Fresno State Defense Brings Back Seven Starters, Eyes 2026 Bounce-Back

Seven returning defensive starters and a retained coordinator give Fresno State its clearest path to stability in 2026, as the Bulldogs moved through spring practices this week with a blueprint that leans heavily on what already worked.

Nick Benedetto, entering his second season as defensive coordinator and now carrying the additional title of associate head coach under Matt Entz, built a unit last year that ranked 10th nationally in yards allowed per game, surrendering just 285.7 per contest. Fresno State also finished 16th in points allowed at 18.8 per game, numbers that set a high bar as spring drills get underway.

Benedetto spoke during practice on the value of sustained coaching relationships, describing a program culture "bigger than any one person" and noting that several members of his staff had worked together for years before arriving in Fresno. That continuity, he argued, is itself a competitive advantage heading into a season that opens Sept. 5 at USC.

The spring program runs 13 or 14 practices before a preview game April 25, giving Benedetto time to evaluate depth, conditioning, and how younger players might absorb roles vacated by departures. Among the returning veterans expected to anchor the unit are nickelback Simeon Harris and Deijon Laffitte, two of the key leaders in the defensive backfield.

Harris spoke to the technical focus driving his offseason work: adding strength, increasing his speed, and sharpening defensive instincts. Those individual goals connect directly to what Benedetto has framed as the team's broader defensive identity, prioritizing what he calls "winning first-step football" and eliminating hesitation before the snap.

With the scheme intact and seven starters back from a top-10 defense, the April 25 preview game will offer the first public measure of whether that continuity has carried over from last fall.