With Capra gone and Buchanan practically having one foot out the door, Cal seems to have one OL solidly committed in Ryan Gibson, who will be visiting this week and did just have an in-home with new OL coach Brandon Jones.
Taking 1 OL in 2015 won't suffice, so with a couple weeks until Signing Day, Cal and Coach Jones will need to try and bring in a couple replacements for Capra and Buchanan. The hope is they can sign guys with comparable to better potential. Whether that is realistic is hard to say. Here are some targets that Cal could pursue or is already in pursuit of, along with my thoughts.
Semisi Uluave (Punahou- Honolulu, HI)- a known commodity at this point. Having Punahou teammate Kanawai Noa committed will only help, as will the likelihood that better programs have cooled on him either due to space constraints or not digging his intention to take his LDS mission soon. He'll visit on 1/30, so there's a chance.
Josh Wariboko (Casady-Oklahoma City, OK)- I see no scenario where Wariboko ends up at Cal.
JJ Nwigwe (Heath-Rockwall, TX)- his interest in Cal seems to have left with Zach Yenser. Meh.
Noah Myers (Las Lomas-Walnut Creek, CA)- Myers is a longtime Wazzu commit. He's in Cal's backyard so they'll at least kick the tires on him and see if there's mutual interest. Probably a college guard.
Eric Quevedo (West Covina- West Covina, CA)- committed to Boise State last week on his official visit, the 6'6/285 Quevedo could play guard or tackle.
James Empey (American Fork-American Fork, UT)- Empey is 6'4/270 and built in the athletic mold that would suit Cal's offense. He visited Utah last week and will visit Oregon State this upcoming weekend. Cal could try to get him out for the last weekend, assuming he has any OV's left or is still uncommitted.
Drew Sullivan (De La Salle-Concord, CA)- Sullivan held an early offer from Cal but that may have become not-commitable after the commitment of Ryan Gibson. With a sudden dearth of bodies, maybe Cal goes back to the well with Sullivan. His only other offer is from New Mexico, but he was the top OL on the state's best team.
Brady Aiello (Acalanes-Lafayette, CA)- He's been committed to Oregon since the summer, and I have no clue whether he'd entertain a flip to Cal if the staff expressed interest. But he's local and he's got the frame to develop (6'6/265).
Jack Berry (Centennial- Burleson, TX)- This guy is an OT all the way and extremely under the radar. But he's an ideal Capra replacement to my eyes...similar size (listed 6'6/280) but a tad more athletic.
Kevin Estes- (San Marcos- San MArcos, CA)- there's interest from the staff in the Wisconsin commit. Whether its mutual after Gary Andersen left for Oregon State is hard to say. Methinks Estes stays committed to new Badger HC Paul Chryst.
Nick Capella- (St. Bonaventure-Ventura, CA)- Capella is another guy that held an early offer from Cal but likely saw it turn uncommittable later in the cycle. He's light and looking hard at Ivy league schools, but may get a second look from Cal at this point.
Tyler Whisenhunt- (California-Danville, CA)- A local guy that Cal probably considers an emergency backup plan. At 6'3/280 Whisenhunt is a guard in college and Cal needs tackles. Still...time to break the glass?
Alex Kosinski- Redwood (Larkspur, CA)- Kosinski fits the mold as an athletic, long OT prospect and he's sitting in Cal's backyard...but he just enrolled at Arizona, where he's been committed since last spring. Ship has likely sailed.
Rest assured more names could and should arise but it'll be interesting to see what happens here the next two weeks. Just wanted to toss some thoughts together and provide a bit of a rundown of what could be out there.
Taking 1 OL in 2015 won't suffice, so with a couple weeks until Signing Day, Cal and Coach Jones will need to try and bring in a couple replacements for Capra and Buchanan. The hope is they can sign guys with comparable to better potential. Whether that is realistic is hard to say. Here are some targets that Cal could pursue or is already in pursuit of, along with my thoughts.
Semisi Uluave (Punahou- Honolulu, HI)- a known commodity at this point. Having Punahou teammate Kanawai Noa committed will only help, as will the likelihood that better programs have cooled on him either due to space constraints or not digging his intention to take his LDS mission soon. He'll visit on 1/30, so there's a chance.
Josh Wariboko (Casady-Oklahoma City, OK)- I see no scenario where Wariboko ends up at Cal.
JJ Nwigwe (Heath-Rockwall, TX)- his interest in Cal seems to have left with Zach Yenser. Meh.
Noah Myers (Las Lomas-Walnut Creek, CA)- Myers is a longtime Wazzu commit. He's in Cal's backyard so they'll at least kick the tires on him and see if there's mutual interest. Probably a college guard.
Eric Quevedo (West Covina- West Covina, CA)- committed to Boise State last week on his official visit, the 6'6/285 Quevedo could play guard or tackle.
James Empey (American Fork-American Fork, UT)- Empey is 6'4/270 and built in the athletic mold that would suit Cal's offense. He visited Utah last week and will visit Oregon State this upcoming weekend. Cal could try to get him out for the last weekend, assuming he has any OV's left or is still uncommitted.
Drew Sullivan (De La Salle-Concord, CA)- Sullivan held an early offer from Cal but that may have become not-commitable after the commitment of Ryan Gibson. With a sudden dearth of bodies, maybe Cal goes back to the well with Sullivan. His only other offer is from New Mexico, but he was the top OL on the state's best team.
Brady Aiello (Acalanes-Lafayette, CA)- He's been committed to Oregon since the summer, and I have no clue whether he'd entertain a flip to Cal if the staff expressed interest. But he's local and he's got the frame to develop (6'6/265).
Jack Berry (Centennial- Burleson, TX)- This guy is an OT all the way and extremely under the radar. But he's an ideal Capra replacement to my eyes...similar size (listed 6'6/280) but a tad more athletic.
Kevin Estes- (San Marcos- San MArcos, CA)- there's interest from the staff in the Wisconsin commit. Whether its mutual after Gary Andersen left for Oregon State is hard to say. Methinks Estes stays committed to new Badger HC Paul Chryst.
Nick Capella- (St. Bonaventure-Ventura, CA)- Capella is another guy that held an early offer from Cal but likely saw it turn uncommittable later in the cycle. He's light and looking hard at Ivy league schools, but may get a second look from Cal at this point.
Tyler Whisenhunt- (California-Danville, CA)- A local guy that Cal probably considers an emergency backup plan. At 6'3/280 Whisenhunt is a guard in college and Cal needs tackles. Still...time to break the glass?
Alex Kosinski- Redwood (Larkspur, CA)- Kosinski fits the mold as an athletic, long OT prospect and he's sitting in Cal's backyard...but he just enrolled at Arizona, where he's been committed since last spring. Ship has likely sailed.
Rest assured more names could and should arise but it'll be interesting to see what happens here the next two weeks. Just wanted to toss some thoughts together and provide a bit of a rundown of what could be out there.
