Fresno State is undergoing a makeover. The shift on offense started last year as the Bulldogs brought in players to make them more multiple and spread the field. This recruiting season, Fresno State turned to the defensive side, loading up on players who can help them give multiple looks to opposing offenses.

Coach Pat Hill said the team will look at getting more linebackers on the field at the same time, especially players who can stop the run and defend the pass. Fresno State signed five linebackers in its class.

"It gives us a chance to do different things," Hill told the Fresno Bee.

The emphasis for Hill and the Bulldogs, who will be playing their final season in the Western Athletic Conference, is finding a way to improve from a consistent eight- or nine-win team into one that can challenge for a top-20 ranking and possible BCS berth.

Good to great is how Hill described it.

The emphasis on defense comes at a time when the Bulldogs are undergoing a shift on defense and have lost three of their best defensive players -- WAC Defensive Player of the Year Chris Carter, linebacker Ben Jacobs and safety Lorne Bell.

Twelve of the 18 commitments in the class were on defense, most notably defensive end Donavon Lewis, safety Charles Washington and linebackers Kyrie Wilson and Ejiro Ederaine. Sixteen of the players in the class are from California.

TOP OF THE CLASS

LB Kyrie Wilson (Bakersfield, Calif.) -- The 6-foor-2, 210-pounder originally committed to Oregon, but the Ducks pulled his scholarship. The three-star recruit by Scout.com ended up committing to Fresno State, one of five linebackers in the class. The Bulldogs may experiment with getting more linebackers on the field in certain alignments. "Sometimes you've got to wait for great things to happen to you in this profession," coach Pat Hill told the Fresno Bee about Wilson's recruitment.

DE Donavon Lewis (Fresno, Calif.) -- The younger brother of former Fresno State defensive end Chris Lewis, Donavon (6-3, 240) could play right away as the Bulldogs seek a replacement for Chris Carter. "He's aggressive and quick and I expect him to make an impact right away on our defensive line," Hill said.

S Charles Washington (Encino, Calif.) -- Hill said the hard-hitting safety reminds him of NFL safety James Edwards. "He's a great athlete who can cover man to man, and he's physical and loves to hit," Hill said.

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