Key player for Fresno State decides to leave early for the NFL
Fresno State offensive guard Netane Muti will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft, he announced Friday night on Twitter.
“Through the guidance of the coaches and staff at Fresno State, I have learned what it means to be a leader,” Muti wrote. “The importance of hard work and how the game of football can be taken away from you at any moment. Most importantly, I have learned that in life or football, when an opportunity presents itself, you have to take it with both arms and never look back.
“With that being said and after much thought and discussion with my family, I have decided to forgo my senior season to enter the 2020 NFL Draft.”
The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Muti was arguably the Bulldogs’ most talented lineman but was injured for much of his career.
He played the first three games this season before a foot injury sidelined him the final nine games. Muti also missed 12 of 14 games in 2018. And he did not play as a true freshman in 2016 after suffering an Achilles’ injury.
In the one season Muti stayed healthy, he started all 14 games and earned All-Mountain West honorable mention honors.
Pro Football Focus rates Muti as one of the top interior offensive lineman in the draft despite being limited because of injuries.
PFF rated Muti ahead of Tyler Bladasz of Wisconsin, Creed Humphrey of Oklahoma, Calvin Throckmorton of Oregon and Logan Stenberg of Kentucky.
The NFL Draft will take place in Las Vegas on April 23-25.
Fresno State has five offensive linemen who started six or more games last season and are considered returning starters in 2020 – tackle Dontae Bull and guard Quireo Woodley (10 starts each), center Matt Smith and tackle Syrus Tuitele (eight starts each) and guard Jace Fuamatu (six starts).
But losing Muti is a considerable setback for a position group hit hard by injuries in a 4-9 season.
Woodley (shoulder), Smith (leg) and Tuitele (back) will be coming back from season-ending injuries when new coach Kalen DeBoer opens spring practice.
Walker to Combine
Muti’s teammate Mykal Walker, a linebacker, has been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine that will place on Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis.
Walker is a first-team selection on the Mountain West all-conference team.
This story was originally published January 3, 2020 at 8:00 PM.
