A look across the conference here:

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Here's today's post-practice media session as defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon and new starting inside linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr spent some time with reporters today. Sirmon spent a big portion of his time discussing what pushed Elarms-Orr to the top of the depth chart plus he went over some other elements of the list. Elarms-Orr took some time to discuss his role and how he made the jump to become a starter ahead of the season.

In addition to naming its starting quarterback, Cal also released its first depth chart of the season Thursday. There are no big surprises on the list, as I mentioned who I thought would be in the mix at certain positions yesterday, but it is nice to see some clarity at several spots.

Some of the notable decisions: Trond Grizzell (Z) atop the depth chart ahead of Brian Hightower and Taj Davis though there are "ors" separating each of them; Stanford transfer Barrett Miller nabs the starting left tackle job; no clear starters at the four positions up front with "ors" between every player — Ethan Saunders, BRETT JOHNSON, Myles Jernigan, David Reese all listed at the top of each position, however; Kaleb Elarms-Orr wins the starting ILB job next to Jackson Sirmon; SDSU transfer Patrick McMorris beats out Raymond Woodie III for a starting safety job; Lu-Magia Hearns isn't able to solidify the starting role completely as there is an "or" between he and Jeremiah Earby opposite Nohl Williams; junior college transfer Matthew Littlejohn beats out Colorado transfer Kaylin Moore and Cam Sidney for the starting nickel job; overall, 8 first-year freshmen are represented on the depth chart with long snapper David Bird being the only one to secure a starting role

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."

Over a TD favorite on the road for a wilcox coached team worries me, but they did lose a lot to the portal I guess.

I did a major overview of training camp now that it is officially in the books. Prep for the season opener begins tomorrow, and there could be some resolution to a number of the battles, so I've put together a very lengthy notebook dissecting the quarterback competition as it stands now, assessing other position battles and giving you an overview of the final day of training camp.

2 coaches including Barton leave NV

Thank god that they still have Angus McClure.

Cal had its plans changed by the weather, and instead of heading off site to finish up camp the Bears are staying put for the next couple days. That allowed the team to open up practices once again giving us two more opportunities to see the team before it moves into full game preparation mode for the season opener.

Here's a look at what was seen during Monday's practice as the Bears returned to the field at Memorial Stadium for the first time since Saturday's 135-play scrimmage.

Top takeaways

- After a rough couple days last week, quarterback Sam Jackson V has started to find his rhythm again over the last couple practices. Monday was one of his better days in camp, and he made plays with plenty of decisiveness and confidence. Jackson jumped off to a hot start Monday as he guided the offense to a touchdown on the first drive of the first team period. That drive started at midfield and featured a 38-yard completion from Jackson to Trond Grizzell. Jackson capped the drive with a 3-yard rushing score.

His second touchdown drive featured several impressive plays including a 29-yard completion to Jeremiah Hunter that also featured a great catch from the Cal receiver. The touchdown play came on a 4-yard throw to Monroe Young on a slant.

For what it's worth, Jackson was the only quarterback to work with the first unit Monday giving some possible insight into the quarterback race. Jake Spavital said after Monday's practice that he did not see enough Saturday to make a determination while leaving open the possibility of playing more than one quarterback, but it certainly felt different to only see one quarterback working with the first unit Monday.

- The other two quarterbacks in the race had some positive and negative moments once again Monday. Both Ben Finley and Fernando Mendoza threw interceptions on Day 16 with both coming on plays trying to go down the field. Both, coincidentally, came on passes intended for Brian Hightower. Finley took a deep shot to Hightower during the 7-on-7 period in which the quarterbacks were asked to scramble out of the pocket. Eventually, cornerback Jeremiah Earby came down with a somewhat easy interception.

Mendoza's play was a bit more contested and had a higher difficulty as he looked to find Hightower over the middle only for defensive back Raymond Woodie III to come down with it on a nice play.

The staff was ending some drives early, so neither Mendoza nor Finley came up with a scoring drive Monday. However, both quarterbacks did a good job of moving the ball and picking up big chunks of yardage throughout the practice.

- The defense came up with three interceptions overall on Day 16 with newcomer Marcus Scott II having the other pick during the DEVO team period working against Tyler Jensen, who has stepped into the fourth quarterback role now that Luke Bottari is no longer part of the team.

The defensive front did a nice job of consistently getting into the backfield on Monday. It started early with a tackle for loss by Myles Williams as Finley tried to make a play with his feet. Freshman linebacker Cade Uluave came up with a sack on the ensuing drive as he worked with the second unit against Mendoza. Fellow freshman Ryan McCulloch came up with a sack of his own during the second team period just before Woodie's interception.

Defensive back Kaylin Moore had a nice deflection late in practice working against Hightower while Cam Sidney came up with a pass breakup during the 7-on-7 period against Mavin Anderson, who was targeted by Mendoza.

- Monday's practice was one that featured running back Jaydn Ott more than any other recently as the staff seems to be ramping him up for the start of the season. He looked fresh and adds a different element to the offense than the other players at the position. He also returned kickoffs Monday, and he might have had a chance to return his first attempts for a touchdown if the play had been allowed to run all the way through.

- On the injury front, defensive back Craig Woodson was back on the field and working with the first unit again during team periods after getting some time off in recent practices. Kenden Robinson Jr. was also back on the field after missing a couple practices. Inside linebacker Nate Rutchena remains out after coming up injured in a recent practice. He worked off to the side with the training staff Monday.

Practice interviews

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Practice clips

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Cal wrapped up its 15th training camp practice Saturday, and the day served as its second scrimmage this month. The quiet hope had been that the Bears would have several spots on the roster figured out by this point in camp, and there has certainly been some progress made in that regard, but the quarterback spot remains up for grabs.

That didn't change during Saturday's action as the quarterbacks remain in a close race heading into the final week of training camp with no decision yet made public by the staff.

