California Golden Blogs, a California Golden Bears community

Incoming linebacker Cecil Whiteside is currently working on some academic issues and has not reported to Cal's Summer Bridge program. It's not clear if he'll resolve them in time for the 2010 season. Ed note from Avinash: This tends to happen every year, so let's not get too alarmed. Some recruits always struggle to adjust to the school's academic requirements. It takes them a little bit longer to get into the groove of what being a student at Cal is like. With regards to the team, linebacker is not an area of HUGE need this year, so Whiteside's absence would suck a little, but it's better he gets his grades in order earlier rather than later (Darian Hagan anyone?).

Very quietly this summer, the Golden Bears are on the road to compiling one of their best classes since the famous 2005 class headlined by Desean. Hat-tip to joffle for bringing this to our attention. Here are the Cal commits appearing on the most recent Rivals 250 list (with positional rankings, which apparently have not been updated yet): 44 – Nick Forbes (7th OLB) 95 – Cecil Whiteside (6th OLB) 111 – Tevin Carter (NR WR) 140 – Austin Hinder (2nd pro-style QB) 200 – Alex Crosthwaite (22nd OT) 219 – David Wilkerson (NR ILB) So whenever you see Tosh Lupoi walking around Cal, take him to Top Dog and buy him a beer afterwards. Or send him the finest beverages in all the land.