Fresno State football lands local QB commitment from 2025 class. An ex-Bulldog inspired him

UPDATED JANUARY 25, 2024 12:41 PM
Hanford High junior quarterback Daniel Gomez says he always wanted to play for the Fresno State football team.
He’s one step closer when he verbally committed to the Bulldogs on Wednesday.
“Just a lifelong dream,” said Gomez, who’s rated as a three-star QB by 247 Sports. “I think ever since I was maybe 8 or 9 years old and dreaming about playing as a Bulldog quarterback, it feels like it was a weight off my shoulders.”
Gomez, listed at 6-foot-1, knows the track record of Bulldogs coach Jeff Tedford with quarterbacks.
He said he’s in awe of past Bulldogs quarterbacks, particularly Jake Haener, now with the New Orleans Saints.
“He really set the bar high,” Gomez said. “I just love seeing Haener play. He was a field general, for sure. That inspired me a lot to really see that, ‘This is a Bulldog-caliber quarterback; this is an NFL-caliber quarterback. Where quarterbacks are made.’ Very good developing program.”
Gomez was on the Bulldogs’ radar after a successful season that included a spot on The Fresno Bee All-Star team after finishing the season with 2,885 passing yards and 30 touchdowns.
He also had 307 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Gomez said he mostly spoke to Fresno State quarterbacks coach Matt Wade.
He said he would send Wade highlights and stats following games. He even sent training videos during the weekend.
“Just keeping in touch with him,” he said.
Hanford coach Cannon Sanchez said he wasn’t sure if Gomez was going to commit early, but when he did the coach said he understood why.
“He wanted to be a Bulldog,” Sanchez said. “He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever coached. He takes football more seriously than most guys his age.”
Gomez felt committing early was something he had to do so he can focus on his final season with Hanford.
While he has plenty of goals for his senior season, the thought of playing with other local players at Fresno State was appealing to him.
Especially teaming with The Bee’s Player of the Year Bryson Donelson of Central Valley Christian, Lemoore’s Kiontre Harris and several Clovis West players.
“Used to play some 7 on 7 ball with him,” he said of Donelson. “Kept in touch. I was very glad to see that he signed with Fresno State.”