Cal Football Recruiting: Winter commit roundup

It’s an unprecedented time for college athletics just the same as it’s uncharted territory for our nation and the world alike during the COVID-19 outbreak. Yet, the world still turns and slowly we’ll all get back to the way of life we’d grown accustomed to before the coronavirus outbreak.

With that in mind and with the knowledge that the pandemic news has dominated all outlets for the past month or so, we take a look back at this winter’s commits to the class of 2021 for head coach Justin Wilcox and Co.

WR Mavin Anderson commits, February 1, 2020

First on that list was WR Mavin Anderson from Mission Viejo High School. Standing at 6’1, 175 pounds, Anderson had over 10 offers from big-name schools as far east as Auburn and from eight other Pac-12 schools.

Cal beat out Oregon, Washington State, Stanford and USC among others for Anderson’s services after he earned a four-star ranking as the 23rd-best prospect in the state of California following his junior season. Anderson is seen as the 178th-best prospect overall by the recruiting site 247Sports.

And, according to 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins, he seemingly has the tools for a jump to the pros after his days in Berkeley are done:

Strong frame and has a running back type body but projects best as a receiver. One of the most explosive athletes out West. Has game-breaking ability. Track guy who has run sub 11.0-100m as a freshman but is a legitimate football player and not a track guy trying to play the game. Catches the ball well, explodes in and out of his breaks and is a dangerous return man as well. Is not just a straight-line guy like a lot of track/football players, has some wiggle to him, can make people miss in space and shows nice change-of-direction skill. High-end academic prospect as well and has a very nice upside to him. Projects as a impact upper tier Power 5 starter and future high-mid-round NFL draft pick.

His junior year highlights are certainly telling of such high praise, courtesy of Hudl:

OT Bastian Swinney commits on February 8, 2020

Heading to Cal from Edina High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bastian Swinney is currently ranked as the consensus third-best prospect in his state and the nation’s 44th-best offensive tackle for the class of 2021. He chose Cal over at least 14 other schools with offers on the table including Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas State, TCU and West Virginia among others.

At 6’6, 270, Swinney already has the size of a college-ready tackle and he’s still got this fall in the weight room and on the field to get even bigger. He’s a mauler at right tackle and displays great hands in his highlights:

TE Jermaine Terry commits on February 24, 2020

The highest-rated recruit so far in the class of 2021, TE Jermaine Terry of Kennedy High School in Richmond committed in late February, adding the class’ first four-star to next year’s class. Terry is ranked as the nation’s fifth-best tight end and the 13th-best overall prospect from the state by 247Sports.

He’s also ranked among the nation’s top 150 prospects by each recruiting service, topping out at 148th overall by 247Sports as well. Terry had over 20 offers from just about every ‘blue blood’ program you could think of including Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Ohio State as well as eight other Pac-12 schools.

Terry is a big target at 6’4, 234 pounds and has a recorded shuttle time of 4.65 seconds and a vertical of 26.3 inches at The Opening last May. According to 247Sports National Recruiting Editor Brandon Huffman, his pro comparison is David Njoku of the Cleveland Browns:

A matchup nightmare, impossible for DB’s to cover with his size and too athletic and strong for linebackers to cover. Has tremendous hands, and his quickness off the line lends to his difficulty to cover. Has great catch radius and body control. Continuing to improve as a blocker. Projects as immediate Power 5 contributor and projects as second-day NFL draft pick.

Terry made it official on February 24 when he tweeted that ‘home is where you heart is’ and how Cal is that for him.

DE Akili Calhoun commits on March 7, 2020

During the coronavirus outbreak beginning, Calhoun made his commitment to Cal as the Golden Bears beat out multiple other Pac-12 schools including Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA and Washington State all who had offers to the defensive end.

Calhoun stands at 6’4, 245 pounds and ranks as the country’s 13th-best weakside defensive end, according to 247Sports. He’s a three-star composite but ranked as a four-star recruit by 247 as well while he’s just a three-star over at Rivals.com.

He’s a talented track and field athlete as well and has great athleticism, noted in his evaluation from Huffman of 247Sports:

Flashes quick first step and can slide underneath protection. Has good change of direction skills in open field and strong in backside pursuit. Can play on the strongside or the weakside. Needs to add bulk to handle blockers and improve his leverage while become quicker in his play diagnosis. Projects as multi-year Power 5 starter and projects as third day pick.

Compared to Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter, can you see the comparison in his highlights, courtesy of Hudl:

Here’s hoping for terrific senior seasons for these four players and when the time does come, welcome to Berkeley, gents!