Around the Central Valley, you’ll find many different people who you may not immediately realize have a knack for athletic talent. Though the valley is smaller than some talent pools around the world and maybe sometimes overlooked by talent evaluators and scouts, guys like Derek Carr, Josh Allen, Davante Adams, Aaron Judge, Jalen Green and Xavier Worthy have proven that the valley is a hotbed for talented athletes and that sustainable pro careers can be started here.
Davante Adams
Another Fresno State Football great Davante Adams continues to add to the successes of his NFL career. Adams played for the Fresno State football team from 2012-2013 before declaring for the 2014 NFL Draft where he was taken in the 2nd round by the Green Bay Packers. While at Fresno State, Adams was a two-time All-Mountain West first-teamer. Adams also caught a touchdown pass in 22-of-26 collegiate career games. He had streaks of 11 (school & Mountain West record) and nine-straight games catching a touchdown pass in his career. His 38 career touchdown catches as a Bulldog set a new school and Mountain West record.
In the NFL, Adams has found equal amounts of success. While with the Packers in 2021, Adams finished in the top 10 in receiving yards. Adams recorded 1,553 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. That was the best statistical season of Adams’ career thus far.
The 2024 season was a whirlwind for Adams. After beginning the season with the Las Vegas Raiders, he requested a trade following week 4, citing the need to get away from the Raiders due to feeling “helpless” in that situation. He would then be traded to the New York Jets in a reunion with former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Going into the 2025 season, Adams will be heading back to California as he recently signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams.
Josh Allen
Josh Allen is coming off a season to remember. In 2024, the former Reedley College and Wyoming quarterback put together a season that will go down in the history books. Allen, the star quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, led his team to a 14-3 record while completing 63.6% of his passes for 3,731 yards, 28 passing touchdowns and threw just 6 interceptions. He also rushed for 531 yards and had 12 rushing touchdowns. Allen kept his team rolling all year long. Unfortunately, they would fall one game short of the Super Bowl, losing to the Chiefs, 32-29, in the AFC Championship Game.
Despite this, Allen’s momentous season would help him win NFL MVP honors for the 2024 season. Allen was announced as the winner on Feb. 6 at the NFL Honors ceremony.
Before becoming an NFL star, Allen started his collegiate career at Reedley College in 2014. He then played for the Wyoming Cowboys from 2015-2017, earning second-team All-Mountain West honors in 2016 after throwing for 3,203 yards and 28 passing touchdowns. After his third season at Wyoming, he entered the 2018 NFL Draft and was taken by the Buffalo Bills with the 7th overall pick.
Derek Carr
Derek Carr is regarded as a Bulldog football great. Carr spent his entire college career with the Fresno State football team. While at Fresno State, Carr became a two-time Mountain West offensive player of the year, becoming the third player in league history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. Carr is one of only two players in Fresno State history to be named a conference offensive player of the year in back-to-back seasons, joining Kevin Sweeney (1985 & 1986 While Fresno State was in the Big West conference).
Additionally, Carr notably became the fourth quarterback in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history to throw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdown passes in a season as a senior in 2013. Carr would go on to become a 2nd-round pick of the then-Oakland Raiders in 2014. After spending 11 years with the Raiders, Carr is coming off a second season with the New Orleans Saints. In the 2024 season, Carr completed 67.7% of his passes while throwing for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Unfortunately, Carr’s season was cut short after he sustained a broken hand in week 14 of the season. He will look to bounce back in the upcoming 2025 season.
Jalen Green
The San Joaquin Memorial standout, Jalen Green, is currently in his 4th season with the Houston Rockets, who drafted the shooting guard with the 2nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. After his senior year of high school, Green decided to forgo the college basketball landscape, instead opting to join the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental league that the NBA set up to get young stars ready for the NBA using pro coaching and schemes.
After his rookie season in 2021, Green was named to the Kia NBA All-Rookie first team. That season, Green averaged 17.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
This season, Green is averaging 21.4 points per game to go along with 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. So far this season, Green is shooting 42.5% from the field. Green’s Rockets are currently 45-25, 2nd in the Western Conference.
Aaron Judge
One of the most well-known Diamond ‘Dogs is Aaron Judge. He is going into his 9th season with the New York Yankees. In the 2024 season, Judge finished with a .332% batting average along with 58 home runs and 144 RBI. Throughout his career, Judge has won American League MVP twice, once in 2022 and this last season in 2024, as well as the American League Rookie of the Year in 2017. The outfielder also has been named to the All-MLB First Team three times in his career (2021,2023,2024).
Judge has been with the Yankees since 2016 when he was selected 32nd overall in the 2016 MLB Draft. Judge had a remarkable time at Fresno State. As a Sophomore in 2012, Judge helped power Fresno State to a Western Athletic Conference tournament championship and NCAA Regional appearance. Additionally, he was named first-team All-WAC for the second straight year (Judge also earned this honor in 2011). It was also in 2012 when Judge displayed immense durability, as he played and started in 58 of 59 games that season. Other notable accolades also included Judge becoming a TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby Champion in 2012 and recording a team-high 12 home runs in the 2013 season. Needless to say, Judge made his mark on the valley for years and years to come.
Xavier Worthy
Central High School graduate Xavier Worthy could not have drawn up a more successful rookie campaign. The wide receiver recorded a 4.21 40-yard dash time at the 2024 NFL Combine, which is a new record. At the 2024 NFL Draft, Worthy was selected as the 32nd overall pick in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.
In his rookie season, Worthy recorded 638 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. Worthy enjoyed great team success as well, as the Chiefs advanced to Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, the Chiefs would experience a crushing defeat, losing 40-22.
But Worthy still made the most of his opportunity to shine on the biggest stage, finishing the game with 8 receptions, 157 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdown receptions. His 157 receiving-yard performance was the fifth most for a receiver in Super Bowl history. Now he looks to carry the momentum into 2025.
Athletes around the valley are very successful, and some of them are just scratching the surface. For these athletes and more, the sky’s the limit, and the valley is a place these athletes can carry with them all throughout their professional careers, doing so proudly and confidently.