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Oregon State has released its 2024 schedule (mostly) and Cal will host the Beavers on Sept. 28. Justin Wilcox has expressed plenty of disappointment over the breaking up of the conference, so it's not a big shock to see the Bears on Oregon State's schedule. Oregon and Washington State are the other two Pac-12 teams slated to face off with the Beavers next season.

Cal football is in Shreveport, Louisiana for the Independence Bowl against Texas Tech this Saturday. Aside from the actual game Dec. 16, the Bears will also get to participate in a plethora of other activities — because a bowl game is about much more than just the actual game.

From hogs to alligators to getting to visit a military base, both teams have a packed schedule of events. And whether it’s getting to experience something new, or once again getting to play in front of friends and family, the Bears’ trip to Shreveport for the Independence Bowl will certainly be one to remember.

Read all about what the Bears are up to in Shreveport here:

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Allowed only 1 sack and 6 pressures this season, played 599 snaps at left guard.

craziness all around.... $700m but most of that is deferred. Let's go Dodgers! Who else can we get?

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2024 6-foot-7, 280-pound offensive tackle prospect Aiden Newbill has flipped his commitment from Northwestern to Cal. He's from Austin, Texas (Connally HS) so there are some clear connections there with Mike Bloesch. A nice late addition in the cycle and the 16th commitment overall in the class for the Bears.

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Here is Maria's latest article after today's media session with Justin Wilcox, Peter Sirmon and Mike Bloesch. The staff updated us on player availability for Saturday, the latest with recruiting, the transfer portal and more.

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Cal beats out Texas Tech, NC State, Utah, West Virginia and many others for playmaking defensive back Isaiah Crosby from Trinity Valley CC in Texas. He's the first junior college commit for the Bears in the cycle. He comes to Cal with two seasons of eligibility and 64 career tackles. He had 5 interceptions this season and has 6 in his career. He also had 5 pass breakups this year.

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Here's Cal's depth chart for this week's game. Justin Wilcox says it is accurate in terms of players who are present should be available to play. That means Ben Finley, who is in the portal, is available as the backup quarterback as is kicker Mateen Bhaghani. Kaleb Elarms-Orr is not going to play (he's expected to visit Ohio State this weekend) meaning Nate Rutchena is in line to get the start next to Cade Ulave.

Taj Davis is one of the players Wilcox says has "moved on" from the program and will not play in the bowl game.

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Carlsbad two-way athlete Luke Ferrelli has flipped his commitment from Stanford to Cal today. There was some thought he could end up as a tight end at the next level and was committed to Arizona at one point, but now he'll sign with the Bears as a linebacker. Solid player who garnered some significant attention this cycle.


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Sirmon met with Former Stanford Commit last week, offered him a scholarship and just he de-committed from Stanford today and committed to our Bears. Go Cal. 4star LB. He was committed to Arizona Wildcats this summer prior to the Stanford. Good job Sirmon. Let’s go Cal!

Coaches and players naturally come from across the nation. This trend even more so pronounced in the last 10 years as TV revenues made teams more ambitious, increasing coaching hires and recruiting across the map. With the Pac12 disappearing, there is obviously no longer a west coast/California-associated top-tier conference.

Looking at our own team, it's interesting to draw a line on our coaching staff from Sonny to Spav to Bloesch and so on to new position coaches. Or to look at how recruiting seems to have followed a similar trend. Taking QB, for example, the share of starting and recruited quarterbacks that played in high school from Pac12 regions is much less from 2012 to now vs 2002-2012, the decade prior. Obviously, there are other factors at play like how we haven't recruited the state as well as we could since Tedford and the increasing recruiting in California but schools on the other side of the country.

What does this look like in the next few years as we play in the ACC? Does hiring and recruiting follow more along geographical or conference lines? Does "California" (soon to be named "Cal Berkeley" lol) start looking more like Texas? The changing trends seem to be further exacerbated by the transfer portal become a state of revolving doors which creates greater change from year to year.

dupe

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Cal has announced another offensive staff hire today as Mike Saffell has been promoted from graduate assistant (offensive line) to the new tight ends coach for the Bears. He was a student assistant previously but took on a bigger role over the last couple years working closely with the offensive line group.

"Mike Saffell has been a tremendous asset to Cal football ever since he arrived as a player in 2017," Wilcox said. "Mike knows this program better than anyone and is universally respected. He has proven over the last seven years that he is absolutely dedicated to doing everything he can to help us win, and it will be exciting to see what he will accomplish in his new role."

Saffell played in 28 games and made 23 starts for the Bears during his playing career.

"I am grateful to coach Wilcox and the other coaches on this staff for showing their confidence in me," Saffell said. "Cal is a special place that has given so much to me, and I'm excited to be taking on this new role."