Here's a look at some of the top takeaways from the team's 135-snap scrimmage that allowed several players to have an opportunity to shine Saturday inside Memorial Stadium.

Top takeaways and notes

- Justin Wilcox mentioned it during his post-practice media session but Saturday's practice certainly felt like the separate ones based on how things played out. The first half felt very much like the previous two days with the offense struggling to get anything going while the defense played at a high level limiting the play on the opposite side of the ball.

The first two drives ended with punts before Ben Finley was able to lead a scoring drive that was capped with a 43-yard field goal for Michael Luckhurst.

There were also several sacks and a blocked field goal before the offense was finally able to break through late in the initial team period. Two major problems were penalties and dropped passes during the first half of practice. Several big plays simply weren't able to happen because of passes that hit the ground, and the number of those instances stacked up in the early going. And, in all, there were 16 combined penalties called in Saturday's practice for a loss of 118 yards.

Eventually, the offense was able to flip the script and begin move the ball down the field with chunk plays to put some more pressure on the defense. The result was the offense scoring on six of the 10 drives in the second team period.

- Even as someone who has watched the battle throughout camp, it is still difficult to pinpoint who should be the starting quarterback for the Bears. It has reached the point in camp where it is beginning to be somewhat concerning that a player has not emerged as the clear top option there, but each of the top three candidates continues to do positive things in practice.

Finley was the top performer at the position in Saturday's scrimmage, and he has gone a long way toward solidifying at least the backup job over the last several practices. He continues to have his lapses, but overall he has made steady progression since the first practice and feels like he has started to surpass Fernando Mendoza on the depth chart. The staff continues to mix up the groups, so it is not totally clear who stands where on the, for now, fictional depth chart.

However, the NC State transfer finished with 180 yards passing on 11 completions to go with a pair of touchdown passes during Saturday's scrimmage, according to the unofficial stats provided by Cal Athletics. Finley had a couple really strong drives in the second team period that included explosive plays to both Jeremiah Hunter and Marquis Montgomery.

Mendoza also tossed a few touchdown passes in Saturday's scrimmage as he finished with 144 yards passing on 10 completions. Some of his best work came in the first half of practice, but what stood out most was his ability to create plays out some tricky situations. The second-year quarterback had a couple moments when he was forced to scramble yet still found a way to deliver with inventive passes but also had some strong throws down the field as well. He also led the longest drive of the day for the offense.

Finley was the only quarterback to throw an interception Saturday — a ball that was tipped by Julian Womack only to be caught by cornerback Marcus Scott II during the second team period. So, that was positive for Sam Jackson V, who has struggled this week to avoid turning the ball over.

Jackson was forced out of the pocket quite a bit Saturday and sometimes he opted to leave the pocket on his own accord, but it was the best overall day he put together over the last few practices. He avoided throwing interceptions and did a solid job moving the ball down the field. He only tossed one touchdown Saturday after he connected with Taj Davis on a 5-yard play to cap a drive that earlier featured a 39-yard connection with the Washington transfer.

- The biggest story to come from Saturday's scrimmage belonged to the receiver group. In particular, the outside receivers were able to put together some impressive performances signaling some positivity for the health of the offense two weeks out from the season opener. Montgomery proved to be the breakout star of the day, and it was a positive sight for the Bears since the junior college transfer had gone a big quiet earlier in the week. He accounted for some of the biggest pass plays on the day and finished with a pair of touchdown receptions and over 125 receiving yards.

Montgomery's best catch of the day came late in practice when Finley found him in the end zone on a jump ball that he caught over Mayze Bryant, who actually was playing solid coverage. Montgomery's size and ability to make plays above the hands of defenders was on display often Saturday.

Hunter also shined as he ended up with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in the scrimmage. On the drive that ended with him scoring a 13-yard touchdown in which he took on a couple defenders, the top returning receiver for the Bears had a 39-yard reception that came on a short pass that he then took down the field while fighting through several defenders.

The coaching staff has been pleased with Davis' work as of late, but the big plays down the field that he made earlier in camp had been a bit more sparse in recent days. That changed Saturday as he had several explosive plays including a 39-yard catch from Jackson. He finished the day with 88 yards receiving on five catches. He was one of the biggest culprits of dropped passes Saturday but was able to make up for it with his big catches down the field.

Each of those players standing out Saturday is a positive step for the Bears who have been looking for some more playmakers, particularly on the outside, to help compliment the rest of the offense.

- Penalties proved to be a killer for the defense on Saturday as several of those flags came on the later downs when the group would have been able to get off the field. Still, there were some standout performers on that side of the ball including inside linebacker Sergio Allen, who finished with a team-high five tackles. Defensive lineman Ricky Correia also had five tackles in the scrimmage according to the unofficial stats.

Myles Jernigan has gone a bit under the radar at times in camp, but he has put together a strong finish. He again shined Saturday as he finished up the scrimmage with a team-high three sacks/tackles for loss. Though not deep, the outside linebacker spot continues to look like a strength of the Cal defense this season.

Up front, Correia's running mate, Nate Burrell, continues to have a strong camp and Saturday he added another sack and three more tackles to his totals. Ethan Saunders also had a few tackles in the scrimmage.

A couple young players were able to stand out as well, defensively, with freshman linebacker Cade Uluave coming through with a sack and a pass breakup to go with four tackles. Meanwhile, defensive back Sai Vadrawale was also credited with four tackles Saturday plus he had a sack of Jackson on a corner blitz.

- The running back group behind Jaydn Ott continues to look more impressive than originally thought, and Saturday even Isaiah Ifanse was given a light work load making it even more clear what type of group the staff has assembled. Javian Thomas, Ashton Stredick and Andy Alfieri ended up leading the way for that group with Thomas, Stredick and Ifanse all ending up with over 40 yards on the ground. The running back unit accounted for five of the touchdowns scored Saturday.

