Quarterback E.J. Warner, a starter for three seasons at his two previous colleges, will be behind center for Fresno State’s season opener, ESPN reported on Monday.
The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, E.J. Warner started for two seasons at Temple and in 2024 at Rice before entering the transfer portal prior to his senior year.
Warner won a competition for first string with redshirt sophomore Jayden Mandal and sophomore Carson Conklin, a transfer from Sacramento State, according to the ESPN report. Mandal made his first career start in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Northern Illinois on Dec. 23. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 39 yards and one interception.
Listed at 6-foot and 203 pounds, Warner completed 796 of 1,327 passes (60 percent) for 8,814 yards, 58 touchdowns and 37 interceptions at Temple (2022-23) and Rice.
His 2,710 yards passing in 2024 ranks fifth all-time at Rice, where he completed 272 of 439 attempts for 17 touchdowns and 13 picks in 11 games. He set single-season records in 2023 at Temple with 23 TDs and 445 attempts while passing for at least 3,000 yards (3,076) for the second straight season.
Warner is playing for new head coach Matt Entz, who served as the assistant head coach the past two seasons at Southern California after winning two FCS national championships as head coach at North Dakota State.
The Bulldogs open their season Aug. 23 at Kansas, with the home opener on Aug. 30 against Georgia Southern.
–Field Level Media
