What Fresno State coach Matt Entz credited this ex-Clovis West standout in win
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Matt Entz credits Tytus Khaiavi for athleticism and steady play in win.
- Redshirt freshman led Fresno State with six tackles and recorded first sack.
- Khaiavi’s Clovis West accolades and family ties reinforced Fresno State recruitment.
Fresno State football head coach Matt Entz has become a big believer in linebacker Tytus Khajavi.
The former Clovis West standout had a hand in the Bulldogs’ 24-3 victory over Wyoming at Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday night.
The redshirt freshman led the Bulldogs with six tackles and notched his first-career sack.
Entz likely underestimated Khajavi when he first arrived at Fresno State. But he’s OK with that.
“He is steady, a really good player, and probably more athletic than I gave him credit for,” he said. “Coming off the edge and making that sack he had, that is a 1-1 tackle in space, and that is a tough deal.”
Such as when Wyoming faced a 3rd-and-9 at the Bulldogs’ 44-yard line.
Khajavi came off the edge and sacked Kaden Anderson for a loss of 17 yards. It was the defensive plays that Khajavi provided that gave Fresno State a chance to be in games.
He did the same at Clovis West.
In 2022, he was named the Tri-River Athletic Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with 30 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He was also named to The Bee All-Star team.
Khajavi impressed Fresno State coaches at the Bulldogs Prospect Camp. He had an uncle and a cousin who played for the Bulldogs. It felt natural for him to play at Fresno State. His cousin? It was Johnny Rojas.
And it was former Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford who offered Khajavi.
So far, it’s paying dividends for Fresno State.
“I don’t think about my performance individually,” he said. “Football is a team game. I couldn’t make the plays that I do without my teammates doing their assignments, and then me being in the right place at the right time.
“We are playing hard-nosed football. Eleven hats to the ball, on offense and defense. Our run game is amazing right now. Defensively, we are stopping our opponent’s run game. We are expanding our tool bag from there.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM.
