A couple former Cal running backs are getting some big opportunities in the coming months, one on the field and the other...as a movie star?

Can Beast Mode add Oscar winner to his ever-growing list of accomplishments?

Marshawn Lynch became a $31 million man earlier this offseason and now he’s going to work with the six million man.

KING-5 TV in Seattle is reporting that Lynch has signed on to play a role in a movie that also stars Lee Majors, who played Steve Austin on television’s The Six Million Dollar Man in the 70s. The film is not about a Skittles-loving running back who occasionally slips into Beast Mode when running the football. It’s called Matt’s Chance and, per the report, it’s about "a mid-20-something cowboy who’s betrayed by his girlfriend" before slipping into a downward spiral.

On a more conventional stage, Shane Vereen will compete to be the Patriots' #1 running back for next season.

The Patriots spent a second-round draft pick on running back Shane Vereen last year and didn’t get much return on their investment, as Vereen gained just 57 yards during the regular season and never got on the field in the postseason.

But with last year’s leading rusher, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, now in Cincinnati, the Patriots are hoping Vereen can take a big step forward in his second season.

Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that the Patriots still have high hopes for Vereen, high enough that he still has a good chance of earning the No. 1 spot on the running back depth chart, ahead of last year’s second and third running backs, Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead.

After the jump a couple Bears earn second-round picks in the latest mock draft and Jorge is set to play in the Reese's All-Star game this weekend.

Football

• Mychal Kendricks and Mitchell Schwartz are second-rounders in Todd McShay's latest mock draft. Kendricks would join the Seattle Seabears and Schwartz would become a New York Giant.

Softball

• Cal is back atop the rankings, this time on both the ESPN/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA polls.
• The Bears notched an 8-0 mercy victory over Sacramento State.

Baseball

• Cal held off a furious rally from Fresno State to win 7-6.

Lacrosse

• The Bears' East Coast road trip began with a 15-5 loss to Navy.