GoldenBearReport - Cal helps 2023 DB Marcus Ratcliffe feel at home on recent unofficial visit
San Diego safety Marcus Ratcliffe feels like Cal has prioritized him coming away from a visit late-January to Berkeley.
cal.rivals.com
2023 safety Marcus Ratcliffe continues to see interest rise from college programs to begin 2022. There are a number of schools that have already offered even more that could potentially offer him moving forward. He visited Cal just before the start of the dead period, and he was able to be on campus when RJ Jones made his decision to eventually pick the Bears. They play in the same secondary with their 7v7 team, so there is certainly a connection there.
I spoke with Ratcliffe about the visit, and it's clear he wants to go about the process his own way. I don't think it hurts that Jones is already committed to the Bears, but it won't be the make-or-break factor for him. What could be a make-or-break factor is the opportunity to play early. He brought that up on his own quite a bit during our conversation and it is clear he wants to see the field as soon as possible wherever he ends up.
Cal seemed to give him confidence that he would have a shot to do that with the Bears, and that was one thing that stood out about the trip.
“I just really felt like I was a priority there. They want what’s best for me, and they let me know that early playing time could be a thing there. That’s one of the things I’m looking at. As a player I really would like early playing time, but at the same time I’m cool with competition. I’m 100% fine if I have to beat someone out.”
He has a preexisting relationship with Terrence Brown that has helped bridge the gap with the staff at Cal, and he feels really comfortable with both Brown and Tre Watson. It sounds like Cal is going to remain in the picture, but he has a lot of other schools he's interested in getting to know more in the weeks and months ahead.
