The Fresno State football team has several reasons to be smiling on offense.
They have a senior quarterback who has finally come into his own, arguably the top tight end in the nation and a stable of running backs capable of combining for over 2,000 yards rushing.
Last season headlines were dominated by players such as Tom Brandstater, Ryan Mathews and Bear Pascoe.
But for those of you who might have forgotten, there is one name that you might remember that hasn̢۪t been prominent in awhile.
It wasn’t too long ago that the Fresno State Bulldogs were 4-8 and at one of the lowest points in program history. However, there was one bright spot in the 2006 season — wide receiver Chastin West.
The junior from Moorpark, Calif. led the Bulldogs in receiving that season with 33 catches for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
Not to mention he was the team̢۪s kick returner and took one back for a score of 93 yards in 2006.
But West had to sit out all of last season with a torn anterior crucial ligament (ACL) injury he suffered during last summer̢۪s workouts.
West was forced to sit on the sidelines in 2007 and watch his team play without him. During his time off he worked constantly every day to get himself back into playing condition.
West said his coaches, family and the athletic trainers were his biggest supporters while recovering from his knee injury last season.
West spent 16 hours a day this off-season in the training room doing extra rehab work.
“It made me more of a man,â€Â West said. “When I got hurt my world was just upside down. I appreciate the game that much more though.â€Â
West also received guidance from former Bulldog Clifton Smith. Smith suffered the same injury as West back in 2005.
West̢۪s greatest coach through his injury, though, was his roommate, former Fresno State wide receiver Jaron Fairman.
“He made me do over and beyond what I was supposed to,â€Â West said. “If I had to do 600 sets in the training room, he would make me do 1,200 when I got home.â€Â
West said he trusts his knee 100 percent now and is able to make cuts on it while running routes. He saw limited action during Saturday̢۪s spring game as a precaution.
West was senior quarterback Tom Brandstater̢۪s favorite target back in 2006. Brandstater is ecstatic to have him back as a part of the offense in 2008.
“When Chastin was out last year everyone stepped up real big,â€Â Brandstater said. “To have him back along with everyone else in the receiving corps will be nice.â€Â
Junior Marlon Moore was one of the receivers who had to step up in West̢۪s absence last season. He led the Bulldogs with 48 catches last season for 694 yards and five touchdown receptions.
“[West] is going to mean a lot because he was like my right-hand man,â€Â Moore said. “Having him back brings another element, another danger that we can get the ball to and it’s going to open up a lot for the offense.â€Â
Wide receivers coach John Baxter has been working with West all off-season and said West has been diligent in his rehab.
“Football is the kind of game where you’re going to lose guys for awhile,â€Â Baxter said. “It’s good to have him back because with him we’ll have our depth back.â€Â
With West back in the lineup, the Fresno State offense has a chance to do something special. The Bulldogs will have five juniors in the receiving corps, Pascoe at tight end and the trio of Mathews, Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding at tailback.
But expectations don̢۪t mean much if a team doesn̢۪t deliver. Fresno State has its work cut out for it with three non-conference games against Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conference teams.
West knows that he will have to play even better than he did in 2006 for his team to be successful.
“Right now I’m probably as strong as I’ll ever be,â€Â West said. “I just to have to make sure and take everything for what it’s worth. The doctors know what they’re doing and I have to trust in what they did.â€Â