- It will be interesting to see how healthy the team can get over the next two weeks. Several players were held out of the scrimmage Saturday as they continue to work through some nicks and bruises. Starting defensive back Craig Woodson was one of the most notable absences Saturday but he appears to be close to returning and spent Friday's practice suited up and going through individual drills.

Receiver Mason Starling ended the day on crutches, and Wilcox didn't have much of an update on the senior who has already had to battle injury in his career. Starling had been in the midst of a strong training camp with several big catches in recent practices.

- One roster note that went a bit under the radar this week is that Utah transfer quarterback Luke Bottari is no longer with the team. He's been removed from the online roster and was not on the printed roster handed out Saturday. Bottari had been earning reps early in camp but the walk-on has not been part of the group competing for the starting job over the last couple weeks.

Any other questions feel free to ask away!

Practice interviews

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Is there a bar or restaurant in the East Bay/Berkeley that would be showing the North Texas game?

I wanted to make sure and get you all today's updates now that they are fresh after Day 14, so I will be updating this with the video interviews shortly. However, as I mentioned in the other thread the theme of the day once again was the play of the defense and the quarterbacks.

Here are some of my early quick takeaways from Friday's practice ahead of tomorrow's big scrimmage.

Practice takeaways

- There were five total interceptions thrown during Thursday's shortened practice. Friday was again a shorter work day for the Bears, and the turnovers continued once again, and it didn't take long for that to take place. There are obviously two ways to look at the recent rash of turnovers, and I'll begin by discussing the defensive side of the ball. At this point, I'm leaning toward the giving the defense the credit over bad decisions by the quarterbacks but even if you take the other opinion it has still been some top-notch work by the secondary over the last two days.

The defense as a whole has raised its level of play over the last two days coming out of a couple strong practices for the offense. Peter Sirmon's group has seemed to want to make a point of impacting practice, and today was another great example of that. The intensity level was again high, and it didn't take long for things to get chippy.

After completing a pass to Jordan King, quarterback Ben Finley was intercepted by Miles Williams to end the first end drive. Finley then made a bee line for Williams and got into the first of the small dustups on the day and had to be pulled from the group after the play.

Sam Jackson V then came in with the second unit, and it didn't take long for another turnover. This time, with the offense backed up close to its own end zone, Jackson was flushed from the pocket and forced into a tough throw that was ultimately picked off by Jeremiah Earby and returned for a touchdown. It was 100% a ball that shouldn't have been thrown as there was nowhere for Jackson to go with it up against the sideline, but in the end it was another strong play for the defense.

- Like Thursday, it was more than just the interceptions that stood out for the defense. There were numerous pass deflections and breakups on the back end, and something that became a bit of a theme Friday for the first time in camp were the batted passes at the line. That hasn't come up as much through the first 13 practices, but there were multiple occasions Friday where defensive linemen or edge rushers were able to get a hand on the ball to impact the throws from quarterbacks.

Stanley Saole-McKenzie came up with one of the batted balls on a play against Jackson and the starting offensive line during the second team period. Meanwhile, outside linebacker David Reese opened the second team period with a batted pass on an impressive play against Jackson with some added help from Ethan Saunders who applied the pressure to force the pass.

Reese also came up with a sack earlier on in that drive, and he had one of his most impactful days in camp Friday. The Florida transfer has looked like one of the top newcomers, and he appears poised for a strong season with the Bears.

Fellow outside linebacker Xavier Carlton also came up with a sack of his own on the ensuing drive as he worked against the second offensive line unit.

On the back end, Julian Womack came up with an early pass breakup in the 7-on-7 period working against Monroe Young with Finley throwing. Cornerback Marcus Scott II came up with a pass breakup during the second team period on a tough play that nearly ended with Jaiven Plummer coming down with the ball. Isaiah Young had a pass breakup in the final team period working against Mason Starling, but it was Earby who truly stood out in the defensive back group Friday with his best day of camp.

In addition to his early interception against Jackson, the sophomore came up with two pass breakups against camp star Trond Grizzell in the end zone on third and fourth down to ultimately force a turnover on downs.

- Once again, the turnovers overshadowed some positive work by the quarterback unit. The issues getting into the end zone have come back from time to time, but overall the offense has been making progress in that regard over the last several practices. Finley has been the best at leading scoring drives as of late, and Friday he guided the first one during a team period as he worked with the second unit.

The result was a rushing score from Ashton Stredick, but he also passed for a touchdown later in practice during the final team period. Late in practice during the situational team period, Finley hit Brian Hightower for 26 yards on a ball placed perfectly in the end zone with the Cal receiver working against Tyson McWilliams, who has put together a solid showing over the last few weeks.

Jackson did not lead a touchdown drive Friday, but Fernando Mendoza was able to get in the scoring mix with a nicely-placed pass to freshman Nyziah Hunter during the "DEVO" team period that allows some of the younger/inexperienced players get some live work. That scoring play ultimately went for 65 yards.

- The running back unit continues to showcase its abilities despite being shorthanded entering the season. Stredick's 40-yard score early in the second team period was a stellar play that showcased his patience as he found a hole and made the most of the space he was allowed to have by cutting through the line and up the the field. Once he reached the second level, Stredick turned on the jets for the score.

Isaiah Ifanse closed out practice with a 9-yard score in his opportunity to work behind the first unit offensive line.

- The other big theme of Friday's practice was the level of intensity and the amount of chippiness for the entirety of practice. Sirmon alluded to it earlier in the week, but by this point in camp everyone is getting a little tired of each other, and that showed itself again Friday. It started early with Finley having to be pulled from a bit of a pile and it continued with Nate Burrell getting involved in a later dustup between some linemen followed by another mini-scuffle after the last team period.

Eventually, Reese stepped up and addressed the team before Justin Wilcox wrapped up practice reminding his teammates that the end goal is to get better. He was unhappy that the intensity carried over into the post-practice conversation and let it be known drawing some praise from his other teammates.

- Craig Woodson, who missed some time earlier in the week, was back on the field going through individual drills. He was kept out of team periods, however.

