Tim DeRuyter, currently serving as Texas Tech’s defensive coordinator, is just as excited as every Raider fan is for the revival of Derek Carr and Davante Adams as teammates. He knows from first-hand experience what the two are capable of accomplishing together.
DeRuyter became the Fresno State Bulldogs head coach before the start of the 2012 season. The previous year, the Bulldogs finished with a 4-9 overall record, with a 3-4 record in the Western Athletic Conference. The coach came into a less than stellar situation on paper, but had all the tools needed to succeed – starting with the quarterback.
Derek Carr threw for 26 touchdowns and over 3,500 yards in 2011 as a sophomore, with a few promising performances against Power 5 schools. Carr’s new head coach instantly saw what he had to offer, realizing that the team would go the way of their emerging star quarterback.
“Derek had established himself as the captain. He was probably the most mature guy I’d been around in football as a…