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Update: Haener will get the nod for today’s bowl game.
Fresno State QB Jake Haener will play today vs. UTEP in New Mexico Bowl, source told @ActionNetworkHQ. Earlier this month, Haener entered NCAA Transfer Portal but then withdrew & decided to remain at Fresno State after hiring of new coach Jeff Tedford
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 18, 2021
Fresno State QB Jake Haener warms up for today’s New Mexico Bowl vs. UTEP. He will play today. 3,800 yards, 32 TDs this season. pic.twitter.com/G5wxMaQmwJ
— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) December 18, 2021
The Fresno State Bulldogs are set to face the UTEP Miners in the New Mexico Bowl this afternoon at 2:15 p.m. ET and the biggest question heading in is whether or not quarterback Jake Haener will get the start under center.
The gritty QB withdrew his name from the transfer portal last week, indicating that he was returning to the Valley for another year. He’s participated in practices and bowl prep this week but interim head coach Lee Marks has remained mum on who will get the start against the Miners today. It could be Haener, redshirt freshman Logan Fife or true freshman Jaylen Henderson.
Fresno State interim coach Lee Marks after he said he was "still making a decision" on who would start at QB vs. UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl.
— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) December 18, 2021
I would assume he does actually know who's starting for his team at QB tomorrow vs. UTEP; Jake Haener's status is still unknown. pic.twitter.com/GbQ1df3MHF
A senior out of Danville, CA, Haener spent a year at Washington before transferring to Fresno State in 2019. After sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, he emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Mountain West in 2020 and continued his success into 2021. This fall, he led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 campaign, throwing for 3,810 yards, 32 touchdowns, and nine interceptions to earn Second-Team All-MWC honors.
Following the departure of head coach Kalen DeBoar to Washington, Haener entered the transfer portal where it was widely speculated that he’d follow his coach and return to Seattle. However, he’s sticking it out in Fresno and we’ll see if he’ll get the chance to lead his team to a 10th victory in New Mexico.