Brett Johnson is now fully back and was working with the first unit during today's practice again.

Video interviews

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Thursday's practice was a bit of a shorter one than usual as the Bears near the end of the "camp" portion of preseason work. The team will leave campus next week for a couple days to get some work off-site before settling in for game preparations. So, that means the next couple days will be the last open practices for the team.

Saturday will be the best day for media and fans to get a glimpse at what this year's team will look like as the Bears hold their second scrimmage. If it is anything like the first scrimmage last Sunday, there will be ample opportunities for evaluation for the staff, and it should be the last big push for players trying to earn a starting job.

Because the two practices leading into Saturday's scrimmage are expected to be shorter, I will have one combined look ahead to the day.

However, I still wanted to give you an overview of what took place Thursday to hold you over until then.

Practice takeaways

- The players were a bit noncommittal to the idea when I brought it up, but I thought it was the most impactful day of camp for the defense. Yes, a lot of that can be contributed to five interceptions, but overall it was often difficult for the offense to move the ball through the various team periods as well. Overall, the offense was held to just one score during the two big team periods and there were several impressive tackles at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield.

- The highlight of the day was obviously the interceptions and that started early. Cornerback Lu-Magia Hearns, who I believe is going to benefit greatly this season from having a shutdown corner on the others side in Nohl Williams, came up with two interceptions on the day. His first came in the 7-on-7 period as he was able to top a pass to himself on a fantastic play on a throw that was intended for Jeremiah Hunter from Sam Jackson V.

Hearns then came up with another interception during the team period as he stepped in front of a throw from Ben Finley intended for Brian Hightower. Finley was pushed out of the pocket on the play and tried to force the throw up the sideline to Hightower. He was clearly frustrated with the decision and put his hands to his head after the play was dead.

The first interception during the team period came from an unlikely place as Jackson was forced out of the pocket by Ethan Saunders and Myles Williams forcing him to throw on the run and instead of finding a receiver his pass landed in the hands of linebacker Jackson Sirmon who was also able get a decent return on the play as well.

The other interception that came in the team period belonged to Colorado transfer Kaylin Moore who stepped was able to nab a pass from Jackson during the second team period sealing a four-interception day for the Cal quarterback.

Earlier in practice during the 7-on-7 period, there was another tipped pass from Jackson that started things off. Defensive back Julian Womack got a hand on the throw from Jackson and did a good enough job to make the play that it gave Cam Sidney enough time to get underneath the ball and catch it for the first interception on a strong day for the secondary.

- It wasn't just the secondary that was standing out defensively for the Bears on Thursday. There was consistent pressure on the quarterbacks and impressive tackling on a day when the team didn't go with full pads. The defense wasn't able to go with full force, but it had several impressive stops limiting the offense's ability to get into the end zone. Ultimately, the offense was held to just one touchdown thanks to impressive play all around.

Jeremiah Earby, Tyson McWilliams and Sai Vadrawale all came up with pass breakups during the team periods with the final two pass breakups coming on consecutive plays late in the second team period. On that drive, the defense also came up with a sack as newcomer at outside linebacker, Tidiane Jalloh, was able to get to Fernando Mendoza setting up a long third down. Eventually, Vadrawale's pass breakup on Marquez Dortch resulted in a turnover on downs.

- The quarterback play was not impressive on Thursday, and it was a step back for Jackson who had been making progress by limiting his turnovers in several recent practices. His four interceptions certainly made it difficult on the offense and throws the quarterback competition for another loop. Jake Spavital will soon have to make a decision about the job, and Thursday's practice certainly felt like a setback for making that choice. Turnovers are the biggest element holding Jackson back from taking charge in the competition at this point, and Thursday was his worst practice in that regard.

Finley was the only quarterback to lead a touchdown drive as he connected with Hightower on a 30-yard play down the right sideline with Earby in coverage. The score was another impressive play for the Illinois transfer receiver who has emerged as a top playmaker for the Bears in recent practices.

The other biggest play for the offense on Thursday came from running back Ashton Sanders who had a 24-yard run on that touchdown drive thanks to a huge block from a pulling Brayden Rohme that opened up a big hole allowing Sanders to make his run up the field.

- One positive injury note, receiver Monroe Young made his return to the field Thursday after missing a couple days of work.

Post-practice interviews

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Cal has announced the signing of 6-foot-3 guard Vladimir Pavlovic today as a late addition to the 2023 class. The native of Serbia has played some high-level basketball overseas and spent last season at The Hoosac School in Hoosick, New York. Pavlovic committed to Cal a couple weeks ago and slides into a guard role that was recently opened up when Mike Meadows decided to leave the program for St. Louis.

"Vladimir's talent, character and basketball IQ make him a great addition to our roster," Bears head coach Mark Madsen said in a statement provided by the program. "His size and athleticism are key advantages at the guard positions and he plays the game with a high motor that'll make his teammates better. Our staff identified Vlad as someone who can provide an immediate boost to our team and we're thrilled to have him as a Golden Bear."

The newest Cal signee is No. 9 (red uniform) in these clips from the adidas Next Generation Euroleague tournament finals last year.

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The third week of training camp is typically one of the most challenging because of how close it is to the season and how monotonous the days become at this point in the month. Cal held its longest practice of camp Wednesday going 15 periods, and while there were some moments when tempers flared it was an overall positive day for the Bears.

After dominating last week, the defense has come back down to earth over the last few days with the offense taking some steps forward as its top position battle rolls on.

Here are today's practice notes after watching all 15 periods.

Takeaways and observations on Day 12

- Your daily update on the Cal quarterback competition is that things were very much the same Wednesday as they were Tuesday. Jake Spavital continues to rotate the three top quarterbacks with different groups with the reps still being evenly distributed. It sounds like by the end of this week there will be some more direction and maybe a conclusion about who will be the top guy at the position, but for now Sam Jackson V looks to be the favorite though it is a close race still.

