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College Football: E. J. Warner Named Starting Quarterback at Fresno State Amid Transfer Portal Scrutiny By [Fictional BBC Sports Correspondent] Elijah “E. J. ” Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, has been officially named the starting quarterback for the Fresno State Bulldogs for the 2025 American college football season. The decision, confirmed by new Head Coach Matt Entz, follows a competitive pre-season camp and marks the third institution where the 21-year-old signal-caller has secured the leading role in as many years, highlighting the fluidity and high-stakes nature of the NCAA transfer system. Warner’s appointment is viewed by many analysts as a calculated risk for the Bulldogs, a programme with a recent history of high-level quarterback play. The senior transfer brings a wealth of experience, boasting over 8,800 career passing yards and 58 touchdowns across previous stints at Temple University and Rice University. However, his movement across three institutions, a growing phenomenon in the modern college game, places intense pressure on both the athlete and the programme to deliver immediate success. Navigating the Transfer Landscape E. J. Warner’s collegiate journey began at Temple in 2022, where he immediately established himself as one of the nation’s most productive freshmen. That season, he earned the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Rookie of the Year award, throwing for over 3,000 yards—the second-most in Temple history.
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He continued that high production in 2023, passing for over 3,070 yards and setting a school record with 23 passing touchdowns, before opting to enter the NCAA transfer portal in November 2023. His move to Rice in 2024 was seen as an opportunity for stability, yet the change was short-lived. Despite logging 2,710 yards and leading the Owls' passing attack, the programme struggled, and Warner re-entered the portal in December 2024, subsequently committing to Fresno State in January 2025. This series of moves illustrates the shifting priorities of elite college athletes who seek environments that align with their professional development ambitions. Fresno State Head Coach Matt Entz, himself in his first year leading the Bulldogs after success at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, praised Warner’s intangibles as the deciding factor in the quarterback competition. “E. J. ’s done a great job with the communication piece, with the leadership piece, [and] his poise under pressure is undeniable,” Coach Entz told local media after announcing the decision. “His experience probably impacted some of the decision-making; he has played a significant number of snaps in high-leverage situations, and that offers a calming effect to the entire offence. ” Offensive Coordinator Josh Davis also lauded Warner’s football intelligence, noting that the transfer’s ability to quickly assimilate complex schemes was a major advantage. “E. J. possesses a tremendous football IQ.
I have actually learned things from him about the way he sees the game and the way he talks about spacing and protections. He is very capable of making all the throws and is technically sound,” Davis stated. The Weight of a Famous Surname The persistent factor accompanying E. J. Warner’s career is the shadow, or perhaps the spotlight, cast by his father, Kurt Warner, a Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL’s most storied players. While E. J. has consistently produced strong statistics—two seasons exceeding 3,000 yards—the comparisons and heightened scrutiny inevitably follow. Early in the 2025 season, Warner experienced some inconsistency, including a handful of early interceptions, leading to public debate among fans and commentators. However, the quarterback maintained a philosophical approach to the external commentary. Speaking to reporters following a recent victory, Warner maintained that external pressure was not affecting his focus. “You just can’t listen to the noise,” he said. “You have to listen to my coaches and the people that know what they’re talking about, people that ball and know the quarterback position.
” He attributed early errors to “bad decisions that I’ve learned from and hopefully won’t repeat again. ” Recent results, including a win over Nevada where he threw two touchdown passes, suggest he is beginning to find the consistency the coaching staff demands. Outlook for the Bulldogs Warner’s success is now inextricably linked to the trajectory of the Fresno State programme under Coach Entz. The Bulldogs are viewed as contenders in the Mountain West Conference, a league often seen as a critical proving ground for quarterbacks with professional aspirations. The focus for Fresno State is leveraging Warner's ability to distribute the ball and utilise his experience to manage high-pressure, late-game scenarios. While the transition from the transfer portal has its risks—chiefly team cohesion and learning a new playbook—the immediate payoff appears to be an established, high-volume passer capable of leading the team to a strong conference campaign. The next phase of Warner’s development will be defined by his consistency in protecting the football and translating his significant passing totals into team victories, especially as the Bulldogs navigate the crucial conference schedule. For E. J. Warner, and for Fresno State, the objective is clear: to combine his veteran experience with the programme's high expectations to secure a championship title, silencing the narrative of instability that often accompanies the frequent use of the transfer portal.
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