Two more Clovis West football players commit to colleges. One is going to Fresno State
Clovis West High senior Marshel Sanders made his verbal commitment Friday night to play at Fresno State, giving the Bulldogs a third Golden Eagles recruit.
Sanders, a three-star-rated player by 247 Sports, joins wide receiver Jordan Pierro and linebacker Tytus Khajavi in committing to Fresno State.
“I think just everything I had like getting my first offer and then going into getting my offer from Fresno State, I think it’s like it’s been a big deal,” Sanders said.
“It’s just something I dreamed of. This is just like my dream every night.”
Sanders chose Fresno State over Arizona State and Oregon State, but said it was really down to the Bulldogs and the Beavers.
He said his visit to Oregon State was great, but “it was nothing in comparison to what I’ve seen at Fresno State.”
Last season, Sanders helped Clovis West to a Tri-River Athletic Conference title as the team went 4-1 with a 10-2 overall record.
Sanders had 60 receptions for a team-leading 1,098 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively, he made 58 tackles with three pass deflections.
In speaking to Fresno State coaches, he said they didn’t promise him anything because changes can happen at any time.
The only promise Fresno State made to Sanders was one that really mattered the most.
“They just promised me a lot about the winning mindset; the culture of it,” he said. “Everything just to be greater.”
He said he spoke to Bulldogs offensive coordinator Pat McCann the most.
“He’s just straight up with everybody,” Sanders said. “Like he doesn’t joke off or none of that, like beating around the bush. He’s very straight up. I really appreciate that.
McCann wasn’t the only coach to whom Sanders spoke.
He got a chance to talk with head coach Jeff Tedford at a 7-on-7 recently when the Bulldogs hosted the camp.
In talking to his parents, Tamara and Marcel, the family was reminded what Tedford brings to the recruiting table.
“I never really thought about it that much until my parents were like, ‘Can you not understand, like, who do you have a chance to play with?’
“This man has coached like some real good players and I think that was a huge role in my commitment, take to the fact that I want somebody that can get me to the next level and knows how much work it takes to do.”
While Sanders is solely focused on helping the Golden Eagles to another TRAC title and a Central Section title, he said Bulldogs fans can expect something from him:
“I’ll tell you one thing, the Fresno State fans can expect that I’m gonna be a ’Dog, no matter what I do,” he said. “In anything I’m trying to achieve and that’s how the whole team’s mindset is going to be like.”
Landon Wright chooses Washington State
It was down to Fresno State, Washington State and Colorado State, but it was the Cougars of the Pac-12 that won over Wright.
“Just be able to call a place home already,” said Wright, rated by 247 Sports as a three-star recruit. “I don’t have to deal with the commitment problem process anymore.”
Wright said he’s solid on his commitment to Washington State.
Last season, he finished with 776 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for the Golden Eagles
He said when he visited the campus, he really took a lot out of the visit.
“I like Washington State just because, the way the team and the players showed me that they’re really serious about the brotherhood kind of family,” he said.
He said the Bulldogs were really close to landing him, but he felt going to Pullman, Washington, was the right idea.
“I took a lot (from talking to coaches at Washington State),” he said. “Everything they’re telling me about what I would do when I get there, just like they already coach me and show me new things that I didn’t know about the receiver position.”
