Ben

Wooldridge

Bell was an intriguing receiving tight end in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots also waived RB Micah Bernard, DT Philip Blidi, DB Isaiah Bolden, TE Cole Fotheringham, WR Phil Lutz, LB R.J. Moten, CB Jordan Polk, OG Tyrese Robinson, OG Sidy Sow, RB Shane Watts and QB Ben Wooldridge and released DT Kyle Peko, LB Monty Rice

QB Levi Lewis is the sure starter for the Cajuns, but a decision hasn’t been made on who will be his backup. HC Billy Napier said Tuesday that both returnee Chandler Fields (5'10/190) and Fresno State transfer Ben Wooldridge (6'4/218) are both “considered backups to me.” Wooldridge saw action in two games last season, completing 8-of-16 passes for 117 yards. The last time Fields found himself on the stats sheet was in 2019, when he completed three passes for 16 yards. It will be interesting to see which of the two is called upon in the event that Lewis can’t take the field.

Wooldridge (6'4/218) served as Fresno State’s No. 2 quarterback in each of the last two seasons, backing up Jorge Reyna in 2019 and Jacob Haener in 2020. The redshirt sophomore appeared in two games this past fall, completing 8-of-16 passes for 117 yards. Wooldridge will back up Levi Lewis in 2021, but with Lewis being a senior he may be in line to start in 2022. Wooldridge will have up to three seasons of eligibility remaining at Louisiana.

Wooldridge (6'4/218) was in the mix for the starting job heading into preseason camp, with Washington transfer Jake Haener ultimately winning the job. The redshirt sophomore appeared in two of Fresno State’s six games this season, completing 8-of-16 passes for 117 yards. Wooldridge also rushed for 13 yards on two carries, but it became quite obvious that Haener was the future of the program at quarterback. As a result Wooldridge is now in the transfer portal, and he’ll have three seasons of eligibility remaining at his next stop.

Haener (6'1/194), who was enrolled briefly at Washington before making the trek south, beat out redshirt sophomore Ben Woolridge for the right to lead the Bulldog offense. The redshirt junior signal-caller, who had to sit out last season per NCAA transfer rules, appeared in four games for Washington during the 2018 season. During those games Haener, who was named the Huskies’ offensive scout team MVP at the end of that season, completed 9-of-13 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

With Marcus McMariyon having graduated at the end of last season, the reigning Mountain West champions will turn to redshirt senior Jorge Reyna to lead the offense in 2019. Backing him up will be Wooldridge (6'2/205), who has yet to attempt a pass at the collegiate level after redshirting in 2018. The interesting thing about the Fresno State QB job is that Reyna isn’t all that experienced either, as he redshirted in 2017 and attempted just 11 passes as a redshirt junior. The continued development of Wooldridge will be key when fall camp begins, as he’ll enter the season one snap away from having to lead the Bulldog offense.