Tedford, Fresno State negotiating a return

It appears Jeff Tedford is set to return as Fresno State’s head coach.

Yahoo Sports first reported that Fresno State is nearing an agreement to hire Tedford, 60, who coached the Bulldogs from 2017 to 2019 before health issues forced him to step aside in December 2019.

The former Cal head coach would replace Kalen DeBoer, who left to become Washington’s head coach. DeBoer served as Fresno State’s offensive coordinator under Tedford in 2017 and 2018, and replaced him as head coach following the 2019 season.

Tedford led Fresno State to 22 wins in his first two seasons before the team went 4-8 in 2019. He went 82-57 as Cal’s head coach from 2002 to 2012. Health issues also forced him to step down as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2014.

Cal’s Hicks is All-Pac-12: Cal safety Elijah Hicks was the lone player from a Bay Area school named to the first-team AllPac-12 squad anounced Tuesday. The conference’s 12 head coaches voted for the honors.

Hicks, a senior, led the Bears with four forced fumbles, tied for the team lead with three interceptions and finished second on the team with 72 tackles.

Stanford defensive lineman Thomas Booker and defensive back Kyu Blu Kelly were given second-team All-Pac-12 recognition.

Kyle Whittingham, who led Utah to the conference title, was named the Coach of the Year. Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd, who had 106 tackles, including 22 for a loss, earned the Defensive Player of the Year award.

The Offensive Player of the Year was USC’s Drake London, who led the Pac-12 in receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,084) even though he missed he final four games because of a broken ankle.

Pitt OC leaves: Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mark Whipple resigned after three seasons, one day after Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett was named one of the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy.