RB Michael Pittman, RB Bryson Sumlin, RB Derrick Ward, RB Dwayne Wright, WR Seyi Ajirotutu, WR Bernard Berrian, WR Paul Williams, WR Devon Wylie, TE Bear Pascoe, OT Chris Conrad, OG Logan Mankins, OG Ryan Wendell, LB Orlando Huff, CB Vernon Fox, CB Richard Marshall, CB Will Middleton, S Tyrone Culver, S Cory Hall, and S James Sanders.
Hill let it be known soon after arriving in Fresno that his Bulldogs would play “anybody, anywhere, anytime.”
Inducted into the UC Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. He was inducted into the Fresno State Ring of Honor on October 28, 2023.
PLAYERS
#15
Davante Adams
Fresno State wide receiver
2012-13
Davante Adams, a two-time collegiate All-American, five-time NFL Pro Bowler and two-time Associated Press All-Pro First Team selection, had his jersey retired on Oct. 15, 2022.
Adams left Fresno State as the all-time leader for most receiving yards in a single season, recording 1,718 yards receiving in 2013. Adams set a new school record with 233 career receptions, averaging 9.0 receptions and 116.5 receiving yards per game in his career. In just two seasons of play with the Bulldogs, Adams set 14 new Mountain West records and 11 Fresno State records - one of them being a record-breaking 38 career touchdown catches. Adams is fourth all-time with 3,030 receiving yards in his Bulldog career (2012-13). As a Bulldog, Adams was a two-time first team All-Mountain West wide receiver, while earning All-American honors both years. He was the 2012 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, and the winner of the 2013 Paul Warfield Award.
Following his Bulldog career, Adams was the Green Bay Packers’ second-round draft pick (53rd overall) in 2014. Playing at the professional level, Adams has been named a five-time Pro Bowler (2017-21) and two-time Associated Press All-Pro First Team selection (2020-21).
#8
David Carr
Fresno State quarterback
1997-2001
David Carr had his jersey retired on September 1, 2007.
During his senior season, he guided the Bulldogs to an 11-3 record, tying the school record for most wins in a season. Fresno State opened the 2001 season with wins over three nationally ranked opponents, No. 23 Colorado and No. 18 Wisconsin, both on the road, and a commanding 44-24 win over No. 10 Oregon State in Bulldog Stadium. That game was played in front of a then-record crowd of 42,410. In his final game, Carr set a bowl record with 531 passing yards while throwing four touchdowns.
He won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Pop Warner Award, which is presented annually to the best college football player on the west coast. He finished fifth in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy. For his career, 1997-2001, Carr completed 344-of-533 passes for 7,849 yards and 70 touchdowns.
When he left, he held Bulldog passing records for most touchdowns in a career (70), passing yards in a season (4,839), touchdowns in a season (46) and total offensive yards in a season (4,906). Carr was selected as the No. 1 overall NFL pick by the expansion Houston Texans, becoming the first player from a non-BCS conference in 30 years to be selected as the top overall pick.
#4
Derek Carr
Fresno State quarterback
2009-13
On September 2, 2017, the Bulldogs’ all-time leading passer, Derek Carr (2009-13), saw his No. 4 jersey retired during a halftime ceremony.
It was the seventh retired jersey in the history of the program. The two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (2012-13) and two-time All-American (2012-13) established 27 new school and 21 Mountain West records in his career at Fresno State. He was a three-year starter who helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back Mountain West championships in his final two seasons, which included an 11-2 campaign his senior year that matched the school record for wins in a season and rose the team to as high as No. 13 in the national rankings.
Carr led the nation in 2013 in total offense (5,199), total passing yards (5,082), passing yards per game (390.9), passing touchdowns (50) completions per game (34.85), touchdowns responsible for (52), total points responsible for (302) and points responsible for per game (24.2). Additionally, he was responsible for 44 more touchdowns than he was turnovers in 2013, a figure that led all FBS players by four.
