Tag: Cal

Nov 30, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) in action during the game between the SMU Mustangs and the California Golden Bears at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Cal RB Jaydn Ott transfers to Oklahoma

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cal running back Jaydn Ott has transferred to Oklahoma, the Sooners’ football program announced Tuesday.

The spring transfer window officially opens Wednesday, but Oklahoma did not wait to announce the additions of Ott and Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula.

It was first reported Monday that Ott would enter the transfer portal, months after he told his fans he was “not leaving” Cal in a social media post.

Ott captured All-Pac-12 first-team recognition in 2023, when he topped the soon-to-be-altered conference in rushing yards (1,315) and second in rushing touchdowns (12) on 245 carries. He added 169 yards and two TDs on 25 receptions.

Ott was slowed in the 2024 season by an ankle injury he sustained in the opener. He managed just 385 yards and four scores on 116 carries. He also made 24 receptions for 222 yards and a TD.

Maikkula made 11 starts at multiple positions across the Stanford offensive line in 2024 and had five starts at guard in 2023.

Oklahoma is trying to bounce back from a 6-7 campaign in 2024 and previously added top transfer quarterback John Mateer from Washington State.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) in action during the game between the SMU Mustangs and the California Golden Bears at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Reports: Cal RB Jaydn Ott enters transfer portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Months after declaring that he would remain at Cal, running back Jaydn Ott entered transfer portal on Monday, multiple media outlets reported.

Ott was slowed in the 2024 season by an ankle injury he sustained in the opener, a large reason why his stats declined significantly from the prior year.

On Dec. 28, Ott tweeted a movie clip from “The Wolf of Wall Street,” showing Leonardo DiCaprio’s character saying, “I’m not leaving. I’m not (bleeping) leaving!”

Ott captured All-Pac-12 first-team recognition in 2023, when he topped the soon-to-be-altered conference in rushing yardage (1,315) and rushing touchdowns (12) on 245 carries. He added 196 yards and two TDs on 26 receptions.

Last season, Ott managed just 385 yards and four scores on 116 carries. He also made 24 receptions for 222 yards and a TD.

Cal went 6-6 in each of the past two regular seasons before losing in a bowl game.

On3 reported that Oklahoma is an early contender to land Ott, who is listed at 6 feet, 205 pounds.

In addition to Ott, Golden Bears running backs Kadarius Calloway, Byron Cardwell Jr. and Justin Williams-Thomas also are entering the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.

–Field Level Media

Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ron Rivera on the red carpet before Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Prominent Cal football donors withhold money over Ron Rivera role

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Prominent donors to the Cal football name, image and likeness collective said they won’t give any more money to the organization until former NFL head coach Ron Rivera is given the authority to run the Golden Bears program, SFGate reported.

Rivera, a former All-American linebacker at Cal, was hired March 20 as the school’s first football general manager. He was tasked with focusing on building the program to “compete and win at the highest level” as well as fundraising.

But that isn’t enough for two board members of the California Legends Collective, a third-party NIL collective, who want Rivera to hold a role similar to that of Andrew Luck at Cal’s Bay Area neighbor, Stanford, and are sharing that idea with other donors.

Luck was hired in November.

“I think we feel a certain sense of obligation to inform the donors that we have brought in and cultivated for the past several years who have helped fund the collective and help generate the success that we’ve generated,” Kevin Kennedy, president of California Legends Collective, told SFGate. “We owe them full insights into what we’re personally doing with our investments. I think it behooves all of us, and we firmly believe that, to have just clear reporting lines, and have it be clearly specified that Ron Rivera is in control of football.”

At Cal, Rivera reports to university chancellor Rich Lyons. Head coach Justin Wilcox reports to athletic director Jim Knowlton.

Kennedy said that isn’t right.

“You don’t hire Mario Andretti and ask him to sit in the passenger seat, right?” he told SFGate. “There’s a reason that you bring someone like that on staff: In order to give him control.”

In response to questions posed by SFGate, Lyons responded with this statement:

“I am confident we have the right people, in the right places, doing the right things in support of a Cal Athletics football program that can and will excel. The world of intercollegiate sports is changing rapidly, and Cal will continue to adapt rapidly to that.”

Cal finished the 2024 season with a 6-7 (2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) record. Stanford was 3-9 overall and 2-6 in its first year in the ACC.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera on the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Back to school: Ron Rivera joins staff at alma mater Cal

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Ron Rivera, who took the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl a decade ago, said Wednesday he’s headed to the football staff at Cal, his alma mater.

The former coach of the Panthers and Washington Commanders, Rivera interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets this offseason but didn’t land any offers. But he seems content with his Plan B, and, after all, if six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick can work on the NCAA level, he can, too.