It wasn't Jackson's best day of camp, which I thought came yesterday, but it was certainly another strong day for the TCU transfer. There was a decent amount of pressure that Jackson had to work around in the first team period, but he did find Trond Grizzell for a 15-yard completion right off the bat. Ultimately, they drive ended with a 34-yard field goal for Michael Luckhurst. He then proceeded to throw an interception on a tipped pass during the 7-on-7 period with Muelu Iosefa tipping the ball to Kaylin Moore.

Once Jackson was able to settle in and put those issues behind him, he eventually made some impressive throws including a 35-yard pass to Brian Hightower late in the 7-on-7 period. In the second team period, Jackson connected with Hightower on a 28-yard play thanks to a nice catch from the Illinois transfer receiver. Jackson eventually hit Jeremiah Hunter in the back of the end zone on a fourth-down play from 5 yards out.

He capped practice by connecting on his second touchdown on a throw in the back the of the end zone to Grizzell.

Some of the issues the quarterbacks had guiding the offense into the end zone last week have been diminished over the last several practices. Each of the top three quarterbacks passed for a touchdown, but one issue that has continued and created a more difficult job for Spavital is the amount of turnovers taking place.

All three quarterbacks had at least one interception Wednesday during different parts of practice. Like Jackson, Ben Finley was picked off during the 7-on-7 portion of practice as cornerback Nohl Williams came up with a nice play on a pass intended for Hunter to open up the period. Fernando Mendoza had his interception come during the first team period early in his first drive with Raymond Woodie III coming up with the interception on a tough play for the second-year quarterback.

The flip side of the turnovers was the ability for all the quarterbacks to get in the end zone. Mendoza was able to get in the end zone with a 22-yard connection with Hunter working against Jeremiah Earby late in the second team period. Meanwhile, Finley was able to lead multiple scoring drives highlighted by a touchdown throw to Hightower in the final team period. The NC State transfer had the best throw of the day on a 50-yard touchdown to Grizzell during the 7-on-7 period.

Finley has certainly closed the gap on Mendoza at this point in camp, and both players remain close enough to Jackson that there is no clear-cut option right now. However, Jackson's ability to run and what that could mean for the offense feels like it is the separator at this stage. He again showcased that ability late in practice on a 10-yard run that moved the chains in a tough spot for the offense.

- If you couldn't tell by what was written above, it was a big day all around for Hunter, Hightower and Grizzell. It was arguably the best day of camp for both Hunter and Grizzell, who has been on the rise over the last several practices. He has been given an opportunity to work with the first unit as Monroe Young works his way back from an injury, and the walk-on has made the most of it. He is playing himself into a significant role this year from the looks of it.

Hunter has been mostly kept in check, especially with explosive plays, by Williams through most of camp. However, Wednesday he was everywhere and made impressive plays all over the field. He was especially impressive in the red zone, which is something the Bears could definitely use heading into the season.

Hightower has hit a new gear over the last several practices as one of the other players getting an opportunity to run with the first unit at times. He has proven himself to be a deep threat and someone adept at making difficult catches in traffic.

- Defensively, the group was a bit more active Wednesday. There were still a number of explosive plays that hurt the group, but overall there continues to be progress on that side of the ball. The defense is also getting back to 100% health at some key spots, which is making a difference as well.

Some injuries to other players, Craig Woodson among them, meant some different combinations across the secondary on Wednesday. Miles Williams was able to get some extra time with the starting unit while Patrick McMorris also spent ample time with the first group in the secondary. Defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon also put together some different formations that allowed more defensive linemen to get on the field. Brett Johnson, Ricky Correia and Ethan Saunders all had time spent with the first unit while Nate Burrell also continues to show signs of more development, and he has put together an impressive few weeks up front for the Bears.

Jackson Sirmon and Kaleb Elarms-Orr remain as the starting tandem at inside linebacker, and they have both continued to make impressive plays at the position. Elarms-Orr has been around the ball often when he's on the field. Sergio Allen returned to the field in full Wednesday after missing multiple practices. He was used as a member of the third team today, but he should ultimately be right int the mix for the starting job.

Defensive back Matthew Littlejohn, Miles Williams and freshman Sai Vadrawale all came up with pass breakups in Wednesday's practice while outside linebackers Myles Jernigan and Elijah Diaz plus Burrell and Saunders each had sacks.

- Sirmon talked about it a bit afterward, but there was a little more jawing back and forth than usual during Wednesday's practice. Hunter and Nohl Williams exchanged some words in the one-on-one portion of practice, and there were moments between both lines when things became more intense than usual. There were not big dustups but the intensity level was certainly at a higher level. Sirmon chalked it up to the team simply being tired of playing against one another.

Practice interviews

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Practice No. 12 clips

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Cal returned to practice Tuesday after having a day off Monday. Sunday's scrimmage ended with plenty of positives for the offense, and that continued Tuesday as that side of the ball is beginning to take shape after 11 days of practice. The Bears had one of their longer practices Tuesday with heavy emphasis on the team periods, and in many ways it felt like a continuation of Sunday's scrimmage.

Here are some quick takeaways from today's practice.

Takeaways, observations and notes

- I thought today's practice was the best yet for quarterback Sam Jackson V. He worked quite a bit with the first unit, and he had limited mistakes and looked as comfortable as I have seen him as a passer since he arrived on the field for spring ball. He really seems to have found his footing over the last couple practices, so the move to allow him to go live feels like it is paying off. The offense struggled a bit to move the ball with any quarterback in the first team period, but Jackson shined in the second one.

He hit Brian Hightower on a 70-yard play with a throw that traveled about 50 yards in the air for a touchdown on the first drive of the second team period. Jackson then found Mavin Anderson for a 31-yard connection on the right side of the field on another strong throw for the TCU transfer. His third touchdown of the day came on a 1-yard pass to Jeremiah Hunter in the end zone working against Lu-Magia Hearns to end the final team period.

