Fresno State football lands pass rusher who could be critical piece to 2023 puzzle

National letter of intent signing day was relatively quiet at Fresno State, but it was not uneventful. After signing the majority of its 2023 recruiting class during the early signing period in December, it received a commitment on Wednesday from Ezra Christensen from San Diego Mesa College, who fills a gaping hole on the roster.

Christensen, an edge rusher who also was recruited by San Diego State and San Jose State, is an intriguing mix of power and speed and next season could fill the role of David Perales, who last week played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl for draft prospects.

“As a young athlete from Africa, I never imagined that my dream of playing Division I football would become a reality,” Christensen said on Twitter. “But with the support of my parents, junior college coaches, and countless others, I am now living my dream and competing at the highest collegiate level.”

Perales in his senior season led the Mountain West with 11.5 sacks, was second with 16.0 tackles for loss and was one of four Bulldogs to earn first-team all-conference honors from a team that became the first in college football history to go from a 1-4 start to a 10-4 finish with a conference championship and victory in the LA Bowl.

The Bulldogs going forward are well-stocked at the interior defensive line positions, with a group that includes Johnny Hudson Jr., Gavriel Lightfoot, Jacob Holmes and Matt Lawson returning. Devo Bridges, the defensive most valuable player in the LA Bowl victory over Washington State, also will be back and thrived playing inside and outside at around 240 pounds. But Perales was by far the Bulldogs’ highest-graded defensive lineman rushing the passer — he had a 78.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, and the next highest lineman was at 62.8.

He also knocked down five passes at the line of scrimmage, forced two fumbles and had one interception.

Fresno State also signed defensive back Ah’Marion Ashley from Edison High in Stockton and made official mid-year additions from the junior college ranks in wideouts Artis Cole from Glendale, Ariz. College and Antoine Sullivan from San Diego Mesa College and offensive lineman Edward Fonua from Cerritos College and FBS transfers in running back Damien Moore from Cal, linebacker Tuasivi Nomura from USC and safety Dean Clark from Kent State.

FRESNO STATE 2023 RECRUITING CLASS

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Jayden Mandal (6-0, 221), Buchanan

Mikey Keene (5-11, 180), Central Florida

Running back

Charles Greer (5-10, 190) Concord De La Salle

Devon Rivers (5-7, 170) Brentwood Heritage

Damien Moore (5-10, 212) Cal

Wideout

Tim Grear Jr. (6-1, 175) Ventura College

Artis Cole (6-0, 188) Glendale, Ariz. College

Antoine Sullivan (6-2, 178) San Diego Mesa College

Tight end

Brock Lium (6-5, 215) Highland Citrus Valley

Jake Tarwater (6-4, 230) College of the Sequoias

Richie Anderson (6-4, 230) Tualatin, Ore.

Offensive line

Hayden Pulis (6-6, 285) Fresno City College

Caleb Barajas (6-5, 275) Ventura College

Edward Fonua (6-3, 315) Cerritos College

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Dupre Mendoza (6-4, 330) Mt. San Antonio College

Mordecai Hines (6-5, 265) Palmdale Highland

Isiah Chala (6-4, 255) San Francisco Riordan

Ezra Christensen (6-2, 260) San Diego Mesa College

Linebacker

RL Miller (6-3, 190) San Francisco Sacred Heart

Tuasivi Nomura (6-1, 227) USC

Defensive back

Brandon Ramirez (6-0, 205) San Joaquin Memorial

Justin Johnson (6-1, 200) Inglewood

Dean Clark (6-1, 207) Kent State

Ah’Marion Ashley (5-11, 170) Stockton Edison