Carr went on to receive the 2013 Sammy Baugh Award, which goes to the nation’s top passer.
#54
Ron Cox
Fresno State linebacker
1987-89
Ron Cox, who led the Bulldog defense from 1987-89, declared for the NFL following his junior season, and was drafted 33rd overall (second round) to the Chicago Bears in the 1990 NFL Draft.
Cox still owns a handful of defensive records for the Bulldogs, but was most known for his nearly unblockable pressure on opposing quarterbacks. In his Bulldog career, Cox totaled 50.0 sacks – a mark that has sat atop the program's record book ever since. No other Bulldog has come close to Cox's career numbers. Cox's Bulldog career was highlighted by an astounding 28.0 sack season in 1989 – a program record for most sacks in a single season. Franklin again ranks second in the single season category with 19.5.
Cox helped the Bulldogs to a 27- 8 record in his three seasons, along with two California Bowl wins. Five of those eight losses came in his freshman season. He earned the honor of 1989 Big West Defensive Player of the Year. He was a two-time first team All-Big West selection in 1988 and 1989, and earned his back-to-back All-American honors in those same seasons.
Cox had a seven-year stint in the NFL, spending six seasons with the Bears (1990-95) and one as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers (1996). He helped the Packers to a Super Bowl championship in 1997 (Super Bowl XXXI). Cox's football career ended with his retirement from the NFL back in Chicago in 1997.
Cox is a native of nearby Easton, Calif. and went to high school at Washington Union. Cox graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.
Cox officially joined the Ring of Honor on October 26, 2024.
#12
Trent Dilfer
Fresno State Quarterback
1991-93
He was honored because he led the Bulldogs to two of their most prestigious bowl games ever, the 1992 Freedom Bowl, a memorable 24-7 victory over USC, and the 1993 Aloha Bowl.
He ranks sixth in school history in both passing yards with 7,631 and total offense with 7,785 yards. When he left school, he held single-season school records for passing yards (3,799) and touchdowns (30). At the time his 523 passing yards in the 1993 Aloha Bowl were the most ever by a quarterback in a bowl game. As a junior, Dilfer earned WAC Offensive Player of the Year honors and set an NCAA record for consecutive passes without an interception (271) that lasted until 2007.
A first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dilfer guided the Baltimore Ravens to a win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXII.
#83
Henry Ellard
Fresno State Wide Receiver
1979-82
Ellard broke nearly every Fresno State pass receiving record in 1982 in addition to setting an NCAA record with 1,510 receiving yards that season.
The 1982 co-Offensive Player of the Year in the PCAA, Ellard caught 62 passes, including 15 for touchdowns. He established a conference career record with 2,947 receiving yards and tied a conference mark with 25 career touchdowns.
He was named second-team All-America by Associated Press and was a second round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams.
#21
Dale Messer
Fresno State Halfback
1958-60
Messer, a 1960 graduate, was a 170-pounder from Lemoore, Calif., and had 9.9 (100 yards) speed as a halfback. He not only carried the ball, but he punted and handled placekicking chores as well.
A three-time all-conference pick, Messer led the Bulldogs in rushing (811 yards), receiving (30 catches), scoring (108 points), punt returns and kickoff returns his senior year. He also returned three passing interceptions for 28 yards, punted for a 34.6 average and was 3-for-6 in the passing department with two touchdowns. Messer’s rushing total was even more impressive when you consider that as a team Fresno State ranked third in the nation in passing offense (1,947 yards).
A two-time All-America selection, Messer played in the East-West Shrine game in San Francisco and was a three-time All-Coast honoree. He later played for the San Francisco 49ers (1961-65) after rushing for nearly 2,000 yards, scoring 31 touchdowns and leading Fresno State to three straight conference titles.
