<\/p>\n
Fresno State\u2019s Tytus Khajavi, right, brings down Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson for a sack during their game at Valley Children\u2019s Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2025.<\/p>\n
CRAIG KOHLRUSS<\/p>\n
A year ago, Tytus Khajavi was learning and adjusting to college football.<\/p>\n
For most, that is a tough task, especially since he had played for Clovis West not too long before that.<\/p>\n
But instinct was his best friend. Adrenaline and guidance from other players also helped him contribute.<\/p>\n
Now, entering his second season at Fresno State, the game has slowed, and Khajavi\u2019s confidence has surged.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I\u2019m prepared for what\u2019s to come,\u201d he said. \u201cThis year I feel a lot more confident than I did last year just because I know what to expect going into the season. I\u2019m not just thrown out there as a freshman trying to go through the ropes. I feel a lot more confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
That shift \u2014 from reacting to anticipating \u2014 is exactly what the Bulldogs\u2019 coaching staff hoped to see.<\/p>\n
Linebackers coach Adam Breske said Khajavi\u2019s growth accelerated when he saw meaningful snaps late last season, a stretch that forced him to mature quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn college football, your role can change very quickly,\u201d Breske said. \u201cHe\u2019s someone who puts a lot into his preparation, and the best way to improve is by playing. Getting on the field in the back half of last season really helped him grow and become more comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Khajavi finished the season with 37 tackles, one interception, and one quarterback hit in 13 games played.<\/p>\n
Khajavi credits much of that growth to former Bulldog Jadon Pearson, who served as both a mentor and a calming voice during his early moments on the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was like a player-coach,\u201d Khajavi said. \u201cA great mentor. Before my first game, I was nervous, and he just told me, \u2018Don\u2019t worry about it, just play. If you mess up, it\u2019s your first game. Move on to the next play.\u2019 That stuck with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
That \u201cnext play\u201d mentality has become foundational in Fresno State\u2019s defensive culture, one Khajavi has fully embraced during the spring.<\/p>\n
Under defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto, the Bulldogs built one of the most consistent units in the conference last season, finishing near the top of multiple statistical categories and capping the year with a dominant 18-3 victory over Miami (Ohio) in the Arizona Bowl.<\/p>\n
But inside the locker room, last year\u2019s success isn\u2019t something they\u2019re clinging to.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe momentum is definitely on the rise,\u201d Khajavi said, \u201cbut we don\u2019t want to get complacent.\u201d<\/p>\n
That mindset has defined Fresno State\u2019s spring practices, where repetition and attention to detail take priority over flash.<\/p>\n
Even familiar schemes are treated like brand-new material.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m locked in on the little things,\u201d he said. \u201cEven though it\u2019s the same defense as last year, I\u2019m attacking it like it\u2019s my first time learning it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not about the play; it\u2019s about how hard you play. We play fast, with energy and effort. You see it in practice, everyone running to the ball, punching at it, communicating. We\u2019re all on the same page.\u201d<\/p>\n
That cohesion has helped establish an identity: a unit that doesn\u2019t rely on any single group to carry the load. Despite the outside perception that the defense may lead the team, Khajavi insists the Bulldogs operate with balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe trust the offense,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we\u2019re down, they\u2019ll pick us up, and if they\u2019re down, we\u2019ll do the same. No one is in a bigger role, we\u2019re one team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n
Anthony Galaviz<\/a><\/p>\n The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He\u2019s 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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