Decision Time: Senior Year or NFL Draft for Fresno State's Ryan Mathews

With the 2009 Fresno State season coming to a close, a disappointing 35-28 loss to the Wyoming Cowboys in the New Mexico Bowl, Fresno State fans and teammates of running back Ryan Mathews will hold their collective breath awaiting his decision on his future.

The All-American running back finished his junior season with 1,808 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, and that was even after missing two games due to injury.

What comes next is anyone's guess. The decision can only be made by Mathews and with the help of his family and head coach Pat Hill.

There may be something to be said about ending his college career with an embarrassing loss and fans hope it's enough to entice the running back to return for his senior season.

But, if you ask the majority of the Fresno State fans, they'll tell you that they expect Mathews to turn pro and declare for the NFL draft. Not that many will blame him for taking the money and starting the next phase of his football career.

But, what would it take for Mathews to return to Fresno State and try to go out better than a loss in a lesser-known bowl game?

Possibly the fact that Hill will have his contract extended, though the years and dollar figures aren't known and the fact that the 2010 team is expected to be far and away better than the team that just finished the 2009 season.

What will lock in his decision is if he's projected to be a first-round draft pick. If that's the case, you may as well put together Mathews' goodbye party and wish him well.

If he's a low- to mid-second round pick, then the chance of him coming back would still be slim but better than if he were a first rounder.

If Mathews were to leave for greener pastures, the running back position will still be in good hands.

Current freshman speedster Robbie Rouse, sophomores A.J. Ellis and Michael Harris and incoming freshman commits Leslee Rogers and E.J. Schexnayder would handle the position.

So there will be no lack of speed and depth, with running backs with different styles but equally as efficient.

So, whatever decision Mathews decides to make, the Bulldogs will be just fine.

But, if he does decided to return, this Bulldog team just got that much better and with a change at the quarterback position, could finally become a contender in the Western Athletic Conference.

Something Fresno State fans haven't seen since 1999 and something that is long overdue.