Derek Carr made history at Fresno State and with Raiders. Now he’s being honored

Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
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• Derek Carr will enter the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 5.
• Carr left Fresno State with 12,842 passing yards and 113 touchdown passes.
• Carr set Raiders career marks in passing yards, touchdowns, completions.

Former Fresno State and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who rewrote the record books during his standout career with the Bulldogs, will be inducted into the 67th Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 5.

Carr is among six individual inductees in the 2026 class, joining Ruth Barcus, Tom Casanova, Dennis and Teresa Roth, and the late Bill Tatham. The 1958 Coalinga College baseball team will be inducted as the class’s team honoree.

Carr joined Fresno State in 2009 and developed into one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in school and Mountain West Conference history under coach Pat Hill.

He finished his college career as the all-time leader in Fresno State and Mountain West history in passing yards (12,842) and touchdown passes (113). Carr set 27 school records and 41 conference records while leading the Bulldogs to consecutive Mountain West championships in 2012 and 2013.

In his senior season in 2013, Carr threw for 5,082 yards and 50 touchdowns, finishing eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.

His production and success at Fresno State helped pave the way for his selection by the Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

Carr spent nine seasons with the Raiders, establishing franchise records for career passing yards, touchdown passes, completions and attempts. He also set the team’s single-season passing record with 4,804 yards in 2021. He also played for the New Orleans Saints for two seasons.

During his NFL career, Carr engineered 33 game-winning drives with the Raiders.

Other individual inductees

Ruth Barcus is a Kerman native and 25-time U.S. sailing national champion in the San Juan 21 Class. She also excelled in golf, tennis and softball while growing up, playing with the Kerman Lionettes and, for one season, the legendary Fresno Rockets.

Tom Casanova, a former Caruthers High football coach, retired with three section titles. He ranks as the second-winningest high school football coach in Fresno County history, behind Tim Simons.

Dennis and Teresa Roth are local business leaders and owners of the legendary Beef Packers team in the World of Outlaws sprint car racing series. They were inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2022, and their team has won 15 races this season. Because of health reasons, the Roths will be unable to attend the ceremony. Their nephew, Todd Ventura, who runs the racing team, will represent them.

The late Bill Tatham was the only Fresno resident to own teams in major professional sports. His holdings included the Portland team in the World Football League, the Tulsa-Arizona Outlaws in the USFL and a longtime part ownership stake in the New Orleans, later Utah, Jazz. Tatham also founded Copper River Country Club and was a significant philanthropist in Fresno. His sons, Bill Jr. and Mike, will represent him at the ceremony.

1958 Coalinga College baseball team to be honored

The 1958 Coalinga College baseball team will be inducted as the 2026 team honoree.

The Falcons became the first junior college baseball team from Fresno County to win a state championship, defeating Citrus College, led by quarterback Billy Kilmer.

LeRoy Gregory, who later pitched for the Chicago Cubs, was the Falcons’ star player. He went on to help Fresno State reach the College World Series in 1959.

Ceremony and ticket information

The Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at Valdez Hall at the Fresno Convention Center on Nov. 5.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a reception running until 6:45 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., and the program begins at 7:30 p.m.

Individual tickets cost $100, while a table of 10 costs $1,000.