Recovering Enwere has ‘that fire back’
Vic Enwere feels like he’s had a football rebirth.
Cal’s active leader in rushing touchdowns (12) is back to running like the man who pounded his way to eight scores as a sophomore in 2015 and was averaging 5.5 yards per carry last year before his season was ended by injury.
“I have that fire back in me,” said the senior, who missed the final six games in 2016 with a broken foot. “It hurt to be away from my team and the game, but it’s one of the best things that could have happened to me. It gave me a chance to step back and really look at the opportunities I have. I built myself and grew mentally.”
Enwere and Doak Walker Award candidate Tre Watson are expected to give Cal a formidable running-back duo, a year after the Bears finished ninth in the Pac-12 in rushing (154.3 yards per game) and 11th in rushing touchdowns (16). Quarterback competition: After watching video of Saturday’s scrimmage, head coach Justin Wilcox reiterated Monday that “everything is on the table” regarding the quarterback competition among sophomore Ross Bowers, junior Chase Forrest, freshman Chase Garbers and sophomore transfer Brandon McIlwain.
Bowers had the best day, leading three consecutive touchdown drives. McIlwain orchestrated Cal’s only other touchdown. Forrest attempted only three passes, two of which were intercepted.
“I think there were some really positive things that showed up later in the scrimmage,” Wilcox said. “The group, and the quarterbacks specifically, didn’t start as fast as we would have liked. But I think each of the guys did some good things.” Family affair: Despite being the younger of the two, freshman receiver Jeremiah Hawkins is the uncle of redshirt sophomore safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
“He’s my dad’s little brother, but I treat him like my little brother,” Jaylinn Hawkins said. “I watch out for him, if he needs help in anything.
“We actually check each other. If I’m slipping up, he’ll tell me something. He helps me to stay on my toes, too.” Worlds away: Freshman nose guard Suilagisipai Fuimaono played his high school football at Kadena High in Okinawa, Japan, where he recorded 94 tackles, including 21 for a loss and seven sacks.
“He’s got a ton of room to grow, but he really likes it, wants it and shows that it’s important to him,” Wilcox said of the 6-4, 290-pounder. “He’s a big guy who can move. There just aren’t many of those guys out there.
“He was in a different country about two months ago. He didn’t have the same access to some of the training, but you wouldn’t know it. He fits right in.”