Former Clovis West WR Relando Jefferson stretches out but is unable to come up with a catch in the first half of their game against Edison at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
CRAIG KOHLRUSS
ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Relando Jefferson wanted one thing before his senior season at Central East.
He wanted certainty.
The standout wide receiver committed to Fresno State before the start of the 2026 high school football season, saying he wanted to feel secure about his future.
After taking his official visit in June, he didn’t have to look far for the right fit.
“When I got there, I felt like they actually wanted me,” Jefferson said. “I didn’t feel like I was just going to be another number on the roster. It felt like family.”
That feeling ultimately led Jefferson to choose the Bulldogs over offers from Arizona, BYU, Cal Poly, Colorado State, Northern Arizona, Oregon State, UNLV and Washington State.
A key factor in the decision was Bulldogs wide receivers coach DelVon Hardaway, whose relationship with Jefferson helped seal the commitment.
“He took me into his office and we had a good talk,” Jefferson said. “I was like, ‘It’s time.’”
Jefferson enters his senior season coming off a productive 2025 campaign in which he totaled 508 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in just seven games at Clovis West. He since transferred to Central East.
He is also the son of former Edison High standout Rolando Jefferson, a former four-star recruit.
The Bulldogs’ 2026 recruiting class will also include Clovis West receiver AJ Williams, who committed shortly before Jefferson.
Before making his announcement, Jefferson said Williams checked in to see where he stood.
“He asked me what I was thinking and if I liked it,” Jefferson said. “I told him, ‘Yeah, bro.’ Then he said, ‘I committed.’”
Jefferson will spend one more season catching passes alongside Central East teammate Bayon Harris (Fresno State commit), giving Bulldogs fans a preview of what the future could look like in Fresno.
“We’re literally going to be playing Friday nights, and we’re on the same side,” Jefferson said. “Playing together on a big stage this season and then on an even bigger stage at Fresno State is awesome. I can’t wait to see that happen, but I’m looking forward to this season.”
Although he wanted to lock in his college decision before his senior year, Jefferson said he never felt pressured to commit early.
Instead, he waited until he found the program that felt right.
“I wanted to make sure I had a team that truly wanted me,” Jefferson said. “I wasn’t rushing it. It was a decision I wanted to make because of how the coaches made me feel and because of my future.”
When asked what Fresno State fans can expect when he arrives, Jefferson kept his answer simple:
“They’re getting a good hustler,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make the team better.”
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Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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