(Photo Credit: Cal Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
WR Jonathan Brady, WR Trond Grizzell, OG Sioape Vatikani, OT Nick Morrow, DT TJ Bollers, DT Nate Burrell, DT Aidan Keanaaina, LB Hunter Barth, LB Ryan McCulloch, LB Cade Uluave, and NB Cam Sidney.
Key Players Departing:
QB Fernando Mendoza, RB Jaivian Thomas, WR Nyziah Hunter, WR/RS Mikey Matthews, TE Jack Endries, OC Will McDonald, OG Rush Reimer, OT TJ Session, NT Ricky Correia, LB Teddye Buchanan, LB Xavier Carlton, LB David Reese, CB Marcus Harris, CB/KR Nohl Williams, FS Craig Woodson, SS Miles Williams, PK Ryan Coe, PK Derek Morris, and PT Lachlan Wilson.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (Oregon transfer), ATH Jae’on Young (Chatsworth, California), and OL Justin Hasenhuetl (Rabun Gap, Georgia).
3 Star Recruits: CB Hezekiah Masses (FIU transfer), DS Aiden Manutai (Kahuku, Hawaii), TE Meyer Swinney (Minneapolis, Minnesota), OT Ben Howard (Lehi, Utah), DS Tre Harrison (Gardena, California), RB Anthony League (Long Beach, California), and EDGE TJ Bush (Liberty transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 UC-DAVIS W 31-13
G02 @ Auburn W 21-14
G03 SAN DIEGO STATE W 31-10
G04 @ Florida State L 9-14
G05 #8 MIAMI L 38-39
G06 @ #22 Pittsburgh L 15-17
G07 NC STATE L 23-24
G08 OREGON STATE W 44-7
G09 @ Wake Forest W 46-36
G10 SYRACUSE L 25-33
G11 STANFORD W 24-21
G12 @ #9 SMU L 6-38
BOWL vs. #24 UNLV L 13-24
Team Info:
2024 Overall: 6-7 (14th in PAC-12)
Home: 4-3
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 2-6
Non-ACC: 4-0
Head Coach: Justin Wilcox
California: 43-50
Bowls: 1-3
Career: 43-50
(Photo Credit: Cal Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: EJ Caminong (6-19, 57 yards, 31.6%, 3.0 avg., 0 TD 0 INT)
Rushing: Jonathan Brady (5 car., 28 yards, 5.6 avg., 0 TD)
Receiving: Jonathan Brady (36 rec., 386 yards, 10.7 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Jonathan Brady (3)
Sacks: Ryan McCulloch (3.5)
Tackles: Cade Uluave (71)
Interceptions: C. Sidney/J. Smith/C. Uluave (1)
Pass Deflections: H. Barth/T. Bollers/C. Uluave (2)
Tackles For Loss: Nate Burrell/Ryan McCulloch (5)
Forced Fumbles: Hunter Barth (2)
Kick Returns: None
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 00 Devin Brown (RS JR/TR)
RB: 28 Jamaal Wiley (RS FR)
WR: 6 Jonathan Brady (SR/TR)
WR: 5 Tobias Merriweather (JR/TR)
WR: 00 Jacob De Jesus (RS SR/TR)
TE: 86 Jeffrey Johnson (RS SR)
LT: 00 LaJuan Owens (RS SO/TR)
LG: 00 Jordan Spasojevic-Moko (RS SR/TR)
OC: 00 Tyson Ruffins (JR/TR)
RG: 00 Lamar Robinson (SR/TR)
RT: 54 Frederick Williams III (RS SO)
KR: 00 Jacob De Jesus (RS SR/TR)
PK: 00 Kyle Cunanan (RS SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 98 Nate Burrell (SR)
NT: 47 Aidan Keanaaina (RS SR/TR)
DE: 88 TJ Bollers (RS SR/TR)
LB: 00 Odera Okaka (JR/TR)
LB: 31 Hunter Barth (RS SR/TR)
LB: 0 Cade Uluave (JR)
LB: 43 Ryan McCulloch (JR)
CB: 00 Hezekiah Masses (SR/TR)
CB: 00 Jaden Mickey (RS JR/TR)
FS: 00 Tristan Dunn (RS JR/TR)
SS: 9 Ryan Yaites (JR/TR)
PR: 00 Jacob De Jesus (RS SR/TR)
PT: 00 Brook Honore Jr. (RS JR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defensive
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returns: C
Punt Returns: A
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/30 @ Oregon State Beavers | Cal leads the series 40-37. The Golden Bears are 5-5 since 2015, and their last series loss (40-52) was in 2023.
09/06 TEXAS SOUHTERN TIGERS | First meeting.
09/13 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS | Cal leads the series 4-2. The Golden Bears won (35-21) the last meeting in 2009, and they won (42-17) the prior meeting in 2006.
09/20 @ San Diego State Aztecs | Cal leads the series 5-4. The Golden Bears are 2-1 since 2015, and their last series loss (40-45) was at the prior meeting in 2016.
09/27 @ Boston College Eagles | Cal lost (15-21) the only prior meeting in 1986.
10/04 DUKE BLUE DEVILS | Cal trials the series 0-1-1. The Golden Bears tied (22-22) the last meeting in 1963, and they lost (7-21) the inaugural meeting in 1962.
10/17 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | Cal leads the series 2-0. The Golden Bears won (24-17) the last meeting in 2018, and they won (35-30) the inaugural meeting in 2017.
10/24 @ Virginia Tech Hokies | Cal won (52-49) the only prior meeting in 2003.
11/01 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS | First meeting.
11/08 @ Louisville Cardinals | First meeting.
11/22 @ Stanford Cardinal | Cal trails the series 48-60-10. The Golden Bears are 5-5 since 2015, and their last series loss (23-24) was in 2020.
11/29 SMU MUSTANGS | Cal trails the series 0-2. The Golden Bears lost (6-38) last season’s meeting, and they lost (6-13) the inaugural meeting in 1957.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 0-6
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 0-8
Non-ACC: 2-2
Overall: 2-10 (17th in ACC)
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