COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Fresno State freshman running back Bryson Donelson has been named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday morning. Donelson had a career-high night on Saturday, leading Fresno State to a 28-22 win over Colorado State to become bowl eligible for the fourth-straight season.
Donelson finished the game with 140 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries. It was his first career 100-yard rushing performance. The score was his second touchdown of the season, and his first inside Valley Children's Stadium.
The true freshman ran for the most rushing yards by a Bulldog since Jordan Mim's 200-yard performance in the 2022 LA Bowl. Donelson became the first freshman to run for 100-yards in a game since Mims and fellow classmate Ronnie Rivers in 2017. However, it was the most rushing yards by a true freshman since Ryan Mathews had 171 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries against Nevada on Oct. 6, 2007.
His 140 yards rushing ignited a previously dull Bulldog rushing attack. His yards alone were more than Fresno State has had as a team since having 281 against New Mexico State on Sept. 14.
The Valley native had three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, all in the first half. As a team, the Bulldogs had only seven all season long and no more than three in any one game. His long run of 43 yards was the longest of his career, and the second-longest by a Bulldog this season.
Donelson is the first Bulldog to earn the MW Freshman of the Week honor since DB Cale Sanders Jr in 2021. He is the sixth Bulldog to earn a weekly honor by the conference office this season.
Fresno State closes out its regular season with a trip to the Rose Bowl to face UCLA on Nov. 30 with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff on the Big Ten Network. Tickets for the game are available here.