Photo courtesy of The Bakersfield Californian
Football recruit Derek Carr will be looking to drive Fresno State football into the future and beyond
The man calling the plays may be gone, but the Bulldog football team̢۪s top recruit expected to run the offense is staying in the Valley.
Bakersfield Christian High School standout Derek Carr still plans on playing quarterback for Fresno State, despite not having an offensive coordinator to work with since the recent departure of Doug Nussmeier.
Nussmeier will join the University of Washington as the quarterback̢۪s coach, making it the fifth year in a row that Fresno State loses an offensive coordinator.
The move, however, won̢۪t put a damper on Carr̢۪s future with the Bulldogs.
“It’s not a cause of concern,â€Â Carr said. “Coach Hill told me about it when it happened. I’m sure we’ll be fine. There are no hard feelings at all.â€Â
Carrying the Carr torch
The younger brother to former Fresno State and current NFL quarterback David Carr, Derek felt that Bulldog Stadium was where he needed to play after his high school playing days ended.
Photo courtesy of The Bakersfield Californian
“I wanted to stay close to home,â€Â Carr said. “I grew up near Fresno. They’re always a winning program and they’re always so close to winning the big games. I want to come in and help.â€Â
Derek Carr was getting offers from Southern Methodist, UCLA and Utah while playing quarterback for Clements High School in Sugarland, Texas during his junior year.
After he and his family moved to Bakersfield in 2008, Carr became the starting quarterback for Bakersfield Christian.
Carr completed 73.4 percent of his passes, threw for 3,899 yards, had 44 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions while leading the Eagles to a Central Section Division V Title.
Carr̢۪s accomplishments led him to become one of ten finalists for the Mr. Football Award for the state of California in 2008.
Big dreams for Bulldogs
With last year̢۪s starter Tom Brandstater graduating, there will be an open competition for the starting quarterback spot when football season approaches.
Carr will be competing with the likes of Ebahn Feathers, Matt Faulkner and Ryan Colburn to become the next leader of Fresno State football.
After graduating early from high school, Carr has begun school at Fresno allowing him to participate in offseason workouts and will be working with the team in spring camp.
“One of my goals is to work my tail off,â€Â Carr said. “I’ll work my butt off and then see what happens.â€Â
One of Carr̢۪s supporters believes he̢۪s ready to face the challenge of playing Fresno State football, dealing with the schools in the Western Athletic Conference and facing the rest of the teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, his former high school coach Doug Barnett.
“I think he’s prepared,â€Â Barnett said. “He’s going to do a great job. He’s been a shotgun offense quarterback, he’s been in a drop back offense, and he’ll do a great job. He has the tools.â€Â
By the time Carr has an offensive coordinator to work with and a chance to play in front of the Red Wave crowd, he does have some huge goals that he wants to achieve.
The man calling the plays may be gone, but the Bulldog football team̢۪s top recruit expected to run the offense is staying in the Valley.
“I want to beat Boise,â€Â Carr said. “I want to win a WAC championship and win a BCS game, but we first have to beat Boise to win the WAC.â€Â
Guest • Oct 22, 2010 at 9:00 am
Paul, Derek is good! I’ve watched him play in high school. He will lead the Dogs if Pat lets him.
Saint 55 • Feb 24, 2009 at 2:03 am
Win the WAC? Really? Am I the only one alive who could care less about winning a useless conference title? Winning the WAC means absolutely nothing besides bragging rights within a concerence of average school. The only thing winning the WAC means to me is that we didn’t blow a BCS bowl game chance by losing to a crappy team. Winning the WAC won’t get you on TV, won’t get you in a BCS bowl game. At least not unless you get some wins over bigger schools. The only thing that matters in college football, unless you are in a BCS, is national rank and exposure. Maybe, just maybe, winning the WAC 100 times might get you an invite to a bigger conference, but that’s a longshot and would take years and years.
Hill and Fresno State need to continue scheduling the biggest and best schools we can find. That said, of course we need to beat the WAC schools in order to stay ranked, so it kind of goes hand and hand. But the whole mentality of “forget the BCS bowls and national rank and just win the WAC” mindset is somewhat boggling.