Messer is a native of Lemoore, Calif. and had his jersey retired at Lemoore High School in 2007. He was also a state champion high hurdler while he competed for Lemoore in 1956. Messer was considered as one of the finest athletes ever produced in the San Joaquin Valley. In 1969, Messer was inducted into the Fresno County Sports Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the hall of fame at College of the Sequoias, where his jersey has also been retired.
Messer passed away in February 2024 at the age of 86.
#22
Lorenzo Neal
Fresno State Running Back
1990-92
Neal, a native of Lemoore, Calif. and former Bulldog all-american running back and four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, left his mark on the Fresno State Football record books, sitting Top 10 in Fresno State history in career rushing yards (No. 9 - 2,405 yards), career rushing attempts (No. 10 - 487), career rushing touchdowns (No. 9 - 27), and career pass receptions by a running back (No. 8 - 59).
He left Fresno State as a 1992 All-American and Freedom Bowl MVP. Neal also had a pair of all-conference honors in his time as a Bulldog, earning first team All-Big West (1991) and second team All-WAC (1992) honors. He was selected to the East West Shrine Bowl, Japan Bowl, and Hula Bowl in his time as a ‘Dog. Additionally, Neal competed for the Fresno State wrestling program and achieved all-american honors in 1992.
Neal was a fourth round NFL Draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in the 1993 draft. He would go on to have a prolific professional career, having played 16 seasons in the NFL. Considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in NFL history, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro honoree. Neal was named a Modern-Era nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021. Neal’s jersey was officially retired at Fresno State on Oct. 23, 2021.
#14
Vince Petrucci
Fresno State place kicker
1976-78
Petrucci, a side-winding placekicker from Fresno’s Hoover High School, was a two-time All-PCAA pick at Fresno State.
Petrucci connected on 88 consecutive PAT attempts to rank second on the NCAA list. His 88 consecutive conversions at the time trailed only Uwe von Schamann of the University of Oklahoma, who connected on an NCAA record 102 PATs in a row. As a junior, Petrucci was a second-team All-Coast selection by both AP and UPI. During his career at Fresno State, Petrucci converted 101-of-103 PAT attempts and 25-of-42 field goal attempts. He scored a total of 176 points, at the time the best total ever for a Fresno State kicker and the third-highest scoring total in school history. He had a career-best 51-yard field goal against Cal State Fullerton.
#9
Kevin Sweeney
Fresno State Quarterback
1983-86
Sweeney finished his four-year career in 1986 as the all-time leading passer in NCAA history (10,808 yards) at the time, breaking the previous mark of 10,579, set from 1981-84 by former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie.
A four-year starter at quarterback, Sweeney set or tied a total of 30 school, conference and NCAA records. His 30 200-yard passing games tied an NCAA mark. By finishing ninth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1986, Sweeney became the highest finisher in league history for that prestigious honor. He finished runner-up in balloting for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award.
COACHES
Jim Sweeney
Fresno State head coach
1976-77; 1980-96
Sweeney led the Bulldogs for 19 years on the sidelines, finishing as Fresno State’s all-time wins leader with his 143 victories. Sweeney compiled a 143-75-3 record (1976-77; 1980-96) as head coach at Fresno State. He has coached the most games by a head coach in Fresno State history.
Sweeney won eight conference championships as head coach at Fresno State - 1977 (PCAA), 1982 (PCAA), 1985 (PCAA), 1988 (Big West), 1989 (Big West), 1991 (Big West), 1992 (Western Athletic), 1993 (Western Athletic).
The Bulldogs were ranked in the Top 25 in seven of Sweeney’s years and won five bowl championship games.
Under Sweeney, dozens of Bulldogs polished their skills well enough to move on to professional football. The list includes Henry Ellard, Trent Dilfer, Stephone Paige, Stephen Baker, Ron Cox and Aaron Craver. Overall, 35 players went on to be drafted by NFL teams from Sweeney’s years.
Sweeney, considered to be the Godfather of Fresno State Football, spoke the team’s mantra and tradition of “I’m Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred and I’m going to be a Bulldog until the day I’m Dead! Go Dogs!”
