Running back Marteze Waller (33) receives a handoff from quarterback Greg Watson (10) during Fresno State’s 69-14 nonconfernce win against Colorado on Sept. 15. As a true freshman, and part of coach Tim DeRuyter’s first recruiting class at Fresno State, Waller received the second most carries (41) out of the Bulldogs’ running backs. Roe Borunda / The Collegian
Fresno State’s roster for next season seems to take form with National Signing Day rapidly approaching.
The Bulldogs lost 22 seniors to graduation and have the task of replacing several key pieces from last season’s Mountain West Conference championship team that finished the 9-4.
Coach Tim DeRuyter will unveil his 2013 recruiting class on Wednesday. Hired in mid-December of 2011, DeRuyter had 15 players sign letters to play for Fresno State — under rushed circumstances — by the 2012 National Signing Day.
DeRuyter has said he expects to sign 25 to 28 players in this year’s class.
Three players, all junior-college transfers with two years of eligibility left, have already signed the National Letters of Intent to play for the Bulldogs.
The signees include:
• Quarterback Brian Burrell, a transfer from Bakersfield College who led them to the CCCAA State Championship and an 11-2 record in 2012. Burrell threw for 2,555 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.
• Offensive lineman Patrick Kim, a transfer from Mount San Antonio College. Kim and Burrell played against each other in the CCCAA title game. Kim and the Mounties fell to Burrell-led Bakersfield College. Prior to Mount San Antonio College, Kim walked on to the USC football team.
• Safety Rodney Mathews, a transfer from Citrus College. Mathews recorded 158 career tackles at Citrus College.
The number of junior-college players committing to Fresno State does not appear to be limited to the above signees. According to scouts.com, eight other junior-college transfers are expected to sign with Fresno State.
Quarterback Zack Greenlee of Lincoln-Stockton High has also made a non-binding oral commitment to Fresno State. Greenlee is listed as a four-star recruit by ESPN.com and is ranked No. 146 in the ESPN 150.
Per NCAA rules, DeRuyter and the Fresno State coaching staff cannot comment on a prospective player until he has signed a National Letter of Intent.
As of Sunday, Fresno State had a combined 28 signees and oral commitments via scouts.com.
The recruiting website also ranked Fresno State’s prospective class third-best among Mountain West Conference schools behind Boise State and San Diego State.