Now, I like Pat Hill, but I’m not in love with what he’s done the past few years. Ever since Carr left it’s like he’s changed the entire offense philosiphy. No big plays, no gameplan, and it seems like we are always playing “safe”. Stop trying to feature 3 running backs. Stick with 1, spell him a few times a game. And call a play that is more than 5 yards. Stop punting the ball on 4th down when there’s 1:23 left in the 4th. Stop calling bubble screens ever other play. Stop running the ball on 3rd and 8 just to punt. All in all…open up the friggin offense a little bit like we did in the good ole Carr days.
Far as QB goes in 2009…I too would like to see Feathers play. Maybe it’d force Hill into actually creating an offense scheme that isn’t dink-and-dunk snooze crap. I’d like to see us mix it up, try options maybe. We have the RBs to do it. Bring back some excitement to our offense.
Saint 55 • Feb 24, 2009 at 9:03 am
Win the WAC? Really? Am I the only one alive who could care less about winning a useless conference title? Winning the WAC means absolutely nothing besides bragging rights within a concerence of average school. The only thing winning the WAC means to me is that we didn’t blow a BCS bowl game chance by losing to a crappy team. Winning the WAC won’t get you on TV, won’t get you in a BCS bowl game. At least not unless you get some wins over bigger schools. The only thing that matters in college football, unless you are in a BCS, is national rank and exposure. Maybe, just maybe, winning the WAC 100 times might get you an invite to a bigger conference, but that’s a longshot and would take years and years.
Hill and Fresno State need to continue scheduling the biggest and best schools we can find. That said, of course we need to beat the WAC schools in order to stay ranked, so it kind of goes hand and hand. But the whole mentality of “forget the BCS bowls and national rank and just win the WAC” mindset is somewhat boggling.
Now, I like Pat Hill, but I’m not in love with what he’s done the past few years. Ever since Carr left it’s like he’s changed the entire offense philosiphy. No big plays, no gameplan, and it seems like we are always playing “safe”. Stop trying to feature 3 running backs. Stick with 1, spell him a few times a game. And call a play that is more than 5 yards. Stop punting the ball on 4th down when there’s 1:23 left in the 4th. Stop calling bubble screens ever other play. Stop running the ball on 3rd and 8 just to punt. All in all…open up the friggin offense a little bit like we did in the good ole Carr days.
Far as QB goes in 2009…I too would like to see Feathers play. Maybe it’d force Hill into actually creating an offense scheme that isn’t dink-and-dunk snooze crap. I’d like to see us mix it up, try options maybe. We have the RBs to do it. Bring back some excitement to our offense.
thefresnodude • Jan 28, 2009 at 9:29 am
I dont think ebahn feathers was from edison, according to his profile at gobulldogs.com he went to washington union. He may be a great scrambler but that doesnt mean he can pass for accuracy. But hill will most likely bench derek carr for the first year like he does to all his quarterbacks. Personally i would like to see both ebahn feathers and Derek carr play, Carr probably has a better passing game but damn i would love to see a quarterback who can scramble for once.
thefresnodude • Jan 28, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I dont think ebahn feathers was from edison, according to his profile at gobulldogs.com he went to washington union. He may be a great scrambler but that doesnt mean he can pass for accuracy. But hill will most likely bench derek carr for the first year like he does to all his quarterbacks. Personally i would like to see both ebahn feathers and Derek carr play, Carr probably has a better passing game but damn i would love to see a quarterback who can scramble for once.
No Dogs Down • Jan 26, 2009 at 11:52 pm
You Fresnans are a bunch of smart guys!
I want to see EBAHN FEATHERS! A mobile QB! I am sick and tired of watching six foot five guys dropping back and then throwing the ball away or into double coverage.
Let’s see what the Edison kid has….Maybe we can start to keep some of the EDISON athlete’s to stay home and play for the REDWAVE.
No Dogs Down • Jan 27, 2009 at 6:52 am
You Fresnans are a bunch of smart guys!
