Golden Nuggets: Cameron Goode is Good

• Its Cameron Goode’s turn to get the spotlight from the media. A few places talk about him, but I’ll just refer you to the San Francisco Chronicle’s article on him.

Coaches and players from offense and defense spending a portion of their media availability to praise the play of Cameron Goode has been a constant through the first nine practices of Cal’s 14-session training camp.

The most meaningful comments might be those from left tackle Patrick Mekari.

“Just the way he plays is special,” said Mekari, who regularly gets an up-close look at Goode’s rare blend of pass-rushing burst, strength and skill-position speed. “He’s going to turn a lot of heads this year.

“I’m really excited to see what he does.”

• Evan Rambo hasn’t played since early 2016 because of injuries, but he is ready for a return in 2018.

“As soon as I got out here, I knew that any fear or any doubt would set me back,” Rambo said. “So I just came out here with a goal. I know the physical part is going to take care of itself. The mental aspect I wanted to hone down on it, make sure that was good, 100 percent.”

Cal coach Justin Wilcox wasn’t quite sure what to expect when fall camp began less than two weeks ago. Rambo is an impressive-looking athlete at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. But he didn’t participate in spring workouts and Wilcox has never seen him play in a game.

“Hoping for the best, but also acknowledging he’s coming off the two really serious injuries,” Wilcox said of his approach. “He really hasn’t flinched one time. It’s been very impressive.”

Rambo is competing as part of Cal’s deepest position group alongside fellow safeties Ashtyn Davis, Jaylinn Hawkins and Quentin Tartabull, and he may be tough to keep out of the lineup.

“I went in with the mentality that I was the last man at my spot. It gave me the pride to try to get to the top,” Rambo said.

• Patrick Mekari’s family roots run deep. You should read this for an understanding of what the Mekari family went through to make it to America.
• See how the Cal Bears bonded over bowling.
• Missed this one last week: Patrick Laird’s second installment of #ReadWithPat features AD Jim Knowlton.

• This video spotlights the Cal wide receivers.

• Now for the other “football” here’s a Cal men’s soccer video preview. I know CGB will have their own shortly.

Go Bears!