(Photo Credit: MediaNews Group/The Mercury News/MediaNews Group/ Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Jaydn Ott, WR Mavin Anderson, WR/PR Jeremiah Hunter, OC Matthew Cindric, OG Brian Driscoll, OT TJ Session, DE Ethan Saunders, NT Ricky Correia, LB Xavier Carlton, LB Myles Jernigan, LB Jackson Sirmon, CB Jeremiah Earby and FS Craig Woodson.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jack Plummer, WR J. Michael Sturdivant, OG Spencer Lovell, OT Ben Coleman, LB Oluwafemi Oladejo, CB Colin Gamble, SS Daniel Scott, KR Ashton Hayes, PK Dario Longhetto and PT Jamieson Sheahan.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: CB Nohl Williams (UNLV transfer),QB Sam Jackson (TCU transfer), CB Patrick McMorris (San Diego State transfer) and WR Nyziah Hunter (Salinas, California).
3 Star Recruits: WR Marquez Dortch (Mississippi State transfer), OL Matthew Wykoff (Texas A&M transfer), RB Byron Cardwell (Oregon transfer), RB Justin Williams-Thomas (Tennessee transfer), OL Matthew Wykoff (Texas A&M transfer) and WR Taj Davis (Washington transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 UC DAVIS W 34-13
G02 UNLV W 20-14
G03 @ Notre Dame L 17-24
G04 ARIZONA W 49-31
G05 @ Washington State L 9-28
G06 @ Colorado L | 13-20
G07 WASHINGTON L 21-28
G08 #8 OREGON L 24-42
G09 @ #9 USC L 35-41
G10 @ Oregon State L 10-38
G11 STANFORD W 27-20
G12 #18 UCLA L 28-35
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 4-8 (9th in PAC-12)
Home: 4-3
Away: 0-5
Neutral: 0-0
P12: 2-7
Non-P12: 2-1
Head Coach: Justin Wilcox
California: 31-71
Career: 31-37
Bowls: 1-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Jaydn Ott (170 car., 897 yards, 5.3 avg., 8 TD)
Receiving: Jeremiah Hunter (60 rec., 965 yards, 16.1 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: Jaydn Ott (11)
Sacks: Xavier Carlton (4.5)
Tackles: Jackson Sirmon (104)
Interceptions: Craig Woodson/Isaiah Young (2)
Pass Deflections: Jeremiah Earby (11)
Tackles For Loss: Xavier Carlton (6.5)
Forced Fumbles: 4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Marvin Anderson (7 ret., 55 yards, 18.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Jeremiah Hunter (19 ret., 203 yards, 10.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Michael Luckhurst (1-1 fg/fga., 100%, 0-0 xp/xpa., 3 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 5 Sam Jackson V (RS SO/TR)
RB: 6 Jordyn Ott (SO/TR)
WR: 3 Jeremiah Hunter (RS JR)
WR: 83 Trond Grizzell (RS SO)
WR: 14 Monroe Young (RS SR)
TE: 87 Jack Endries (RS FR)
LT: 62 Barrett Miller (SR/TR)
LG: 60 Brian Driscoll (RS JR)
OC: 73 Matthew Cindric (RS SR)
RG: 71 Sioape Vatikani (SO)
RT: 72 TJ Session (RS SR/TR)
KR: 11 Mavin Anderson (RS SO)
PK: 38 Michael Luckhurst (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DT: 99 Ethan Saunders (JR)
DT: 90 Brett Johnson (RS JR)
LB: 33 Myles Jernigan (RS SR)
LB: 8 Jackson Simon (RS SR/TR)
LB: 53 Kaleb Elams-Orr (RS SO)
LB: 7 David Reese (RS SR/TR)
NB: 22 Matthew Littlejohn (RS JR/TR)
CB: 15 Lu-Magia Hearns III (JR)
CB: 3 Nohl Williams (JR/TR)
FS: 2 Craig Woodson (RS JR)
SS: 00 Patrick McMorris (SR/TR)
PR: 3 Jeremiah Hunter (RS JR)
PT: 37 Lachlan Wilson (RS JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defensive
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returns: C
Punt Returns: A
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/02 @ North Texas Mean Green | Pittsburgh won (23-17) the only prior meeting between schools in 2019.
09/09 AUBURN TIGERS | First meeting between schools.
09/16 IDAHO VANDALS | Cal leads the series 4-0. The Golden Bears won (45-13) the last meeting between schools in 1934.
09/23 @ Washington Huskies | Cal trails the series 41-56-4. The Golden Bears are 3-6 since 2013 and their last series win (20-19) was in 2019.
09/30 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS | Cal leads the series 18-17. The Golden Bears lost (17-24) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/07 OREGON STATE BEAVERS | Cal leads the series 39-36. The Golden Bears are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series win (39-25) was in 2021.
10/14 @ Utah Utes | The series is tied 6-6. The Utes lost (0-35) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/28 USC TROJANS | Cal trails the series 33-72-6. The Golden Bears are 2-7 since 2013 and their last series win (24-14) was in 2021.
11/04 @ Oregon Ducks | Cal trails the series 41-42-2. The Golden Bears are 2-8 since 2013 and their last series win (21-17) was in 2020.
11/11 WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS | Cal leads the series 40-30-5. The Golden Bears are 4-5 since 2013 and their last series win (33-20) was in 2019.
11/18 @ Stanford Cardinal | Cal trails the series 50-65-11. The Golden Bears are 3-7 since 2013 and their last series loss (23-24) was in 2020.
11/25 @ UCLA Bruins | Cal trails the series 34-58-1. The Golden Bears are 2-8 since 2013 and their last series win (28-18) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
P12: 5-4
Non-P12: 2-1
Overall: 7-5 (3rd in PAC12 North)
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