I want to see EBAHN FEATHERS! A mobile QB! I am sick and tired of watching six foot five guys dropping back and then throwing the ball away or into double coverage.
Let’s see what the Edison kid has….Maybe we can start to keep some of the EDISON athlete’s to stay home and play for the REDWAVE.
FSDogs1 • Jan 26, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Yeah, hopefully Hill let’s Derek Carr play his game. I mean, just think how good that ol’ David Carr kid could’ve been if Hill would have let him play his game too…
Sheesh, the Hill bashers need to stop, especially when they’re not making sense.
FSDogs1 • Jan 27, 2009 at 6:38 am
Yeah, hopefully Hill let’s Derek Carr play his game. I mean, just think how good that ol’ David Carr kid could’ve been if Hill would have let him play his game too…
Sheesh, the Hill bashers need to stop, especially when they’re not making sense.
Tom • Jan 25, 2009 at 6:33 pm
When you can’t even get second place in the WAC due to a head coach who lets his players quit on the fans and community every year, it is easy to see why people have grown tired over 12 years of failure. Hill is living like a king making 1.2 million dollars a year for failing, and yet he insults and downgrades the fanbase all the time to people making much less than him who go to the games. How many years of not winning the WAC does it take to get rid of him? Is there one other coach in the nation who can not win an outright conference championship for 12 years and still have a job? It makes no logical sense.
Tom • Jan 26, 2009 at 1:33 am
When you can’t even get second place in the WAC due to a head coach who lets his players quit on the fans and community every year, it is easy to see why people have grown tired over 12 years of failure. Hill is living like a king making 1.2 million dollars a year for failing, and yet he insults and downgrades the fanbase all the time to people making much less than him who go to the games. How many years of not winning the WAC does it take to get rid of him? Is there one other coach in the nation who can not win an outright conference championship for 12 years and still have a job? It makes no logical sense.
George Costanza • Jan 25, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Art, well said. Let’s not buy the hype right now. But Wendy’s has some good 99 cent specials we should be looking to buy soon. Queue up now or foreever hold your breath. fans get more excited around here for a fast food opening than a winning football season. More excited over a PAPE truck race on the jumbotron than a 3rd and 2 goalline stop. It’s sad to see the likes of Utah and Boise get all the acclaim when we should be right up there with the best mid-majors. BYU might be a more appropriate measuring stick.
George Costanza • Jan 25, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Art, well said. Let’s not buy the hype right now. But Wendy’s has some good 99 cent specials we should be looking to buy soon. Queue up now or foreever hold your breath. fans get more excited around here for a fast food opening than a winning football season. More excited over a PAPE truck race on the jumbotron than a 3rd and 2 goalline stop. It’s sad to see the likes of Utah and Boise get all the acclaim when we should be right up there with the best mid-majors. BYU might be a more appropriate measuring stick.
Ben • Jan 24, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Hill knows more than everyone in the history of college football. I mean, not every coach can be at a school for 12 years (his entire tenure at the school) in the football powerhouse conference of the WAC and not win one single outright WAC championship. For that matter, the team usually doesn’t even get second. 3rd-5th is by far the most likely finish for the Bulldogs. Despite this fact, you have clowns who think that he is a good coach. Are you freakin nuts? This isn’t intramurals. IT”S DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL! Isn’t the goal to win games and conference championships? And then, maybe get a shot at a BCS game?
1-7 against Boise State. That is putrid. The games usually aren’t close either. 61-3. (The gift pick six off of Boise’s backup QB on senior day shows how much Peterson respects Hill.) Not scoring one offensive touchdown? Wow, tremendous game planning there. Is this Fresno State or Idaho? The fans deserve better.
Thomas Boeh: Please do all of the long-suffering Bulldog football fans a favor and do everything within your power to end this madness. Season ticket sales for 09 might be less than 20,000 with attendance at games not breaking 30,000. Do the right thing. Thank you in advance from all Bulldog football fans.