In his 32 seasons as a head coach he finished with 200 wins.
Sweeney was inducted into the Fresno Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Montana State Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted into the Fresno State Ring of Honor posthumously on September 9, 2023.
Pat Hill
Fresno State head coach
1997-2011
Hill led the Bulldogs for 15 years, ending his career with the second-most wins by a head coach in program history. Hill totaled a 112-80 all-time record at Fresno State. Hill’s Bulldogs saw 11 bowl game appearances. The Bulldogs won a share of the 1999 WAC title under Hill.
The Bulldogs defeated five Top 25 programs in his time as head coach - No .17 Air Force (1997), No. 10 Oregon State (2001), No. 23 Wisconsin (2001), No. 13 Kansas State (2004), and No. 18 Virginia (2004). The win over No. 10 Oregon State remains the highest-ranked win for Fresno State.
The 2001 team compiled an 11-3 record, tying the program’s single season win record (at the time). It stands as the second-most wins in a single season in program history.
During his tenure, he coached a number of NFL players including: QB Tom Brandstater, QB David Carr, QB Derek Carr, QB Billy Volek, RB Ryan Mathews, RB Lonyae Miller, RB Michael Pittman, RB Bryson Sumlin, RB Derrick Ward, RB Dwayne Wright, WR Seyi Ajirotutu, WR Bernard Berrian, WR Paul Williams, WR Devon Wylie, TE Bear Pascoe, OT Chris Conrad, OG Logan Mankins, OG Ryan Wendell, LB Orlando Huff, CB Vernon Fox, CB Richard Marshall, CB Will Middleton, S Tyrone Culver, S Cory Hall, and S James Sanders.
Hill let it be known soon after arriving in Fresno that his Bulldogs would play “anybody, anywhere, anytime.”
Inducted into the UC Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. He was inducted into the Fresno State Ring of Honor on October 28, 2023.
PLAYERS
#15
Davante Adams
Fresno State wide receiver
2012-13
Davante Adams, a two-time collegiate All-American, five-time NFL Pro Bowler and two-time Associated Press All-Pro First Team selection, had his jersey retired on Oct. 15, 2022.
Adams left Fresno State as the all-time leader for most receiving yards in a single season, recording 1,718 yards receiving in 2013. Adams set a new school record with 233 career receptions, averaging 9.0 receptions and 116.5 receiving yards per game in his career. In just two seasons of play with the Bulldogs, Adams set 14 new Mountain West records and 11 Fresno State records - one of them being a record-breaking 38 career touchdown catches. Adams is fourth all-time with 3,030 receiving yards in his Bulldog career (2012-13). As a Bulldog, Adams was a two-time first team All-Mountain West wide receiver, while earning All-American honors both years. He was the 2012 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, and the winner of the 2013 Paul Warfield Award.
Following his Bulldog career, Adams was the Green Bay Packers’ second-round draft pick (53rd overall) in 2014. Playing at the professional level, Adams has been named a five-time Pro Bowler (2017-21) and two-time Associated Press All-Pro First Team selection (2020-21).
#8
David Carr
Fresno State quarterback
1997-2001
David Carr had his jersey retired on September 1, 2007.
During his senior season, he guided the Bulldogs to an 11-3 record, tying the school record for most wins in a season. Fresno State opened the 2001 season with wins over three nationally ranked opponents, No. 23 Colorado and No. 18 Wisconsin, both on the road, and a commanding 44-24 win over No. 10 Oregon State in Bulldog Stadium. That game was played in front of a then-record crowd of 42,410. In his final game, Carr set a bowl record with 531 passing yards while throwing four touchdowns.
He won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Pop Warner Award, which is presented annually to the best college football player on the west coast. He finished fifth in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy. For his career, 1997-2001, Carr completed 344-of-533 passes for 7,849 yards and 70 touchdowns.
