Fresno State to retire jersey No. 15 in honor of record-obliterating wideout Davante Adams

Fresno State will retire jersey No. 15 in honor of record-setting wideout Davante Adams, who in just two seasons in a Bulldogs uniform caught 233 passes for 3,031 yards and 38 touchdowns, was a two-time All-American and as a sophomore in 2013 won the Paul Warfield Award as the top receiver in the nation.

“We’re excited,” athletics director Terry Tumey said. “His accomplishments here at the university and beyond are outstanding. What he did during his time here playing for the Bulldogs and what he has done in his professional career, setting the standard for a player in the National Football League, must be recognized.

“However, what I think is even more impressive is what he does beyond the field of play and his investment in youth and his investment in his community, which truly reflect the principles of community that we look for here at Fresno State. We couldn’t be more proud to extend this invitation.”

Adams’ career record for touchdown receptions still stands — Adams obliterated the mark of 25 set by Henry Ellard and later tied by Charlie Jones and Bernard Berrian. Josh Harper, Adams’ teammate in 2012 and ‘13, later moved into second place with 29 touchdown catches. Adams also holds school records for receptions in a season with 131, receiving yards in a season with 1,718 and touchdown receptions in a season with 24, all set in 2013; career games with 10 or more receptions with nine; and the most consecutive games with a TD reception with 11.

Adams’ jersey will be retired in a ceremony during the Bulldogs’ Oct. 15 Homecoming against San Jose State, their next home game and a bye weekend for Adams’ current team, the Las Vegas Raiders.

He will be the ninth player in school history to have his jersey number placed on the front of the press box at Valley Children’s Stadium following, in numerical order, quarterback Derek Carr (No. 4), quarterback David Carr (No. 8), quarterback Kevin Sweeney (No. 9), quarterback Trent Dilfer (No. 12), kicker Vince Petrucci (No. 14), running back Dale Messer (No. 21), running back Lorenzo Neal (No. 22) and wideout Henry Ellard (No. 83).

“I think it’s awesome.” said Neal, who had his jersey retired last season prior to a game against Nevada. “When you look at Davante and what he has done on the collegiate level, of course, and also on the pro level, when you look at the body of work, this guy not only will have his number be retired at Fresno State, but I think he’s possibly a Hall of Famer in the National Football League.

“Davante is a great player. He’s a great person. I think his work ethic shows who he is. And, with what I’ve seen and in talking to him, he’s a better person than he is a player. I don’t say that about a lot of guys. There’s not a lot of guys in the league that you can say that about. There are some good guys, and when you can say they’re a better person than they are a player, that’s tall cotton. Davante Adams, you see what he’s been in the league. He’s a mainstay, the consistency. That’s what greatness is. Greatness is doing something over and over again, so Davante, I think it’s awesome that he’s getting his jersey retired.”

Adams, who was on eight All-American teams following his redshirt sophomore season, was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft and was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders this past summer, reuniting him with Derek Carr.

Carr and Adams fueled one of the most dynamic offenses in college football in 2013, when Fresno State averaged 43.4 points per game, became one of just six teams in NCAA Division I history with three 1,000-yard receivers with Adams, Isaiah Burse and Harper and finished 11-2 with a Mountain West Conference championship.

In that title game, the first in conference history, Adams caught nine passes for 168 yards and one touchdown in a 24-17 victory over Utah State. Adams had six games with 10 or more receptions that season, three games with 200 or more receiving yards and two games with four touchdown receptions.

Adams has only improved his game in the NFL and is recognized as one of if not the best route runners in the league.

In eight seasons in Green Bay, he caught 669 passes for 8,121 yards with 73 touchdowns, ranking second on the Packers’ all-time receptions list, fourth on the receiving yards list and second on the touchdown receptions list and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection.

“So deserving,” coach Jeff Tedford said. “Not only what he did here, had a great career here and then what he has been doing in the NFL. He’s a great representative of our program. I’m really happy for him.”