Ben • Jan 25, 2009 at 1:10 am
Hill knows more than everyone in the history of college football. I mean, not every coach can be at a school for 12 years (his entire tenure at the school) in the football powerhouse conference of the WAC and not win one single outright WAC championship. For that matter, the team usually doesn’t even get second. 3rd-5th is by far the most likely finish for the Bulldogs. Despite this fact, you have clowns who think that he is a good coach. Are you freakin nuts? This isn’t intramurals. IT”S DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL! Isn’t the goal to win games and conference championships? And then, maybe get a shot at a BCS game?
1-7 against Boise State. That is putrid. The games usually aren’t close either. 61-3. (The gift pick six off of Boise’s backup QB on senior day shows how much Peterson respects Hill.) Not scoring one offensive touchdown? Wow, tremendous game planning there. Is this Fresno State or Idaho? The fans deserve better.
Thomas Boeh: Please do all of the long-suffering Bulldog football fans a favor and do everything within your power to end this madness. Season ticket sales for 09 might be less than 20,000 with attendance at games not breaking 30,000. Do the right thing. Thank you in advance from all Bulldog football fans.
Art VanDelay • Jan 24, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Carr will most likely redshirt like every other Bulldog quarterback since Hill has been there, including big brother David. Then he’ll be the back up the following year and take over (if things go according to plan) as a 3 year starter starting in his red-shirt sophomore season. If anybody thinks otherwise, they’re drinking the same Kool Aid that Pat hands out making you think the team will somehow finish near the top of the WAC instead of 5th, or 3rd or anything besides 1st.
He may be fine when he takes over after Ryan Colburn graduates. But until then, it probably won’t happen. And speaking of Colburn, poor guy will have his 5th Offensive Coordinator in his 5 years of gray shirt, redshirt, etc at FSU.
And my bet on that is Jeff Grady. Hill won’t get anyone else to come to FSU on a late start and he’ll take Grady on the cheap. 2009 might be really interesting. Especially with the great home schedule of UC Davis and 4 WAC games. Wow, I can see the lines forming now for season tickets. No, wait, that’s for the Wendy’s down the street. Nevermind.
Art VanDelay • Jan 24, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Carr will most likely redshirt like every other Bulldog quarterback since Hill has been there, including big brother David. Then he’ll be the back up the following year and take over (if things go according to plan) as a 3 year starter starting in his red-shirt sophomore season. If anybody thinks otherwise, they’re drinking the same Kool Aid that Pat hands out making you think the team will somehow finish near the top of the WAC instead of 5th, or 3rd or anything besides 1st.
He may be fine when he takes over after Ryan Colburn graduates. But until then, it probably won’t happen. And speaking of Colburn, poor guy will have his 5th Offensive Coordinator in his 5 years of gray shirt, redshirt, etc at FSU.
And my bet on that is Jeff Grady. Hill won’t get anyone else to come to FSU on a late start and he’ll take Grady on the cheap. 2009 might be really interesting. Especially with the great home schedule of UC Davis and 4 WAC games. Wow, I can see the lines forming now for season tickets. No, wait, that’s for the Wendy’s down the street. Nevermind.
nosoupforyou • Jan 24, 2009 at 11:02 am
Paul, Derek is good! I’ve watched him play in high school. He will lead the Dogs if Pat lets him.
Let’s hope the offensive play calling gets better so Derek can show what he can do.
GO DOGS.
nosoupforyou • Jan 24, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Paul, Derek is good! I’ve watched him play in high school. He will lead the Dogs if Pat lets him.
Let’s hope the offensive play calling gets better so Derek can show what he can do.
GO DOGS.
Benjamin Baxter • Jan 24, 2009 at 12:43 am
Let the mall cop speak!
Benjamin Baxter • Jan 24, 2009 at 7:43 am
Let the mall cop speak!
Steven • Jan 23, 2009 at 11:23 pm
? Paul Blart you are clueless. The Collegian, keep the articles and wisdom of Derek Carr coming. Everyone is sick and tired of Pat Hill and his failures every year. Carr has his priorities straight from what it sounds like. Keep the pressure on Hill. Fresno State deserves to have a football team that doesn’t quit on the fans like they have the last 12 seasons.