The other quarterbacks continue to do some positive things in their own right, but Jackson feels like he has started to take control of the competition. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital is not yet ready to name a starter, however. Still, my feeling is Jackson has taken hold of the competition at this stage.

- Spavital says the staff is simply trying out some different combinations along the offensive line, and that may be the case. However, for the first time in camp we have seen some movement with the first two units. Stanford transfer Barrett Miller, who has mostly worked with the third group as he returns from injury, was inserted with the first group for the entirety of Tuesday's practice at left tackle. Miller has made a number of starts throughout his career, but he has mostly been a guard at his previous stop. He has worked almost exclusively at tackle since arriving at Cal.

That move pushed Brayden Rohme, who has started every practice since the spring at left tackle, back to the second unit. However, he was also moved over and was on the right side at tackle during today's practice. Texas A&M transfer Matthew Wykoff was also moved from left guard to right guard with that second unit. Bastian Swinney, who had been the center with the second group during camp, moved to left guard next to Ender Aguilar while Dashaun Harris was inserted as the new center for the second unit.

We'll see how long it lasts, but all the moves certainly gave the Bears an impressive looking second team during Tuesday's practice, and it did seem to help give the quarterbacks more opportunities to sit in the pocket.

- Defensively, the Bears seem to have lost a little bit of steam in recent practices after dominating for most of last week. There were still some impressive plays throughout the day for that group, but they had some issues keeping the big plays from happening Tuesday. Chunk plays had been a problem at one point in the spring for the defense, but those seemed to have mostly gone away during camp.

Players seeing increased opportunities have been the story for the defense over the last couple practices. Nate Burrell continues to make the most of his chance to see extensive reps, and he came up with another sack Tuesday during a string of impressive plays for the defense in the second team period. Following the sack, freshman linebacker Cade Uluave brought down running back Isaiah Ifanse for a loss before defensive back Cam Sidney did the same on a screen pass to Ifanse on the next play.

Cornerback Marcus Scott came up with an interception during the 7v7 period working against Anderson while Isaiah Young and Tyson McWilliams both had pass breakups during team periods Tuesday. McWilliams has had some impressive moments in camp, and he had two pass breakups Tuesday.

- Illinois transfer Brian Hightower had an opportunity to work with the first unit, and at this point he appears to be the fourth receiver in the rotation as he stepped in for Monroe Young, who was given the day off. Hightower made a few impressive plays, and seems to have a strong connection with Jackson. He had a couple catches that went for more than 20 yards in Tuesday's practice. Spavital also called out Washington transfer Taj Davis as a receiver who put together a good day today.

Mason Starling hauled in a touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza on a 9-yard play during the second team period.

- One injury note: inside linebacker Sergio Allen returned to the field Tuesday after missing several practices with an undisclosed injury.

Practice interviews

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Pyne with hamstring injury. Competition is between last year's starter Bourguet and freshman Rashada.
Dillingham sounds a bit thrown in this interview.

Cal held its first scrimmage of training camp Sunday, and for the first time since last season the quarterbacks were allowed to be tackled. That group didn't go completely live for the entire practice, as there were moments when hitting the quarterbacks was not permitted, but still it gave some good insight into each of the players competing for the top job in a game-like setting.

Here are some of my quick takeaways after today's scrimmage that went 105 plays.

Scrimmage takeaways

Offense


Defense

Special teams


Practice No. 10 interviews

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It is too late?! Or do we go down fighting? What are our options left in the short-term and long-term? Let's stop trying to nitpick what went wrong and become pro-active. I don't know if it is too late but doing fits the narrative that is out there. Cal doesn't care about its Athletics.

Short-term Options Cal has to do:

1) Call the Big 12. As much as it pains me because they are the main shittalkers. They are still a power conference
2) Call the ACC & ND. Offer them any number of combos (Cal & Furd) (Cal, Furd, Oregon State, Wazzu) (Cal, Furd, OSU, WSU, SDSU, SMU?) Engage Apple & the ACC media partners (ESPN and NBC for ND). ACC is still a power conference. If they implode at least there will be a lot of leftover colleges looking for a conference.
3) Amass a NIL war chest for 2024. Let's show the college football world what Cal can do. Have our Pro Bears from Jaylen Brown to Arod to Jared Goff down the line start off this campaign with public pledges. Engage as many Cal alumni and Cal athletics supporter to donate.

Long-term:

1) Position Cal to where the Big 10 has to take us
2) Still be in a power conference (Big 12 or ACC affiliated) when the ACC dissolves and be the lead on pulling together the ACC leftovers into a fourth power conference.

Anyways what do people think? I'm just tired of inaction and the Monday morning QBing. Let's go on the attack Bears!

Saturday's training camp practice was what you would expect the day before a scrimmage. The Bears held a shorter practice today and were only wearing helmets as they prepare for tomorrow's first camp scrimmage. It is expected to be a lengthy one that gives us our best look at the team so far in camp.

There were a couple team periods today, however, and there was at least some more to see with the various groups. The team is still working through some injuries meaning there have been increased opportunities for other players to gain reps and solidify spots. Here are just a few quick notes from today's practice, and I will have a much more detailed assessment of things later on ahead of tomorrow's scrimmage.

Practice takeaways

- Sam Jackson V did not get time with the first unit during the two team periods, but he did receive the most amount of reps by my count Saturday. The TCU transfer, who still looks like the favorite to eventually earn the starting job (albeit just barely right now), guided the lone passing touchdown drive of the day. He hit Mason Mangum on a play in the flat in which the Cal receiver made an impressive grab with one hand to make the play and score late in the second and final team period.

Fernando Mendoza was the first quarterback to earn reps with the first team Saturday, and he had a more balanced practice today than he has had in recent ones. He was able to move the offense down the field, but like Ben Finley, Mendoza wasn't able to get the Bears offense into the end zone through the air. He did a good job of connecting on a couple intermediate passes, however, including a 28-yard connection with Monroe Young early in practice and a 20-yard completion to Kenden Robinson, Jr.