When he left, he held Bulldog passing records for most touchdowns in a career (70), passing yards in a season (4,839), touchdowns in a season (46) and total offensive yards in a season (4,906). Carr was selected as the No. 1 overall NFL pick by the expansion Houston Texans, becoming the first player from a non-BCS conference in 30 years to be selected as the top overall pick.
#4
Derek Carr
Fresno State quarterback
2009-13
On September 2, 2017, the Bulldogs’ all-time leading passer, Derek Carr (2009-13), saw his No. 4 jersey retired during a halftime ceremony.
It was the seventh retired jersey in the history of the program. The two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (2012-13) and two-time All-American (2012-13) established 27 new school and 21 Mountain West records in his career at Fresno State. He was a three-year starter who helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back Mountain West championships in his final two seasons, which included an 11-2 campaign his senior year that matched the school record for wins in a season and rose the team to as high as No. 13 in the national rankings.
Carr led the nation in 2013 in total offense (5,199), total passing yards (5,082), passing yards per game (390.9), passing touchdowns (50) completions per game (34.85), touchdowns responsible for (52), total points responsible for (302) and points responsible for per game (24.2). Additionally, he was responsible for 44 more touchdowns than he was turnovers in 2013, a figure that led all FBS players by four.
Carr went on to receive the 2013 Sammy Baugh Award, which goes to the nation’s top passer.
#54
Ron Cox
Fresno State linebacker
1987-89
Ron Cox, who led the Bulldog defense from 1987-89, declared for the NFL following his junior season, and was drafted 33rd overall (second round) to the Chicago Bears in the 1990 NFL Draft.
Cox still owns a handful of defensive records for the Bulldogs, but was most known for his nearly unblockable pressure on opposing quarterbacks. In his Bulldog career, Cox totaled 50.0 sacks – a mark that has sat atop the program's record book ever since. No other Bulldog has come close to Cox's career numbers. Cox's Bulldog career was highlighted by an astounding 28.0 sack season in 1989 – a program record for most sacks in a single season. Franklin again ranks second in the single season category with 19.5.
Cox helped the Bulldogs to a 27- 8 record in his three seasons, along with two California Bowl wins. Five of those eight losses came in his freshman season. He earned the honor of 1989 Big West Defensive Player of the Year. He was a two-time first team All-Big West selection in 1988 and 1989, and earned his back-to-back All-American honors in those same seasons.
Cox had a seven-year stint in the NFL, spending six seasons with the Bears (1990-95) and one as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers (1996). He helped the Packers to a Super Bowl championship in 1997 (Super Bowl XXXI). Cox's football career ended with his retirement from the NFL back in Chicago in 1997.
Cox is a native of nearby Easton, Calif. and went to high school at Washington Union. Cox graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.
Cox officially joined the Ring of Honor on October 26, 2024.
#12
Trent Dilfer
Fresno State Quarterback
1991-93
He was honored because he led the Bulldogs to two of their most prestigious bowl games ever, the 1992 Freedom Bowl, a memorable 24-7 victory over USC, and the 1993 Aloha Bowl.
He ranks sixth in school history in both passing yards with 7,631 and total offense with 7,785 yards. When he left school, he held single-season school records for passing yards (3,799) and touchdowns (30). At the time his 523 passing yards in the 1993 Aloha Bowl were the most ever by a quarterback in a bowl game. As a junior, Dilfer earned WAC Offensive Player of the Year honors and set an NCAA record for consecutive passes without an interception (271) that lasted until 2007.
A first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dilfer guided the Baltimore Ravens to a win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXII.
#83
Henry Ellard
Fresno State Wide Receiver
1979-82
Ellard broke nearly every Fresno State pass receiving record in 1982 in addition to setting an NCAA record with 1,510 receiving yards that season.
The 1982 co-Offensive Player of the Year in the PCAA, Ellard caught 62 passes, including 15 for touchdowns. He established a conference career record with 2,947 receiving yards and tied a conference mark with 25 career touchdowns.
