Good Sports: Derek Carr

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- On a steamy Friday night, Derek Carr was back at Bulldog Stadium, chasing 1-year-old son Dallas in the end zone instead of celebrating another touchdown pass. Happy to be back home.

"It's been amazing," Carr said. "You know Raider fans, Fresno fans, everybody. Just the support I get and continually get for the rest of my life is amazing and I'm thankful for it."

It's been a whirlwind 2014 for the Bulldogs' all-time leading passer: drafted by the Oakland Raiders in May, named the starting quarterback in September, injured two weeks ago in London, and watching head coach Dennis Allen get fired a day later. But the Bakersfield native has taken it all in stride.

"I'll be good," the Raiders quarterback said of the injury. "I'll be ready to go. You know our trainers with the Raiders are doing a fabulous job getting me ready. And I praise God it's not worse, so I'll be good."

Carr's impact on Fresno State - both the community and the football program - can still be felt and heard. The feeling is mutual, with Carr calling himself the biggest Fresno State fan alive.

"It's fun," Carr said of being back. "It's fun to be out here, hang out, crack jokes with big brother. It's a lot of fun. I miss playing, but I gotta get ready to play San Diego here in a couple days."

"It was great to have him and his family out," Bulldogs head coach Tim DeRuyter said. "Derek has such a great rapport with the Red Wave, with our football team. He's always gonna be one of the favorite sons of Fresno State. Not just of football, but of the school."

And it's a sentiment Carr carries with him every time he sets foot in an NFL stadium. The Red Wave is with him, helping him through an otherwise trying season. But the ever-optimistic Carr sees things getting better in a hurry.

"It's obviously new," Carr said. "It's a process especially a rookie, especially at quarterback. It's all going to be a process. But I'm excited to be part of turning the Raider franchise around. I'm excited they chose me to be one of the guys to help to that and so I'm fired up."

And that's music to Raider Nation's ears.