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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cAthletically, his arm strength stands out, as does the physical size, a 235-pound guy who can run a little bit. So that\u2019s exciting to help us when we don\u2019t have the right play call, improvise, and make plays off schedule is a huge part of how teams win championships,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited about that. So Khristian\u2019s been a blessing, man. He\u2019s up early every day. He\u2019s in my office almost when I arrive with a couple of questions, and then he goes and takes care of his body.\u201d<\/p>\n
Others competing for QB1 are Jayden Mandal, the only experienced returner but coming back from elbow surgery; Jonathan Craft, a redshirt freshman; and true freshmen Deagan Rose from Clovis High School and Jacob Chambers from Rancho Cucamonga High School.<\/p>\n
Davis said no decision is coming soon. As of now, this spring is similar to last spring when E.J. Warner transferred to Fresno State from Rice. Unlike Martin, though, Warner came to the Bulldogs with tons of starting experience. Martin, who is a sophomore in eligibility, completed 11 of 17 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown in limited duty for Maryland last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be a spring ball decision, I can promise you that. We\u2019ll see how they grow through the summer. I want all five guys in the room to continue to grow and root for each other and perform,\u201d Davis said. \u201cKhristian and Jayden Mandal are the top two guys in this room right now, no doubt. But coach Matt Entz will make that decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin: Already a Graduate<\/p>\n
Martin is the biggest in the quarterback room at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds and is considered to have the strongest arm. He called the competition \u201cfriendly\u201d so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be the starter just as bad as every other quarterback on the roster. I don\u2019t think anybody wants it more than another. We all want the same goals. We all want to go to the NFL. It\u2019s just a matter of what you do on any given day and being consistent with that,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n
Martin said he\u2019s enjoyed the Fresno weather and Fresno State\u2019s legacy of producing NFL quarterbacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know where I was going. I didn\u2019t know where Fresno, California, was as far as geographically, but it\u2019s a pretty scene here with the mountains always in the distance. So I\u2019m really enjoying that piece,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n
He has yet to speak with the Carr brothers \u2014 David and Derek, who both now live in the Fresno area. Martin said he wants to meet them \u201cto pick their brains.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are some familiar faces from his Maryland days. Brian Ferentz, now the team\u2019s offensive line coach, coached Martin at Maryland. He also played one season with wide receiver Ezekiel Avit, who transferred to Fresno State last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the quarterback who was throwing to me. I was in the second group, my second year at Maryland. I got used to his long and strong arm,\u201d Avit said.<\/p>\n
Martn also expects his mother to visit for the April 25 spring game.<\/p>\n
The Highland Springs, Virginia, native entered the University of Maryland with 70 credits and redshirted one season. He said he still needs to enroll in a master\u2019s program but is taking classes to earn a certificate in AI education.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Fresno State quarterback Khristian Martin practices Friday, March 27, 2026. (GV Wire\/David Taub)