Bulldogs awaiting draft weekend

Fresno State's Bernard Berrian and Bryce McGill are prepared for this weekend's NFL draft

By Eddie Hughes

This weekend marks the end and the beginning for Fresno State football players Bernard Berrian and Bryce McGill.

It marks the end of the two players’ college careers. After this weekend’s NFL Draft, they won’t be called Fresno State players anymore without inserting the word “former” before the university’s name.

It marks the beginning in that they could both be going on to the next level—the NFL.

Berrian was one of the most highly touted wide receivers in Fresno State history after an explosive junior season in 2001, but sat almost the entire 2002 season with an injured right knee.

He redshirted and returned to play for the Bulldogs in 2003, but saw substantial decreases in his statistics. Still, the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is considered one of the top receivers in a draft that is loaded with talent at the receiver position.

“ It’s good to be part of the group,” Berrian said.

In 2001, with the assistance of former Bulldogs quarterback David Carr, Berrian hauled in 85 catches for 1,364 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 2,776 all-purpose yards that season set a Western Athletic Conference record.

But Berrian tore his medial collateral ligament in the 2002 season opener at Wisconsin. He sat out the remainder of the season before coming back in 2003.

Big numbers were expected again. Decent numbers came, as Berrian tallied 668 yards and four touchdowns on 63 receptions.

Now, Berrian said, NFL personnel consider lower-body strength and route running to be his weaknesses.

It’s tough to say whether that would have been the case if Berrian opted to leave Fresno State and go pro after the 2001 or 2002 seasons.

“ There’s always room for improvement,” Berrian said.

“ To me, I felt like I ran the same way.”

Despite playing in all 14 of Fresno State’s games last season, Berrian said he still has to prove to the NFL that he is 100 percent healthy.

Berrian told The Collegian in August that his parents advised him to come back for the 2003 season.

“ My overall look at the big picture is education,” said his father, Joseph Berrian, in an August interview. “If he would have come out early, he wouldn’t have graduated.”

Before the 2002 season, NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. rated Berrian the fifth best senior draft prospect in the country.

He’s no longer projected in Kiper’s first round. Now, the second or third round seems more likely.

The Sporting News lists Berrian with second-round talent but has him going to the New England Patriots in the third round of its mock draft.

Berrian said the list of teams considering choosing him are the 49ers, Dolphins, Raiders, Sea-hawks, Chiefs, Panthers and Jaguars.

Berrian is likely to be chosen on Saturday, the first day of the draft.

McGill might see his name scroll across the screen on ESPN this weekend too. McGill said he is being told he will be either a Sunday draft pick or a free agent.

“ I’m hearing everything right now.”

McGill played linebacker for the Bulldogs in 2003 and parts of 2002, but is projected as a safety in the NFL.

“ I feel more natural playing safety,” he said.

He recorded 326 career tackles and 17 sacks in four seasons with the Bulldogs.

McGill, at 5-foot-11, 225 pounds, was one of the hardest hitters in the WAC. McGill’s 4.47-second time in the 40-yard dash couldn’t have hurt his draft stock.

That’s the time McGill said he recorded in postseason workouts with NFL personnel. He also had a 33-inch vertical leap and recorded 17 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press.

The Baltimore Ravens visited Fresno for a private workout with McGill, Berrian and Bulldogs cornerback Kendall Edwards.

McGill, the first-team All-WAC honoree, said he is part excited, part nervous in anticipation of the draft.

“ A little bit of both,” McGill said. “I hope I get drafted.”