As Head Coach Matt Entz and the Fresno State football team gears up for the spring, the program will be without three key players from this last season.
Linebacker Jadon Pearson, defensive back Al’zillion Hamilton and kicker Dylan Lynch have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Pearson moved around a lot in his college career. He made stops at Air Force, Reedley College, the University of Utah and Utah State before landing in Fresno for his final collegiate season.
After a solid year at Utah State in 2024, Pearson headed back to the Central Valley where he had his best season yet. He more than doubled his total tackles number as well as added half a sack and forced a fumble for the ‘Dogs.
The linebacker was the Bulldogs’ leading tackler this season with 105. The next highest was defensive back Simeon Harris with 54.
Earlier in the season, Pearson was near the top of the national leaderboard in total tackles. His 105 total tackles to end the year landed him in a tie for the 43rd most in all of college football, tied with multiple players including Boise State defensive back Ty Benefield.
Throughout the season, Pearson was a focal point in one of the best defenses in the Mountain West that allowed the second least amount of points a game. He had six games of 10 or more tackles, including a 16 tackle performance in the win against Oregon State.
At the end of the season, Pearson earned second team All Mountain West honors.
Prior to his arrival at Fresno State, it was linebackers like Tuasivi Nomura and Malachi Langley that anchored the Bulldog defense last year. With their departure following the end of the 2024 season, Pearson filled the hole that was left as Fresno State was without its two leading tacklers. He was also voted a team captain by his teammates.
The other key piece of the Bulldog defense heading to the next level is defensive back Al’zillion Hamilton.
Hamilton spent all four years at Fresno State, working his way to becoming one of the best defensive backs in the Mountain West. Similar to Pearson, he was also voted a team captain.
In the 2025 season, Hamilton finished with 36 total tackles, four passes defended and a career high four interceptions.
His four interceptions placed him in a tie for the second-most in the Mountain West.
At the end of a successful 2024 season which saw Hamilton near the top of multiple defensive statistics in the Mountain West like pass breakups and passes defended, Hamilton entered the transfer portal. Soon after, Hamilton decided to return back to Fresno State under a whole new coaching staff.
With defensive back Cam Lockridge, the team’s leader in interceptions in 2024, leaving for the NFL, Hamilton’s return gave first-year Defensive Coordinator Nick Benedetto a trusted piece in the Bulldogs’ secondary.
As Hamilton and Pearson take the next steps in their careers, the Fresno State fans will be forced to say goodbye to two staples of the defense from this last season and also a former two-time Mountain West special teams player of the week.
Lynch also declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The lefty spent four seasons with the ‘Dogs, finishing with a 76.2% field goal percentage and missed just one extra point in his collegiate career.
Defensive lineman Michael Jordan Jr. also declared.
The Red Wave will have to wait until April 23 to see if these former ‘Dogs get their name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.
