TIGHT ENDS OUTLOOK
First-year assistant coach Patrick Markarian, a Fresno native who was an offensive lineman on two Fresno City College teams that won conference championships, has taken the reins of the tight end position group after serving last season in a quality control role.
Markarian made his return to the Valley in February 2023 after serving as an offensive quality control assistant and an offensive graduate assistant at Baylor, where in 2021 he helped the Bears win a Big 12 Championship title and a victory over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. Baylor that season set a school record for victories in a season, going 12-2.
The Bulldogs must replace Tre Watson, who caught 38 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns last season before transferring to Texas A&M. The 38 receptions were the most for a Fresno State tight end since Jared Rice had 55 catches in 2018, when the Bulldogs won a Mountain West Conference championship.
But Markarian takes over a room brimming with potential, though it is lacking experience with the exception of its leader, Jake Boust.
Boust is the only one of five returning players to see significant action at the tight end position, with the others contributing primarily on special teams.
Who's back: Boust appeared in all 13 games last season and recorded four receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. He made one start, against Eastern Washington.
"Boust sets the temperature of the tight end room," Markarian said. "He's a Valley kid from Sanger High School. He's Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred. We will follow his leadership and go as he goes."
Kamron Beachem, who played in all 13 games last season, also returns. Beachem primarily contributed on special teams a year ago, and made a key block to spring Malik Sherrod on a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Bulldogs' 37-30 victory over Boise State. Beachem, a big target with speed and athleticism, has the potential to make a significant impact on a Bulldogs' passing game that ranked second in the Mountain West last season.
"Beachem will have a big role in this offense in both the run game and the pass game," Markarian said. "We see him and Boust as two interchangeable pieces. He has developed and grown his game a lot, he's earned the chance to be a big contributor this season."
Jake Tarwater, in just his third season as a tight end after playing quarterback in high school, also played in all 13 games as a special teams contributor.
Richie Anderson and Brock Lium utilized their redshirt season in 2023 as true freshmen.
Anderson displayed significant potential during spring ball, showcasing his ability to stretch the field in the passing game with his athleticism, as well as his physicality in the run game.
Who's new: Freshman Jace Nixon is the lone newcomer in the room.
Nixon graduated from Liberty High in Bakersfield and in 2022 played on a team that delivered the first state championship in school history. He had 12 catches for 208 yards and four touchdowns in his senior season and was a first-team all-league and all-area selection.
What to watch: Fresno State tight ends have had some lean years - they accounted for just 34 receptions in 2022, 41 in 2021 and eight in the COVID-shortended 2020 season. But Watson had a big season a year ago, and the tight ends could again be a big part of the passing game.
The Bulldogs last season under offensive coordinator Pat McCann had five receivers with 40 or more receptions - that had not happened going back through 2000 - and Watson was not far behind with his 38 catches. He also was used more on third downs and in the red zone than the Bulldogs' tight ends had been the three previous seasons.
Boust and Beachem lead a group that could be just as productive as a weapon for Mikey Keene, who is a preseason all-conference selection and the only quarterback in the Mountain West to be selected to the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award.