Steven • Jan 24, 2009 at 6:23 am
? Paul Blart you are clueless. The Collegian, keep the articles and wisdom of Derek Carr coming. Everyone is sick and tired of Pat Hill and his failures every year. Carr has his priorities straight from what it sounds like. Keep the pressure on Hill. Fresno State deserves to have a football team that doesn’t quit on the fans like they have the last 12 seasons.
Paul Blart • Jan 23, 2009 at 8:46 pm
no more analyzing high school athletes. Don’t ESPNify the Collegian sports pages by exploiting young kids who have yet to step foot on a collegiate playing field. I shudder everytime ESPN or FSN tries to air some rediculous Texas high school in Dallas play a regular season game against some Georgia high school. Let kids be kids. As soon as the young man tosses a college TD, then let the comparison between he and his bro’ begin. Secondary education and the sports played at those schools are not meant to be scouting opportunities for the pros.
Paul Blart • Jan 24, 2009 at 3:46 am
no more analyzing high school athletes. Don’t ESPNify the Collegian sports pages by exploiting young kids who have yet to step foot on a collegiate playing field. I shudder everytime ESPN or FSN tries to air some rediculous Texas high school in Dallas play a regular season game against some Georgia high school. Let kids be kids. As soon as the young man tosses a college TD, then let the comparison between he and his bro’ begin. Secondary education and the sports played at those schools are not meant to be scouting opportunities for the pros.
Bill • Jan 23, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Isn’t it hilarious how a HS Senior (that is technically what Carr still is), has more common sense and his priorities straight than Hill? Thank you Derek Carr for this statement:
“I want to beat Boise,â€Â Carr said. “I want to win a WAC championship and win a BCS game, but we first have to beat Boise to win the WAC.â€Â
Maybe Carr can be the Head Coach/Offense Coordinator/QB for the Bulldogs. Everyone can hope right? It would be nice to beat Boise State/win the WAC more than once a century. BCS? Until the Bulldogs can not lose to Boise State by 51, the BCS will have to wait.
Carr for Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/QB for the next four years!!!!!! Now what about that “shut up and proceed to miss 100 tackles…..on one play” defense? Ahh! Kevin Coyle are you listening? Please come back!!!!!
Bill • Jan 24, 2009 at 12:25 am
Isn’t it hilarious how a HS Senior (that is technically what Carr still is), has more common sense and his priorities straight than Hill? Thank you Derek Carr for this statement:
“I want to beat Boise,” Carr said. “I want to win a WAC championship and win a BCS game, but we first have to beat Boise to win the WAC.”
Maybe Carr can be the Head Coach/Offense Coordinator/QB for the Bulldogs. Everyone can hope right? It would be nice to beat Boise State/win the WAC more than once a century. BCS? Until the Bulldogs can not lose to Boise State by 51, the BCS will have to wait.
Carr for Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/QB for the next four years!!!!!! Now what about that “shut up and proceed to miss 100 tackles…..on one play” defense? Ahh! Kevin Coyle are you listening? Please come back!!!!!
Scott • Jan 23, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Now stop that. We’re fine and content here in Boise to let Fresno be the play big schools then blow the league. Hopefully Hill keeps on doing what he’s been doing and ignores such silliness as win the WAC first.
🙂
Scott • Jan 24, 2009 at 12:12 am
Now stop that. We’re fine and content here in Boise to let Fresno be the play big schools then blow the league. Hopefully Hill keeps on doing what he’s been doing and ignores such silliness as win the WAC first.
🙂
Roger • Jan 23, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Wow, look at that, a recruit says what we all are thinking Beat Boise, Win the WAC and a BCS game. Hill thats the order it goes in, not reverse. He should be coach heck w/ QB.
Roger • Jan 23, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Wow, look at that, a recruit says what we all are thinking Beat Boise, Win the WAC and a BCS game. Hill thats the order it goes in, not reverse. He should be coach heck w/ QB.