Cal, Stanford, San Jose State add new talent
BERKELEY >> Cal reeled in 25 prospects on national signing day, a balanced class that the recruiting services rank among the upper-half in the Pac-12 Conference.
“I feel really good about this recruiting class,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said Wednesday. “Ranking a recruiting class is tough — they still have to grow and develop. It’s just the beginning. In terms of ranking them, I’ll leave that up to the experts.”
The Rivals website has the Bears at No. 30 nationally while 247Sports ranks them No. 33. Both sites put Cal’s 2020 class at No. 5 within the Pac-12.
“I like this class a lot,” said Brandon Huffman, national recruiting editor for 247Sports. “I think this class has three or four high 3-stars. There’s definitely been an upgrade in Cal’s recruiting.”
The Bears went heavy on wide receivers and defensive backs, signing five of each. They added size on the defensive line, with a pair of 300-pounders, and signed two quarterbacks and two running backs.
The Bears’ headliner is consensus four-star tight end DJ Rogers, a 6-foot-4, 230-pounder from East Catholic High in Sammamish, Washington. Rated as the No. 7 tight end in the country by 247Sports, Rogers was pursued by every Pac-12 program except Stanford and Washington, along with Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, Florida, Georgia and Notre Dame, among many others.
“DJ’s a talented kid. He’s big and athletic. He’s got a lot of tools. Fits the profile of that position,” Wilcox said. “He still has a lot to learn. But we’re excited to get him.”
Things we learned
REBUILDING THEIR SECONDARY >> After two seasons of consistently high-level play in their defensive backfield, the Bears will lose both safeties and potentially one starting cornerback this year.
They reloaded Wednesday, signing five prospects expected to play corner or safety, many of them capable of going at either position. “The days of the strong safety who is 220 (pounds) always plays in the box and can’t really cover, those days are over,” Wilcox said.
“You’ve got to be able to cover.”
BEARS HOLD OFF TROJANS >> There was some late concern about whether Cal could close the deal on outside linebacker Muelu Iosefa of Mililani, Hawaii. He committed to Cal back in June, then took a recruiting visit last weekend to USC, but signed Wednesday with the Bears.
WEAVER IS CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA >> Linebacker Evan Weaver has become the Bears’ first consensus All-American since defensive back Daymeion Hughes and return specialist DeSean Jackson were honored in 2006. Weaver already has been named to the Associated Press, Sporting News and Walter Camp first teams — three of the five All-America teams used to determine consensus status. Players chosen to three of the five attain that distinction.
SAFETY DAVIS OUT >> Senior Ashtyn Davis, a second-team all-Pac-12 safety, will miss the Bears’ Redbox Bowl matchup against Illinois on Dec. 30 after undergoing what Wilcox described as minor surgery late last week. Davis was the Bears’ fourth-leading tackler and tied for the team lead with two interceptions a year after picking off four passes. Davis was slowed late in the season by an undisclosed injury that led to the surgery.
Lingering questions
NO DECISION FROM TOP DB >> Redshirt junior Cam Bynum, a second-team all-Pac-12 cornerback, says he has made no decision yet about whether he will return for his final collegiate season or enter the NFL draft. Bynum has started all 37 games the past three seasons and is the Bears’ active leader with 30 passes defended.
JORDAN DUNCAN UPDATE >> Senior wide receiver Jordan Duncan, who was held out of the UCLA game, is currently “excused” from the team to address a personal issue. Wilcox declined to say whether Duncan would be available for the Redbox Bowl
NEXT OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR >> Wilcox said he has no timetable for selection a replacement for offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin, who was named head coach at Cal Poly. “We’ve had a lot of interest, which is great,” Wilcox said.
Baldwin is staying with the Bears through the Redbox Bowl.