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Redshirt-freshman running back (and model) Biaggio Ali Walsh announced on Twitter today that he will be transferring from the California Golden Bears.
— Biaggio (@BiaggioAli1234) December 5, 2018
Cal employed an unusual strategy at running back this year by using their back-ups in a limited capacity. Of all the runs by running backs (260), Patrick Laird carried a whopping 83.1%. The running back (i.e., not counting quarterbacks) with the next highest percentage of carries was Christopher Brown Jr. with 8.8%. Walsh ran the ball just four times—1.5% of the RB carries. In the 2018 Spring Game, Walsh ran for a 19-yard touchdown, but was punished by the coaches for excessive celebration following the play.
Cal rushing plays in the 2018 regular season
| # | Player | GP | ATT | Gain | Loss | Net | AVG | TD | Long | AVG/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | GP | ATT | Gain | Loss | Net | AVG | TD | Long | AVG/G |
| 28 | Laird, Patrick | 12 | 216 | 968 | 36 | 932 | 4.3 | 5 | 62 | 77.7 |
| 5 | McIlwain, Brandon | 10 | 80 | 465 | 63 | 402 | 5.0 | 4 | 28 | 40.2 |
| 7 | Garbers, Chase | 11 | 90 | 498 | 100 | 398 | 4.4 | 1 | 23 | 36.2 |
| 34 | Brown Jr., Christopher | 12 | 23 | 92 | 1 | 91 | 4.0 | 1 | 16 | 7.6 |
| 29 | Dancy, Marcel | 4 | 14 | 85 | 4 | 81 | 5.8 | 1 | 18 | 20.3 |
| 17 | Wharton III, Vic | 12 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 7.5 | 0 | 8 | 1.3 |
| 10 | Hawkins, Jeremiah | 12 | 8 | 25 | 12 | 13 | 1.6 | 0 | 8 | 1.1 |
| 26 | Walsh, Biaggio Ali | 10 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 2.3 | 0 | 5 | 0.9 |
| 31 | Netherda, Alex | 12 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 0.7 |
| 9 | Noa, Kanawai | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 | 0.8 |
| 33 | Clark, Derrick | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 5 | 3.0 |
| 99 | McMorris, Malik | 12 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 | 3 | 0.4 |
| 25 | Remigio, Nikko | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 | 0 | -0.1 |
| 3 | Bowers, Ross | 1 | 3 | 6 | 13 | -7 | -2.3 | 0 | 6 | -7.0 |
Although unproven, Walsh would have been—at the very least—instrumental for depth next year. With Patrick Laird graduating this year, there is no clear starter for 2019.
Best of luck to Biaggio in his future career on the gridiron and the runway!