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Cal has picked up its fourth 2025 commitment today as Orange County-based inside linebacker Carter Jones has made his early college decision in favor of the Bears. He has several SEC offers plus schools such as Michigan, Michigan State, Florida State and Miami. This is a big win for the Bears, and he is someone who will end up being a cornerstone of the class moving forward. There could be some work to keep him in the fold, but it's a big pickup for the staff at a position that it wants solidified for the future.

The Bears are building a really nice class for 2025 already.


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Northeast Mississippi CC linebacker Keaton Thomas has emerged as a high-level option late in the cycle after putting together an impressive 2023 season. He racked up over 100 tackles this year to go with a couple interceptions. He's a converted safety who is a bounce back from West Virginia. He's developed as a linebacker over the last year and now has the attention of several Power Five programs including the Mountaineers, Colorado, Baylor and NC State to name a few. It is looking like the Bears are going to need some more depth at the linebacker spot next season, so it is not a surprise to see the staff pushing for a playmaker who could help immediately. He'll have three seasons of eligibility left and will be a mid-year transfer wherever he ends up. As of now, Cal is the only official visit he's scheduled.


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Right here:

Wondering if we are getting another bite at the apple? Second tweet says a P12 school has expressed interest....

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Hey @Ryan Young will you be offering a portal tracker/article of sorts that is specific to Cal? Where is Rival's portal tracker?

There are a number of intriguing players already hitting the portal. Indiana is seeing an exodus of player including both starting tackles. Michigan State is also seeing some players. There are some Ivy Leaguers Cal will also be looking at i imagine.

If I was Cal FB head honchos, my wish list for the portal would be:
1) OT
2) DE (especially if Reese doesn't apply for another year of eligibility)
3) WR
4) Safety
5) IOL

Last portal season, Cal did really well thanks to @Sebastabear and co at Cal Legends! This time we should even be more attractive (If we get the $$$$ of course) as we have Mendoza & Ott, bowl bound, and playing a national schedule with the ACC.

GAME DETAILS

Cal (3-5) vs. Butler (7-2)

Time: 9 a.m. PT
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana | Hinkle Fieldhouse
Watch: FS1 | Dan Hellie (PxP) & Casey Jacobsen (Analyst)
Listen: 810 AM & The Varsity App | Justin Allegri (PxP)

The Bears are set to face off against Butler in their first true road test of the season in Indianapolis, and have guard Jalen Celestine active again for the first time in a few weeks.

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Follow along here:

Reports state that Cal is set to hire Sterlin Gilbert as its quarterbacks coach following the departure of Jake Spavital earlier this month, as first reported by John Brice of FootballScoop.com Saturday. Spavital guided the Bears as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this season prior to his recent move to Baylor.

Cal announced Saturday morning that graduate assistant Mike Saffell would be promoted to the role of tight ends coach, so Gilbert would complete the staff on the offensive side of the ball, though the move has not been announced by the program.

Per football scoop Cal has hired Sterlin Gilbert at the new QB coach. He was an offensive analyst at Ole Miss, was an OC at Syracuse, Texas, Tulsa and Souther Florida.

Mike Saffell hired as Cal’s new TE Coach. It will be interesting to see how he will recruit the TE position.

There's a bunch of different awards that come out this time of year, and Cal figures to have a good amount of players mentioned. We'll use this space to keep track of all the honors and definitely let me know if you see any that I missed.

RB Jaydn Ott | Pac-12 First Team All-Conference, Polynesian Bowl Player of the Year award (finalist), AP First Team All-Pac-12

ILB Cade Uluave | Pac-12 Defensive Freshman Player of the Year, College Football Network Freshman All-American (Flex position), The Athletic Freshman All-American (first team)

P Lachlan Wilson | Pac-12 Second Team All-Conference

OLB David Reese | Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention

DB Craig Woodson | Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention

QB Fernando Mendoza | Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Honorable mention

TE Jack Endries | College Football Network Freshman All-American Honorable Mention, College Football News First Team Freshman All-American, The Athletic Freshman All-American (second team)

DL Brett Johnson | Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year (semifinalist)

OL Matthew Cindric | Pop Warner College Football Award (finalist)

Nobody here finds any reason to post about this, even though it's arguably the most important issue y'all could possibly be discussing if you care about Cal sports? This is even more important than conference alignment, and nobody cares?

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Jadyn Robinson (formerly at Long Beach Poly, now at San Juan Hills in Orange County) trimmed his list to eight schools today and Cal is part of the list. I spoke with him about the options remaining in the picture and you can read the full update at the link above. The Bears have certainly grabbed his attention so far and he has some connections to DeSean Jackson that have put Cal in a good spot. A commitment to one of the schools could end up happening in short order. I'd say Utah and Texas are out front at the moment but there's time for others to make a move. Burl Toler III has done some good work in this one for the Bears.

"They show me tons and tons and tons and tons of love. It's California, so I know I wouldn't be going too far, but they show me a lot of love. Love the receiver coach (Burl Toler III), love the staff. Love everybody. Love the head coach. Great coaching staff, great things going on over there."

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