Cal football recruiting: Sonny Dykes intends to sign 28 players, targeting RB, WR, OL, DL, LB

For those of you looking to catch up on recruiting, here's a quick overview. Thanks to Jeff Faraudo for his update from the Sonny Dykes media teleconference.

Cal has currently filled up to 24 recruiting commits. The Bears are looking to close on several more prospects and finish up with around 28 players.

Dykes mentions the following positions as possibilities.

• Running back: Cal currently has Derrick Clark ready to go for the spring, but the Bears would like to take two to augment depth. Zion Echols is the best candidate--the former Cal commit still very much like the Bears. It's down to Cal and Wazzu for Echols.
• Wide receiver: Cal's biggest wideout target left on the board is Mississippi product A.J. Brown, friend of current Cal commit Jordan Duncan. Brown has a pretty impressive group of teams coming after him, including Alabama and Ole Miss. So this is going to be a tough battle.
• Offensive lineman: Cal has one huge big ugly target left in Stanford decommit Nate Herbig, and are also trying to hold onto some other prospects (Paco Perez and UCLA anyone?)
• Defensive lineman: This is a bit of a mystery. Boss Tagaloa from De La Salle seems like the obvious name, but there has been almost no buzz at all about Tagaloa and the Bears since he put Cal in his top 5 back in September. Guess Dykes and company have a surprise here that we'll only learn about through the process.
• Linebacker: Cal is currently courting Giovanni LaFrance, and there are supposedly other names in the mix. Stay tuned here; the Bears have only one linebacker commit in Cameron Goode, and I know the defensive staff cannot be pleased with their depth at this position.

At least nine will be entering Cal this incoming semester and be on campus for spring practice: Quarterback Max Gilliam, running back Derrick Clark, athlete Melquise Stovall, wide receivers Jordan Duncan and Jordan Veasy, offensive linemen Jake Curhan and Dwayne Wallace, defensive back Marloshawn Franklin, and defensive end Rusty Becker. Barring some drastic circumstances, expect all of them to be Golden Bears, with some of them to actively compete for starting positions.

Dykes cited Wallace particularly as a potential prospect who could compete at the opening at right guard with Jordan Rigsbee graduating. Patrick Mekari and Kamryn Bennett are also expected to be in the mix. Semisi Uluave is also reportedly coming back.

Team spokesman confirmed to me that Semisi Uluave will be with #Cal this spring: https://t.co/RBLHmptmhy

— Ryan Gorcey (@RGBearTerritory) January 18, 2016