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For those of you panicking about recruiting, it looks as if everything is a-ok at the moment. Hell, Cal is a net-positive since the firing of Sonny Dykes, with cornerback Elijah Hicks revealing himself as an early enrollee after flipping from Notre Dame.
2017
Quarterback Chase Garbers isn’t just committed, he’s fully stumping for who the next Cal head coach should be—his main recruiter and current interim coach Jake Spavital.
Spav for Head Coach 2017!!!! Let's get it going Cal Family #GoBears #CalGang17 #Spav4HC
— Chase Garbers (@chase_garbers3) January 9, 2017
#Cal QB commit Chase Garbers stumps for his guy: https://t.co/sAIOWCy3Vl
— Ryan Gorcey (@RGBearTerritory) January 10, 2017
Cal QB Commit Reacts to Dykes Departure
2017 3-star Newport Beach (Calif.) Corona Del Mar QB & #Cal commit Chase Garbers told @Rivals he remains committed "as of now" @adamgorney
— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) January 9, 2017
“It’s very odd to happen this late,” Garbers said. “But it is part of the process and it happens. I talked with the rest of the staff and a bunch of current players so that is good.”
It’s clear that if Spavital can be retained in some capacity, so will Garbers. We’ll see what happens here.
Running back Biaggio Ali-Walsh made it clear he will be a Bear as well. The USA Today:
“I’m looking forward to who my next head coach will be,” Garbers told USA TODAY Sports. “I’m still a Bear and plan on signing with Cal.”
Defensive lineman Gabe Cherry has reportedly made it to campus as an early enrollee. No word yet, but given he’s a Cal legacy, I’d be shocked if he changed his mind and changed mid-stream.
2017 DL commit Gabe Cherry is rock solid with Cal, signing on earlyhttps://t.co/bbLTyZjGy0
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) January 2, 2017
@MartinezTheQB Go Bears
— Gabriel Cherry (@gabecherry72) January 8, 2017
Athlete Jordan Genmark-Heath is sticking with the Bears.
#CalFamily pic.twitter.com/xX1F56Dh68
— Jordan Genmark Heath (@SwedishBlackGuy) January 9, 2017
Athlete Taariq Johnson holds firm. He’s an early enrollee and will be participating this spring.
#StayGolden pic.twitter.com/7lY1f5TS6C
— ʀ ɪ ᴄ ᴏ☾® (@JohnsonTaariq) January 9, 2017
Cal currently has two signed commits in this class junior college linebacker Da’Quan Patton and defensive end Alex Funches. They should be joining the Bears sometime this year as well.
2018
Quarterback Adrian Martinez is staying strong with his commitment as well.
Tough times don't last tough people do! I am committed to being a California Golden Bear through it all #CalFamily
— Adrian Martinez (@MartinezTheQB) January 8, 2017
Obviously a lot can change between now and Signing Day, but early indications are that the recruiting class isn’t going to completely fracture.
There are other commits we have to keep a closer eye on (particularly the ones primarily recruited by departing Cal receivers coach Jacob Peeler), but if Cal can minimize the damage with those prospects it feels like the Bears should maintain the majority of their class.
Cal’s last big official visit weekend is coming soon. We should have a clearer idea what our class looks like by then.