A Bulldog beatdown helped Fresno State land its latest commit, Tito Chikere
Fresno State has received a commitment from Tito Chikere, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end who has athleticism, physicality and a chance to be a very productive player for the Bulldogs football team in future years.
But what also is notable is that Chikere is from Kempner High in Sugar Land, Texas, just outside Houston, and is the sixth out-of-state commitment for Fresno State in its 2021 recruiting class. Come signing day, that will be the most for the Bulldogs since they had seven in a 2016 recruiting class that featured a Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year in linebacker Jeff Allison and a 38-game starter in cornerback Jaron Bryant.
With Chikere, as with others in that group, the Bulldogs’ staff built relationships through their relationships.
Kempner High coach Darrin Andrus has a long relationship with Fresno State assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Julius Brown going back to when Brown was at Boise State and it pulled another prime recruit, George Iloka, out of the Kempner program.
A memorable trip to Bulldog Stadium
Andrus also made a memorable trip to Bulldog Stadium in 1988.
“I played at McNeese State, back in the day,” he said. “We went out and played Fresno State back when they had Ron Cox and those guys.”
The Bulldogs won that game 49-0 on their way to a 10-2 finish and Big West Conference title under coach Jim Sweeney, but the atmosphere was more memorable than the outcome.
“It was a sea of red,” Andrus said. “I love that place. It’s awesome.”
So Andrus had a background with the staff and a small bittersweet slice of the Bulldogs’ history to share with Chikere when Fresno State came calling.
“(Brown) called me and asked about Tito early in the process and so I went to him and said, ‘You need to think about Fresno…’” Andrus said.
“But he had other offers, and I was expecting even more to come in just based on his size alone.”
Chikere, a three-year starter at Kempner who also had scholarship offers from Air Force, New Mexico and New Mexico State, among others, said Fresno State just felt like home.
“The family atmosphere, I just love that,” he said. “They really pushed for me to commit there. They’ve been recruiting me for a while. Coach (Kalen) DeBoer, (defensive line coach Eric Schmidt), they’ve been good.”
Fresno State’s Class of 2021
In Chikere, the Bulldogs are getting a defensive lineman who could play outside or eventually move inside as e continues to grow.
“The upside on him is tremendous,” Andrus said. “He’s going to be a really big kid when it’s all over with. They’re getting a catch.
“He was a basketball player a little bit before. He quit that before COVID-19 started and hit the weight room hard. He put on probably 20 pounds in two months. He’s going to work, for sure.”
Fresno State also has out-of-state commitments in its 2021 recruiting class from outside linebacker Frankco Gratton Jr. (6-4, 185) from Rainier Beach-Seattle; defensive back Charlotin Charles (6-0, 195) from Bishop Gorman-Las Vegas; tight end Tre Watson (6-5, 222) from Cleveland-Rio Rancho, N.M.; offensive tackle Braylen Nelson (6-5, 310) from Vista Peak-Aurora, Colo.; and running back Malik Brooks (6-2, 205) from Desert Pines-Las Vegas.
In state, the Bulldogs have commits from San Joaquin Memorial High running back Jordan Hornbeak; offensive lineman Rolan Fullwood (6-5, 305) and running back Johnathan Arceneaux (6-0, 185) both from Lawndale High; quarterback Jaylen Henderson (6-3, 205) from Chaminade-West Hills; safety Julian Neal (6-4, 195) from Mission-San Francisco; defensive tackle Julius Lewis (6-5, 280) from Central Catholic-Modesto; defensive back Joshua Meredith (6-0, 180) from Valhalla-El Cajon; and defensive back Alzillion Hamilton (5-11, 180) from Hayward.