New starting guard, kicker, but not QB
Junior quarterback Ross Bowers will start for Cal against North Carolina on Saturday, a widely expected move that was confirmed by the season-opening depth chart released by head coach Justin Wilcox on Monday afternoon.
The starting quarterback spot might have been the buzziest topic among the Bears’ fans after the coaching staff deemed it an “open competition” prior to spring practices, but Bowers retaining his position was hardly the most intriguing thing disclosed in the program’s first public depth chart since April.
Kicker Greg Thomas will get the first shot at replacing the school’s all-time leading scorer, Matt Anderson (316 points), Michael Saffell has played his way into securing a starting role, and a few true freshmen appear headed for early playing time.
Thomas, a transfer from City College of San Francisco, emerged during the past two weeks after Gabe Siemieniec and Chris Landgrebe seesawed the placekicking role during the spring. Saffell, one of seven linemen who started at least one game last season, took over the right-guard spot to complete a group that currently includes left tackle Patrick Mekari, left guard Valentino Daltoso, center Addison Ooms and right tackle Jake Curhan.
Freshman receiver Nikko Remigio is in the running to be the team’s primary punt returner and shares the second-team slot position with Jeremiah Hawkins. Other true freshmen on the three-deep chart are left tackle Will Craig, running back Christopher Brown Jr., inside linebacker Evan Tattersall, outside linebacker Joseph Ogunbanjo and cornerback Chigozie Anusiem.
Another striking takeaway from Monday’s depth chart is just how much healthier Cal is than it was four months ago. Wide receivers Kanawai Noa and Vic Wharton III, defensive tackle Chris Palmer, defensive end Zeandae Johnson and cornerback Elijah Hicks are each projected starters for Week 1 after being listed third or fourth at their positions and being held out of the spring game with injuries.
Of course, none of those positions demands the attention of the quarterback. Bowers had made considerable strides in his command of the offense, and coaches say he has made a similar leap off the field.
“It’s how you do things in the office, in film study and in the offseason. It’s a lifestyle,” Wilcox said. “… He’s significantly better than he was a year ago. We need to acknowledge that.”
Bowers started all 12 of Cal’s games last season, completing 59 percent of his passes for 3,039 yards and 18 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. A competition for the starting quarterback spot didn’t really materialize during the spring, and by the start of training camp, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was taking nearly all of the firstteam snaps during 11-on-11 periods.
The coaching staff hasn’t publicly ruled out anything regarding the quarterbacks, including the possibility of subbing in dual-threat Brandon McIlwain for run-passoption packages during the season. Redshirt freshman Chase Garbers, who shares an “or” with McIlwain as Bowers’ backup, also has shown flashes, but Bowers is the man.
“He’s respected at every level: coaches and players,” senior tight end Ray Hudson said. “When you hear his voice, people listen and know whatever he says is what we’re going to do and that it’s the right thing to do.
“We’re never going to question it.”
Briefly: Running back Patrick Laird and inside linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk were selected season-long captains by their teammates. Mekari and defensive end Luc Bequette will be the first of weekly rotating captains. … True freshman running back Johnny Adams will miss the season because of a lowerbody injury, according to Wilcox. … The coach said senior inside linebacker Derron Brown is away from the team because of personal reasons. Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.