Somewhat surprisingly, Fresno State has lost its incumbent at the quarterback position.
In a press release, head coach Tim DeRuyter announced “that Brian Burrell has been released from his football responsibilities as the quarterback wishes to forgo his last remaining season of eligibility with the Bulldogs.” Why Burrell is foregoing his final season of eligibility with the Bulldogs, and whether he will transfer to another football program to continue his playing career, are great unknowns.
Burrell is slated to graduate in May, so, if he decided to continue his playing career at the collegiate level, he could transfer to another FBS program and be eligible to play in 2015.
“I’m very thankful for the dedication and determination that Brian Burrell brought to our program, especially this past season,” DeRuyter said in a statement. “He now wishes to pursue other avenues with his life and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
The 2014 season was Burrell’s first, and now last season as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback as he started 13 of 14 games last year. He completed 58 percent of his 432 passes for 2,620 yards, 22 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Those 18 picks were tied with, among others, Florida State’s Jameis Winston for second-most among FBS quarterbacks.
With Burrell’s departure, the Bulldogs will have three options at the position when they open spring practice in early March: redshirt sophomore Zack Greenlee, redshirt freshman Kilton Anderson and true freshman Chason Virgil. Greenlee was the No. 3 quarterback in 2014, completing 18 of his 41 pass attempts. The other two have not thrown a pass at the collegiate level.