He was named second-team All-America by Associated Press and was a second round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams.
#21
Dale Messer
Fresno State Halfback
1958-60
Messer, a 1960 graduate, was a 170-pounder from Lemoore, Calif., and had 9.9 (100 yards) speed as a halfback. He not only carried the ball, but he punted and handled placekicking chores as well.
A three-time all-conference pick, Messer led the Bulldogs in rushing (811 yards), receiving (30 catches), scoring (108 points), punt returns and kickoff returns his senior year. He also returned three passing interceptions for 28 yards, punted for a 34.6 average and was 3-for-6 in the passing department with two touchdowns. Messer’s rushing total was even more impressive when you consider that as a team Fresno State ranked third in the nation in passing offense (1,947 yards).
A two-time All-America selection, Messer played in the East-West Shrine game in San Francisco and was a three-time All-Coast honoree. He later played for the San Francisco 49ers (1961-65) after rushing for nearly 2,000 yards, scoring 31 touchdowns and leading Fresno State to three straight conference titles.
Messer is a native of Lemoore, Calif. and had his jersey retired at Lemoore High School in 2007. He was also a state champion high hurdler while he competed for Lemoore in 1956. Messer was considered as one of the finest athletes ever produced in the San Joaquin Valley. In 1969, Messer was inducted into the Fresno County Sports Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the hall of fame at College of the Sequoias, where his jersey has also been retired.
Messer passed away in February 2024 at the age of 86.
#22
Lorenzo Neal
Fresno State Running Back
1990-92
Neal, a native of Lemoore, Calif. and former Bulldog all-american running back and four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, left his mark on the Fresno State Football record books, sitting Top 10 in Fresno State history in career rushing yards (No. 9 - 2,405 yards), career rushing attempts (No. 10 - 487), career rushing touchdowns (No. 9 - 27), and career pass receptions by a running back (No. 8 - 59).
He left Fresno State as a 1992 All-American and Freedom Bowl MVP. Neal also had a pair of all-conference honors in his time as a Bulldog, earning first team All-Big West (1991) and second team All-WAC (1992) honors. He was selected to the East West Shrine Bowl, Japan Bowl, and Hula Bowl in his time as a ‘Dog. Additionally, Neal competed for the Fresno State wrestling program and achieved all-american honors in 1992.
Neal was a fourth round NFL Draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in the 1993 draft. He would go on to have a prolific professional career, having played 16 seasons in the NFL. Considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in NFL history, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro honoree. Neal was named a Modern-Era nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021. Neal’s jersey was officially retired at Fresno State on Oct. 23, 2021.
#14
Vince Petrucci
Fresno State place kicker
1976-78
Petrucci, a side-winding placekicker from Fresno’s Hoover High School, was a two-time All-PCAA pick at Fresno State.
Petrucci connected on 88 consecutive PAT attempts to rank second on the NCAA list. His 88 consecutive conversions at the time trailed only Uwe von Schamann of the University of Oklahoma, who connected on an NCAA record 102 PATs in a row. As a junior, Petrucci was a second-team All-Coast selection by both AP and UPI. During his career at Fresno State, Petrucci converted 101-of-103 PAT attempts and 25-of-42 field goal attempts. He scored a total of 176 points, at the time the best total ever for a Fresno State kicker and the third-highest scoring total in school history. He had a career-best 51-yard field goal against Cal State Fullerton.
#9
Kevin Sweeney
Fresno State Quarterback
1983-86
Sweeney finished his four-year career in 1986 as the all-time leading passer in NCAA history (10,808 yards) at the time, breaking the previous mark of 10,579, set from 1981-84 by former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie.
A four-year starter at quarterback, Sweeney set or tied a total of 30 school, conference and NCAA records. His 30 200-yard passing games tied an NCAA mark. By finishing ninth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1986, Sweeney became the highest finisher in league history for that prestigious honor. He finished runner-up in balloting for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award.