UPDATE: Things have changed quite a bit since I wrote this on Friday! I did not expect everyone to commit to Cal. Please ask for refunds at TwistNHook.
Cal had seen a swath of decommits leading up to National Signing Day, but the Bears stemmed the bleeding with an impressive final official visit weekend that netted four commitments and brought their class back up to 14 members. Still on the smaller side, but the Bears will not have to worry about being short on bodies next season.
And Cal still is after some very strong targets. Let’s learn about them below.
Cal had two junior college prospects sign already, both from Trinity Valley (Tx.).
Funches is listed on the spring roster, Patton is not.
Cal also has three early entry recruits on campus and taking classes.
So that leaves nine Cal commits who are ready to fax in their letter of intent this week.
- Quarterback Chase Garbers. Garbers is solid. He’s coming.
- Running back Biaggio Ali-Walsh. Ali-Walsh made it clear he was a Bear
- Linebacker Paul Scott. Bear through and through.
- Offensive lineman Michael Saffell. Cal’s only line commit at the moment is secure.
- Athlete Jeremiah Hawkins. Nebraska is courting him, but I think this one sticks.
Cal also had four new commits this past weekend after their visit up to Berkeley! I’d imagine you can pencil them all in as safe verbals.
- Tight end Gavin Reinwald. Reinwald was a silent visitor to Cal this weekend and decided to be a Golden Bear! It’s Cal’s first pure tight end commit since the Jeff Tedford era.
- Linebacker Kyle Harmon. Harmon decommitted from Cal Poly and became a Bear this weekend.
- Safety Daniel Scott. After Cal lost a bunch of commitments from multiple defensive back prospects, Scott stemmed the bleeding along with the surprise flip of Hicks.
- Offensive lineman Poutasi Poutasi. Poutasi gives at least Cal two offensive line commits, with a few other potential targets coming down the line.
Also one additional Cal Bear will be on his way: 2016 offensive line commit Daniel Juarez was a grayshirt last year and he will join the Bears in the spring semester.
Here are the potential National Signing Day decisions:
San Pedro offensive lineman Nick Ford has Cal in his final four along with Utah, Colorado and Washington. Ford is a Cal legacy but the Huskies seem to be really interested in landing him. Going to be close.
Ventura (Ca.) St. Bonaventure offensive lineman Casey Roddick has Cal in his final four with San Diego State, Utah and Colorado. The former Golden Bear commit gave Colorado his final visit and I’d imagine they’d be the stiffest competition for Cal.
Las Vegas (Nv.) Desert Pines offensive lineman Poutasi Poutasi was a Louisville commit but was recently courted by the Cal coaching staff. He is one of Cal’s primary tarets.
UPDATE: Poutasi committed!
Pullman (Wa.) tight end Ben Moos decommitted from Utah, is coming off a visit from Cal, and will take a trip to Syracuse. Cal is the very much in the mix, and Moos is set to decide between Cal, Fresno State and Louisville before National Signing Day.
Lancaster (Ca.) cornerback Branden Smith got a late Cal offer and visited this past weekend. He could help assuage some of the secondary recruiting losses the Bears suffered.
It’s obviously not the desired recruiting class for the Bears in terms of size and talent, but it’s the best they can get on such short notice. Cal fans, your thoughts on the possibilities from this class?