“He doesn’t get rattled. He has obviously been a good leader for the programs he competed for.”
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E.J. Warner is new for Fresno State, but he’s certainly not new on the college football scene. The recently named starting quarterback for Fresno State, who transferred from Rice this past Spring, received some praise from Kansas head coach Lance Leipold on Monday as the Jayhawks prepare for their season-opener on Saturday against the Bulldogs.
“A guy who has been in a couple programs. He has a lot of career starts, he has seen a lot of different things,” Leipold said about the veteran quarterback at Monday’s press conference.
The Jayhawks coach especially noted Warner’s poise and leadership.
“He doesn’t get rattled. He has obviously been a good leader for the programs he competed for,” Leipold said.
So proud of this young man… just keeps proving who he is!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) August 11, 2025
1 scholarship out of HS… no P5 school would give him a chance then or since… has had to EARN starting spot everywhere he’s been… and now heads into his senior season #1 in FBS in passing yards (8800+) & pass yrds/game… https://t.co/ypVicuf9Z1
Warner, the son of hall-of-fame quarterback Kurt Warner, started his college career at Temple, where he put up recording-breaking numbers. According to ESPN, Warner broke the Temple record in 2023 when he threw for 23 passing touchdowns in a season. He also led the AAC in passing yards per game that season, with an average of 307.6.
In 2024, Warner transferred to Rice and threw for 17 touchdowns. He also achieved a 64.3% completion percentage, the second highest in school history. As a result, Warner’s opponents are now well-aware of his capabilities.
“He has a very good arm, great pocket awareness,” Leipold said on Monday.
Warner, who stands at 6-feet-0, isn’t much taller than the average quarterback, but he still finds ways to complete his passes at a high rate.
“He’s not the tallest, so finding windows is important, but again he has proven productivity as an FBS quarterback,” Leipold said. “It’s not surprising to us that he won the job. I’m sure they feel that he’ll do a great job and give them the best chance to win.”