Finley had a bit of a rough go of it Saturday. He earned the first-team reps to open the second team period, which was a full "good on good" period meaning no mixing and matching of the various units. It gave him an opportunity to work with the expected starting group and full expected starting defense, which is something none of the quarterbacks have had in camp. The Bears used the ground game quite a bit during the early portion in the period, and Finley eventually came back to finish it out. That is when things became a little more unraveled. He fumbled on a rushing attempt before recovering the ball himself, but on the last play of the period he threw into double coverage and was intercepted by cornerback Nohl Williams, who continues to have a stellar camp.

Finley continues to showcase his ability to run making him an intriguing piece of the quarterback room, and he also had a nice 15-yard pass to Mavin Anderson on a side-arm throw to beat a defender in the first team period.

- Brett Johnson is still limited, so that has given Nate Burrell and Ricky Correia some more opportunities for reps in camp. Burrell came up with a sack in practice, and he is a player who seems to be getting more comfortable as camp moves along. Defensive backs Isaiah Young and Matthew Littlejohn both had pass breakups during the team periods while freshman Sal Vadrawale came up with a PBU during the 7v7 portion of practice.

- Inside linebacker Sergio Allen continues to be restricted to working on the sideline as of now. However, tight end J.T. Byrne was able to get back on the field Saturday after missing a few days. Myles Williams also returned to the field today after missing several days of practice. I know there have been some questions about Derek Wilkins and Akili Calhoun, and like magic both players were able to earn some more reps Saturday working with the second unit together. Wilkins, in particular, did some good things for the defense and both players looked solid in their work Saturday.

Transfer DB Patrick McMorris and freshman OLB Ryan McCulloch both had opportunities to run with the first unit again Saturday at the start of the first team period. McMorris missed some time in camp, but he can certainly end up making a move in the next couple weeks to push for a starting role. McCulloch likely won't be a starter with Xavier Carlton and David Reese in position to lock up those roles as of now, but it is clear he will have some kind of role this season based on how much he has been used with the first group in camp.

Video interviews

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Practice 9 clips

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Here's today's practice report with a writeup on the ongoing quarterback competition that has yet to have much separation. To me Sam Jackson V has started to become the most clear pick for the job, but Jake Spavital wants to see more before making any kind of decision. This weekend's scrimmage will help move that process along, and today Spav talked with us about where things stand currently.

There were also some players able to get back on the field today plus some more mixing and matching at numerous positions.

Below are all the videos from today including numerous one-on-one interviews plus camp practice clips.

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Cal went back to work Thursday after having a day off, and there was certainly a bit of a different feel to today's practice. It is the start of the second week, and the intensity continued to hit a new level. There are seemed to be more focus across the board as well as a little more of a serious approach to the task at hand.

The staff has been big on preaching competition, and with so many positions still seemingly up for grabs it is starting to feel as though the coaches want to have those spots situated by the end of the next full week of camp.

Thursday's practice was on the shorter side compared to some others, but there was an even bigger emphasis on team periods compared to others. That provided onlookers with a better opportunity to see what the team is looking like a few weeks out from the opener.

Here are some of my thoughts after watching Thursday's work.

Practice observations and notes

- On the surface, Thursday's practice was similar in many ways to the others with mixing and matching of various groups. However, some of the standout performances were able to shine through that, and it was clear that the day belonged to the defense. Tuesday's practice was most balanced of camp with both the offense and the defense coming out feeling pretty good about the day.

Thursday, it was the defense that was in a better position. The first true touchdown of practice for the offense didn't come through until Ben Finley found Brian Hightower for a 34-yard connection against Isaiah Young late in the second team period. Sam Jackson V did have what would have been an 80-yard rushing touchdown but the play was called dead because the defense isn't allowed to tackle the quarterback.

- The defensive front continues to hit its stride at this point in camp with several plays in the backfield during Thursday's practice. Nate Burrell came up with a sack of Finley thanks to some pressure from David Reese during the second team period. Reese had a sack of Jackson during the final team period as well. Meanwhile, freshman Ryan McCulloch came up with a sack while fellow outside linebacker Myles Jernigan had a strip sack against Fernando Mendoza in the second team period. Tidiane Jalloh had a batted pass working against Mendoza early in practice, and Kaleb Elarms-Orr came up with a tackle for loss on a scramble play from Jackson.

- At the quarterback position, Finley put together the best day of the group. He was given some time to work with the first unit, but whether he was with that group or the third unit he had some impressive plays once again. He had three touchdown passes overall Thursday including a 20-yard scoring connection with Jaiven Plummer and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mason Starling in the "DEVO" period that puts together some newcomers or players working their way up the depth chart.

- As of now, it is still too early to call the quarterback competition in favor of one player. Jackson would likely be the starter if Cal had to play this weekend, but Finley has been coming on strong and only looks to be more in the picture the more he has an opportunity to practice with the team. He throws the best ball of the three top contenders and has appeared more comfortable in recent days. Mendoza had been the most consistent quarterback up until the last couple practices. He simply has not looked as sharp this week, but he also has not had an opportunity to work with first unit as much. Today, those opportunities mostly stuck with Jackson and Finley. Jackson made fewer mistakes Thursday and showcased his ability to make plays with his feet once again.

- Injuries are beginning to hit the Bears at this point in camp. Thursday, Brett Johnson and Sergio Allen were two players added to the list. Johnson worked off to the side with the medical staff and wore a big brace on his knee. Justin Wilcox did not elaborate on Johnson's status much but said his hope is that the defensive lineman will be ready to go for the season. Allen has been a key part of the rotation at inside linebacker, and at this point it is unclear what forced him to watch Thursday's practice instead of participate. However, he was not working with the training staff and had to simply watch practice. The same was the case again for tight end J.T. Byrne, who was part of a pretty nasty collision earlier in the week.

