BERKELEY — Coping with what he called “an ever-changing landscape,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox announced a football signing class of 10 players on Wednesday but promised the process is far from complete.
A year after adding 20 players on National Signing Day, the Bears added a four-star running back and a four-star offensive lineman, did not announce a quarterback signing and lost a defensive tackle who repeatedly changed his mind.
“Signing day has always been an exciting time and there’s always the potential of what you referred to as drama,” Wilcox said. “We are really enthused about the group of guys that have signed with us.”
Scholarship limits were expanded a year ago as the NCAA gave athletes an additional year because of COVID-19. Wilcox admitted he doesn’t even have a firm number of available scholarships because some seniors are still weighing whether to return or exit.
“It’s a new era. The roster management has changed,” Wilcox said. “But now, with the transfer portal and especially with the COVID and the eligibility questions that are still remaining, this won’t be the end of recruiting for us.”
The highest-rated player that Cal announced signing by Wilcox’s mid-afternoon Zoom call with reporters was four-star offensive lineman Trent Ramsey, who played this season in Florida but is a former Arizona high school teammate of Cal quarterback Kai Millner.
The Bears’ best recruit may wind up being running back Jaydn Ott of Norco, California, a four-star prospect who committed to the Bears months ago then opened up his recruiting again. He reportedly chose Cal over Oregon State and Colorado, although the program didn’t announce his signing until Wednesday evening. Ott is rated as the nation’s No. 14 running back prospect by Rivals.
Quarterback is a key position for the Bears after four-year starter Chase Garbers’ decision this week to pursue the NFL rather than use the extra COVID year at Cal.
The only scholarship quarterbacks on Cal’s roster are freshmen Miller and Zach Johnson and grad transfer Ryan Glover, who was less-than-impressive in his one appearance this season.
Wilcox said the Bears anticipate adding a quarterback, perhaps soon, and hinted it could be a veteran that comes out of the transfer portal.
TOP RECRUIT: No news that emerged Wednesday was bigger than Wilcox’s decision last Friday to turn down an offer to become coach at Oregon, his alma mater.
Five days later, Wilcox surprised no one by downplaying the entire episode.
Asked to explain his decision to remain at Cal, which has experienced nowhere near the success in football as Oregon in recent decades, he said, “I really enjoy being here at Cal, working with our players. We feel like we have unfinished business here. We are very optimistic about the future.”
Referenced the five games Cal lost by seven points or fewer, Wilcox added, “If we can find those margins in our offseason programming and how we coach and how we play, we feel like we can do some special things here at Cal.”
Wilcox confirmed he has had conversations with the administration about extending his contract.
STILL WAITING: The recruiting website rivals.com still lists Cal as having 13 newcomers. Among those expected to join the program but are still unsigned are offensive lineman Jackson Brown of Danville, cornerback Cameron Sidney of Santa Ana and defensive end Nunie Tuitele of Aurora, Colorado.
STAYING OR LEAVING: Uncertainty in the recruiting process extends beyond high school prospects trying to settle on a school. Some current players who still have the option of using their COVID year, have yet to make decisions about their future.
That includes outside linebacker Kuony Deng, who missed most of this season with a lower-body injury but would be a key member of the Bears’ defense, if he opts to return. Wilcox said the coaching staff intends to give them time to decide.
TRIPLE-FLIP: Cal experienced 24 hours of drama involving Damonic Williams, a three-star interior defensive lineman from southern California, who committed to the Bears bay in January then changed his mind. Three times.
The 6-foot-1, 314-pounder announced Tuesday morning his decision to back out of his commitment and flip to TCU and former Cal coach Sonny Dykes.
By Tuesday night he was back on board with the Bears. But that commitment lasted perhaps 18 hours before he reversed his field once more and signed with TCU.
Here are the highlights of the Bears’ Class of 2022 so far:
DE Nate Burrell (6-2, 250 Bellflower, CA / St. John Bosco HS)
A versatile player who could wind up anywhere along D-line
CB Jeremiah Earby (6-2, 170 Atherton, CA /Menlo Atherton HS)
Versatile athlete also highly regarded as a wide receiver
RB Ashton Hayes (5-11, 180 Reno, NV / McQueen HS)
Fast back flipped commitment on Monday from Nebraska; rushed for more than 3,700 yards, 62 touchdowns in 3 varsity seasons
OL Nick Morrow (6-8, 255 Flagstaff, AZ / Flagstaff HS)
Played mostly tight end in high school but pegged to play O-line for Cal
OT Trent Ramsey 6-5, 290 Palm Harbor, FL / Carrollwood Day School
Bears landed 4-star prospect on signing day in battle with Mississippi State
RB: Jaydn Ott (6-0, 210 Norco, CA / Norco HS)
Four-star prospect is rated by Rivals as the 14th-best RB in the country
WR Jaiven Plummer (6-3, 200 Alexandria, VA / Episcopal HS)
Note: Plummer, who also played DB in high school, adds length and physicality to WR group
WR Mason Starling (6-5, 200 Tacoma, WA / College of San Mateo)
In his final 3 games this season caught 33 passes for 336 yards, 6 TDs
OLB Curlee Thomas IV (6-4, 238 Fort Worth, TX / Nolan Catholic HS)
Edge rusher had offers from 42 schools. including Oklahoma State & Penn State
OL Sioape Vatikani (6-4, 285 Reno, NV / Manogue HS)
Three-time all-state pick had offers from 7 Pac-12 schools, along with BYU, Nebraska & Tennessee
Source: www.mercurynews.com