I spend a lot of time discussing recruiting. But there is no doubt that recruiting is the lifeblood of a program. The better you do in recruiting the quicker you win and build the culture of your program. Cal has an excellent staff of coaches. One of the better staffs in the conference. The teaching and experience on hand is really strong. But not sure if they have the recruiting chops to really build something special at Cal. We will likely find out a lot with this class. Greatwood, Sirmon, Alexander, DeRuyter, Baldwin, Tuioti and Ragle all look like keepers to me. Too early to tell on Toler (but IMO will be good) Edwards and Tui need to step up.
Priority one. Keep the top NorCal guys home. This class is loaded in NorCal. (next year looks good to). Austin Jones, Henry To'oto'o, Jacob Bandes, Isiah Foskey, Laiatu Latu, Tristan Sinclair, Siale Liku and Isiah Rutherford are all really good players. The Bears have a shot at most of them (maybe all of them) and MUST get a few. Regardless of preferences of commits by position IMO the Bears will hold a spot for Jones, To'oto'o, Latu, Rutherford and Liku. These are guys the program really needs. Sinclair possibly as well.
Priority 2. Must get a Qb. Jayden Daniels of the offered guys may be the ideal fit. A dual threat guy but not just a running QB that can throw some. A passer with athletic skills. I think UCLA may be his destination so who's next. Jacob Clark is growing on me every time I watch his tape. Really good passer and has great size. Not a runner, but not a stiff. Subtle moves in the pocket (A little Goff like) and comes from a system that should easily integrate with what this staff wants to do. Coming this weekend to visit. Close this guy. He may still visit Iowa but this guy is a priority if I am the HC.
Priority 3. Pass rushing edge. Laiatu Latu is IMO the ideal guy for this defense. Big enough to set the edge and play down but athletic enough to stand up and rush the passer. Will likely play at 6'5" 260 lbs and still have very good athleticism. Every down defender. I will hold a spot for him regardless of who else commits. Potential dominant player.
Priority 4. Big WR. Joe Ngata would have been perfect but has no interest. So who now. The staff has identified a few good options. Kennedy Lewis on paper seems perfect, but IMO is a tough pull. So Khyheem Waleed becomes my #1 target. Big, athletic and good student. Raw still but has the look of a potentially dominant WR. Being seriously under recruited at the moment. Cornelius Johnson and Drake London are terrific as well, but Cal has work to do. Waleed has Cal a bit higher up at the moment.
Priority 5. Size on the DL. Siale Liku and Jacob Bandes are really good prospects. Bandes is likely better right now, but Liku has enormous potential. Big and moves really well for his size. I would take both in a heartbeat and hopefully Cal lands both. But if I have to choose, I take Liku. 3 years from now he could be special. Bandes should be good, but Liku perhaps better down the line.
Priority 6. LB. Can make a case that this should be up higher. But Pass rushing edge players and big DL that can move are harder to find. This staff likes versatile, aggressive, tough guys that can run and hit. Some can run, some can hit finding guys that can do both is harder to find. The staff has a lot of guys that meet this criteria in mind. Henry To'oto'o, Blake Antzoulatos, Jackson Hannah are the prototype guys this staff desires. Tristan Sinclair as well (although he could end up at Safety). To'oto'o like Latu has a spot regardless of numbers at this position IMO.
Priority 7. More DBs with length. The staff has a ton of guys they like. I believe they will be fine here. However a few really stick out to me. Rutherford (Cal legacy with cover skills and speed) and Kyu Kelly who also can run. Both are cover type CBs not known as tough run defenders. but you have to cover in this conference. Jaxson Turner, William Nimmo are also good players that perhaps project more as safeties although Turner has CB skills and is a taller CB.
Priority 8. RB. Austin Jones is the guy here. An every down back that can run and catch. Local with good grades. Likely will have to beat Stanford out for this guy. Another guy they hold a spot regardless of any other commit(s) at RB. DeCarlos Brooks at the moment is my 2nd choice. I like the incoming backs so that is why I do not have Jones higher up. But he is a top priority even if the position itself is less a priority. Cannot pass up a player of Jones caliber on and off the field that is local. Must Get.
Priority 9 . OL. Depth is needed. I do not know if the staff is in position to add a dominant guy this class. Coleman may be the best of those they have a good shot at. Brian Driscoll looks like a very solid swing player. Can be both an OT and OG. Similar in that regard to Pat Mekari. New offerees Brayden Rohme and Zachary Franks are nice prospects and both project as OTs but neither look like dominant guys.
Highest priority recruits IMO are. Clark (QB) Jones (RB) Latu (OLB/DE) To'oto'o (LB) Liku (DL) Rutherford (CB) Waleed (WR) Sinclair (ATH) and Bandes (DL). The group of NorCal recruits they are courting is very strong. They simply have to get some (most) of them. Not easy no doubt but if the program is going to advance the staff needs to convince these guys to be the foundation of the program and make NorCal Bear territory once again.
Priority one. Keep the top NorCal guys home. This class is loaded in NorCal. (next year looks good to). Austin Jones, Henry To'oto'o, Jacob Bandes, Isiah Foskey, Laiatu Latu, Tristan Sinclair, Siale Liku and Isiah Rutherford are all really good players. The Bears have a shot at most of them (maybe all of them) and MUST get a few. Regardless of preferences of commits by position IMO the Bears will hold a spot for Jones, To'oto'o, Latu, Rutherford and Liku. These are guys the program really needs. Sinclair possibly as well.
Priority 2. Must get a Qb. Jayden Daniels of the offered guys may be the ideal fit. A dual threat guy but not just a running QB that can throw some. A passer with athletic skills. I think UCLA may be his destination so who's next. Jacob Clark is growing on me every time I watch his tape. Really good passer and has great size. Not a runner, but not a stiff. Subtle moves in the pocket (A little Goff like) and comes from a system that should easily integrate with what this staff wants to do. Coming this weekend to visit. Close this guy. He may still visit Iowa but this guy is a priority if I am the HC.
Priority 3. Pass rushing edge. Laiatu Latu is IMO the ideal guy for this defense. Big enough to set the edge and play down but athletic enough to stand up and rush the passer. Will likely play at 6'5" 260 lbs and still have very good athleticism. Every down defender. I will hold a spot for him regardless of who else commits. Potential dominant player.
Priority 4. Big WR. Joe Ngata would have been perfect but has no interest. So who now. The staff has identified a few good options. Kennedy Lewis on paper seems perfect, but IMO is a tough pull. So Khyheem Waleed becomes my #1 target. Big, athletic and good student. Raw still but has the look of a potentially dominant WR. Being seriously under recruited at the moment. Cornelius Johnson and Drake London are terrific as well, but Cal has work to do. Waleed has Cal a bit higher up at the moment.
Priority 5. Size on the DL. Siale Liku and Jacob Bandes are really good prospects. Bandes is likely better right now, but Liku has enormous potential. Big and moves really well for his size. I would take both in a heartbeat and hopefully Cal lands both. But if I have to choose, I take Liku. 3 years from now he could be special. Bandes should be good, but Liku perhaps better down the line.
Priority 6. LB. Can make a case that this should be up higher. But Pass rushing edge players and big DL that can move are harder to find. This staff likes versatile, aggressive, tough guys that can run and hit. Some can run, some can hit finding guys that can do both is harder to find. The staff has a lot of guys that meet this criteria in mind. Henry To'oto'o, Blake Antzoulatos, Jackson Hannah are the prototype guys this staff desires. Tristan Sinclair as well (although he could end up at Safety). To'oto'o like Latu has a spot regardless of numbers at this position IMO.
Priority 7. More DBs with length. The staff has a ton of guys they like. I believe they will be fine here. However a few really stick out to me. Rutherford (Cal legacy with cover skills and speed) and Kyu Kelly who also can run. Both are cover type CBs not known as tough run defenders. but you have to cover in this conference. Jaxson Turner, William Nimmo are also good players that perhaps project more as safeties although Turner has CB skills and is a taller CB.
Priority 8. RB. Austin Jones is the guy here. An every down back that can run and catch. Local with good grades. Likely will have to beat Stanford out for this guy. Another guy they hold a spot regardless of any other commit(s) at RB. DeCarlos Brooks at the moment is my 2nd choice. I like the incoming backs so that is why I do not have Jones higher up. But he is a top priority even if the position itself is less a priority. Cannot pass up a player of Jones caliber on and off the field that is local. Must Get.
Priority 9 . OL. Depth is needed. I do not know if the staff is in position to add a dominant guy this class. Coleman may be the best of those they have a good shot at. Brian Driscoll looks like a very solid swing player. Can be both an OT and OG. Similar in that regard to Pat Mekari. New offerees Brayden Rohme and Zachary Franks are nice prospects and both project as OTs but neither look like dominant guys.
Highest priority recruits IMO are. Clark (QB) Jones (RB) Latu (OLB/DE) To'oto'o (LB) Liku (DL) Rutherford (CB) Waleed (WR) Sinclair (ATH) and Bandes (DL). The group of NorCal recruits they are courting is very strong. They simply have to get some (most) of them. Not easy no doubt but if the program is going to advance the staff needs to convince these guys to be the foundation of the program and make NorCal Bear territory once again.
