- Derek Carr holds several Fresno State records, including passing yards and passing touchdowns.
- David Carr went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.
While the Fresno State Bulldogs aren’t typically atop the NCAA fb odds to win the national championship, there have still been some talented players, including two brothers, to suit up for them.
Today, their football odds can be bet online at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
See my top five Bulldogs of all time below.
5 Best Fresno State Bulldogs Football Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Bulldogs Years |
| 1 | Derek Carr | QB | 2009-2013 |
| 2 | David Carr | QB | 1997-2001 |
| 3 | Kevin Sweeney | QB | 1983-1986 |
| 4 | Davante Adams | WR | 2012-2013 |
| 5 | Ryan Mathews | RB | 2007-2009 |
Fresno State Bulldogs All-Time Greatest Football Players
1. Derek Carr
Carr played for Fresno State from 2009 to 2013.
While there, he won the Sammy Baugh Trophy (top collegiate passer), was a two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time first-team All-Mountain West, and a first-team All-WAC pick, and the school retired his No. 4.
He holds program records for passing yards (12,842), passing touchdowns (113), total yards (13,032), and total touchdowns (118).
Carr also holds single-season records for passing yards (5,082 in 2013) and passing touchdowns (50 in 2013).
Finally, he holds the single-game record for passing touchdowns with seven in 2013 against New Mexico.
2. David Carr
The elder Carr, David, played at Fresno State from 1997 to 2001.
He threw for 7,849 yards (sixth in program history), 70 touchdowns (third), 7,947 total yards (sixth), and 79 total touchdowns (third).
He also holds the No. 2 spot for single-season passing touchdowns with 49 and passing yards with 4,839, both set in 2001.
Before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (top upperclassmen quarterback) and Sammy Baugh Trophy. He was also a second-team All-American.
In 2001, he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
The program retired his No. 8.
3. Kevin Sweeney
Before the Carr brothers hit the Fresno State scene, Sweeney was the big-time quarterback at the program from 1983 to 1986.
He was a two-time PCAA co-MVP, two-time PCAA Offensive Player of the Year, and two-time first-team All-PCAA selection, and the school retired his No. 9.
Sweeney threw for 10,808 yards (second in program history), 69 touchdowns (fourth), and finished with 10,421 total yards (second) and 77 total touchdowns (fourth).
Fun fact: Sweeney was the first quarterback in NCAA history to post 10,000 passing yards.
4. Davante Adams
Adams attended Fresno State from 2011 to 2013. He redshirted his freshman season and played just two seasons.
He finished his career with 233 receptions (second in program history) for 3,030 yards (third) and 38 touchdowns (first).
He holds the single-season receptions (131) and receiving yards (1,718) records. These both came in 2013.
He won the Paul Warfield Trophy (top collegiate wide receiver), was a second-team All-American, a third-team All-American, the Mountain West Freshman of the Year, a two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection, and his No. 15 was retired by the school.
5. Ryan Mathews
Mathews played three seasons at Fresno State from 2007 to 2009.
He ran for 3,280 yards (fifth in program history) and 39 rushing touchdowns (second).
In 2009, he ran for 1,808 yards and 19 touchdowns, which are both single-season records.
He was a second-team All-American and a first-team All-WAC honoree.
Mathews was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