Stanley Saole-McKenzie and Ricky Correia earned some extended looks with the first unit because of the shuffling up front with Johnson out. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who had a strong showing Thursday, was the replacement for Allen alongside Jackson Sirmon at the inside linebacker position.

- Some new names began to make some noise during Thursday's practice with some added opportunities. San Diego State transfer and former All-Mountain West safety Patrick McMorris has missed some practice time already in camp leaving him to work his way up the depth chart, but Thursday he found a way to stand out quite a bit. His best play came on a pass breakup against Mavin Anderson in the second team period on a throw from Finley.

Fellow defensive back transfer Marcus Scott II (Missouri) had been quiet through most of camp, but Thursday was easily the most he has been able to stand out through the first seven days. Wilcox acknowledged that it was his best day, and he made a couple impressive plays during the team periods. After ending up on the losing end of a tough battle with Marquis Montgomery, who made a great over-the-top catch, in the 7-on-7 portion of practice, Scott made his first big impression with a stop on receiver Taj Davis that sent the newcomer back a bit on the play. Scott followed that up with an impressive pass breakup working against Montgomery on a throw from Finley. The Missouri transfer seemed to be locked in with the second unit for most of the day.

McCulloch has been given a bigger opportunity over the last couple practices as the Bears need to build some more depth at the outside linebacker spot. He has responded by making some significant plays. He had a tackle for loss and forced fumble on Jaydn Ott during Tuesday's practice, and today he was able to come up with a sack on Mendoza during the second team period. Now, the freshman doesn't appear to be in position to steal a starting role just yet, but he certainly will be part of the conversation when it comes to the rotation at the position if he can continue on his current trajectory.

- The running back group had an opportunity to flash a bit more in Thursday's practice. There certainly is a nice battle brewing behind Jaydn Ott for that No. 2 spot. Montana State transfer Isaiah Ifanse has seemed to be the go-to back for the second unit throughout camp, and he continues to shine in that role especially with his physicality, but Ashton Stredick has been making strides as well in camp and again had an impressive day Thursday. Both players did. Ifanse's physical style is a nice change up to the speed of Ott, and he had that on display with a nice 20-yard rushing score to end the final team period today. Stredick showed his own ability to fight through tackles as he came up with a big 23-yard run up the middle to move the chains in that same period.

The final period overall featured a lot of the running backs with Ott seeing the ball come his way on pass attempts.

Practice clips (Day 7)

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Video interviews

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Thursday's practice photo gallery

Hope you're all ready to take some time to read, but I took a deep dive into each position group one week into training camp. Plus, I examined the biggest topic for the coaching staff as they headed into the day off. Consistency has again been No. 1 on the list of what the staff wants to discuss about the team right now. They aren't seeing enough of it yet, and they want to see that change as camp moves into Week 2.

I decided to start a new thread since we all know the outcome of the gutted PAC and how the remaining 4 teams are in limbo. Just trying to put this out there because I’m just sick of bitching their current situation.

Here are the possibilities I can see happening in order.

1. Cal and possibly Furd getting a lifeline from the BIG to join. Obviously top choice .
2. Joining the BIG12. Not sure why they would not expand to 18 or why Cal would be reluctant to join. Maybe someone can chime in on this.
3. Starting a new conference. I would not mind seeing a conference with an east coast and west coast division. Florida St. and Miami want out of ACC and I’m sure they can get a few other schools to join. It does not look like the other P4 conferences are ready/willing to take them at this point. The west would consist of the 4 remaining PAC schools and possibly adding Boise St and another school (Fresno St, Utah St, UNLV, Nevada) don’t think SD State is still an option given their buyout. I can see this being feasible as a 12 team league.
4. Go independent. Schedule games with the remaining PAC. Hopefully add a few games with quality P4 schools and a couple MW.
5. Worst case scenario would be joining the MWC. There’s no way Cal should settle for playing in a lower division. Donor $$ would be significantly reduced and football/basketball recruiting would take a major hit. Not to mention how this would impact NIL. Unfortunately, the USC writer thinks this is the best option. I hope he’s wrong.

What a ****ing repeated kick in the nuts kind of day. Absolute incompetence and mismanagement has resulted in Cal Athletics (not just football) staring into the abyss. Not to mention every hillbilly f*ckface from Eugene to Fort Worth to West Virginia is mocking/celebrating our demise on social media.

There is a large contingent of us out there who passionately care about Cal football and athletics. The fact that people like us still even exist at all despite decades of failed leadership reveals that we're an insanely loyal (or sick... or both?) bunch.

Its time to circle the wagons. No more self loathing and infighting... the rest of the college football world apparently is happy to shit all over us.

I plan to call/email/text/carrier pigeon the University every day. Tell them they do not get another cent (for athletics or anything else) in the form of donations until Jim Knowlton is replaced. Individually, I dont matter, but collectively as a fanbase, we very much matter.

On the other hand, as much as I acknowledge the validity of the "i'm not going to pay to go to games and support this bullshit financially" logic, I think Cal fans HAVE to show up in force this season. Apathy and an empty stadium will never get us a seat at the table in the new college football landscape. I will go to as many games as possible this Fall... buying the cheapest tickets i can find.

Its a weird balance absolutely loathing our AD and leadership, while simultaneously wanting to support and lift up our student athletes and collective community as much as possible. But that's where my heads at. Curious how the rest of you are looking at this season, going to games, donations, etc.

Just wanted to pass along some unfortunate new, former Cal receiver Sean Dawkins has died at age 52. The Bears have confirmed the news today. Dawkins played at Homestead High School in Cupertino and grew up in Sunnyvale before joining the Bears in 1990. By 1992, Dawkins had emerged as a top pass catcher in college football leading to him being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

He played in 140 games in the NFL over the course of nine season including stints with the Colts, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings.

Dawkins was a consensus All-American in his final season in Berkeley. He caught 120 passes for 2,028 yards and 30 touchdowns during his time with the Bears. In the 1992 season, he had 65 catches for 1,070 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns.