GoldenBearReport - Cal names TCU transfer Sam Jackson V as starting quarterback
Sam Jackson V entered camp as the favorite to win the Bears' starting QB job. Thursday, he officially earned the role.
cal.rivals.com
Cal has officially named Sam Jackson V as the starting quarterback for the opener against North Texas. The TCU transfer had some struggles last week turning the ball over, a common theme since he arrived in Berkeley, but he cleaned up those mistakes in recent days and emerged as the top candidate for the job. He has been zeroed in with his passing in recent practices and had been the only one running with the first unit this week.
As Jake Spavital said, there could be a short leash if turnovers become an issue against UNT, but this should help give the offense some direction moving forward. Ultimately, his ability to make plays with his feet gives the offense a different dynamic that only Jackson possesses. As long as he doesn't rely on that running ability too much, then he should be able to have success. Getting him to stay in the pocket has been an issue at times, but he has been better about it in recent days.
"We had an intense three-way quarterback competition during training camp," Wilcox said. "All three did a great job, and I have a great deal of confidence in all of them. But Sam began to separate himself recently. He is a dynamic athlete who can succeed both in the passing game and by making defenses account for his outstanding running ability. When your quarterback does both of those things well, it can be challenging for the defense. I'm excited to see what he does with this opportunity."