“Coach Belichick has made going back to school, cool,” Rivera posted to X about his new job. “Stay tuned I am coming home.”

ESPN reported that Rivera, 63, largely will help Cal head coach Justin Wilcox and the program in an administrative role. He’ll assist in overseeing the big picture of the program, including budget and coaching staff, per the report.

Rivera was an All-American linebacker at Cal after his senior season in 1983. That year, he set a school record with 26.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 13 sacks. He had 337 tackles during his Golden Bears career.

He was inducted into the California Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.

This will be the first foray into college for Rivera, who posted a 102-103-2 record with the Panthers (2011-19) and Washington (2020-23).

He was fired by the Commanders following the 2023 season.

–Field Level Media

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Devin Brown arrives on the field prior to the College Football Playoff first round game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 21, 2024.

Ohio State backup QB Devin Brown transferring to Cal

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After accomplishing his goal of winning a national championship with Ohio State on Monday night, backup quarterback Devin Brown is transferring to Cal.

Brown had entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 9 but announced he would fulfill his commitment to the Buckeyes through their College Football Playoff run, which concluded with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the title game.

He reposted a tweet from the Cal football account on X welcoming him to the program.

Brown is seeking a starting job after backing up Kyle McCord in 2023 and Will Howard this season. Brown, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played in total of 15 games at Ohio State and was a combined 27-of-48 passing for 331 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed 30 times for 37 yards and one TD.

A four-star quarterback in the Class of 2022, Brown was the nation’s No. 43 overall prospect and No. 6 quarterback according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Brown heads to Cal, where 2024 starter Fernando Mendoza has transferred to Indiana.

Ohio State is losing Howard, a graduate transfer from Kansas State, as well as Brown and freshman backup Air Noland, who transferred to South Carolina. Julian Sayin, a transfer from Alabama, is entering his redshirt freshman season, while Lincoln Kienholz will be in his third year in the program if he stays. The Buckeyes also have signed five-star Tavien St. Clair.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; The helmet of California Golden Bears long snapper Ewan Arechaederra (48) sits on the field with a ball before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele leaves Oregon, heads to Cal

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Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele decommitted from Cal and signed with Oregon’s Class of 2025 during the early national signing period in December. Now, he’s changed his mind again.

Sagapolutele took part in Ducks’ practices prior to their New Year’s Day loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. On Sunday, his name showed up in the NCAA transfer portal and he immediately committed to Cal again, with the school reporting his signing on social media.

According to On3, Sagapolutele said he decided to head to Cal after spending time in the Oregon program and seeing that he wouldn’t start as a freshman. Dante Moore is in line to replace Dillon Gabriel, who is out of eligibility, and Cal has an immediate open following the transfer of starter Fernando Mendoza to Indiana.

Moore, who was a five-star quarterback in the Class of 2023, transferred to Oregon after spending one season at UCLA. Sagapolutele was a four-star prospect in the 2024 class, ranked as the No. 8 quarterback and the No. 1 player from Hawaii by 247Sports.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) and defensive back Marcus Harris (5) before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

RB Jaydn Ott heading back to Cal for senior season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Running back Jaydn Ott is returning to Cal for his senior season, he announced Sunday morning on Twitter.

That’s great news for the Golden Bears, who saw quarterback Fernando Mendoza enter the transfer portal.

Ott rushed for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, adding 25 receptions for 169 yards and two scores. But in 2024, an ankle injury sustained in the opener hampered him much of the season, limiting him to 385 yards on 116 carries with four touchdowns.

If Ott returns to his 2023 form, he will team with Jaivian Thomas to form a potent backfield for Cal, which finished 6-7 (2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) in 2024.

Thomas led the Golden Bears with 626 yards on 100 carries with seven touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws a pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Report: Ex-Cal QB Fernando Mendoza signs with Indiana

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Former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza is transferring to Indiana, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound sophomore passed for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games for the Golden Bears in 2024.

Over two seasons at Cal, Mendoza completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 4,712 yards, 30 TDs and 16 picks in 20 games. He also rushed for 197 yards and four scores.

Mendoza will compete to replace Kurtis Rourke in Bloomington. Rourke guided the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff, where their season ended Friday in a 27-17 first-round loss at Notre Dame.

Mendoza’s younger brother, Alberto, was a freshman quarterback at Indiana this season. He played in one game, completing his only pass attempt for 6 yards in a Sept. 6 win against Western Illinois.

Fernando Mendoza was ranked as the No. 4 overall player in the transfer portal by ESPN.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; UNLV Rebels quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams (6) throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Kayden McGee (not pictured) in the first half against the California Golden Bears at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

No. 24 UNLV defeats Cal in LA Bowl, secures 11-win season

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Jacob De Jesus caught a touchdown and gained 142 all-purpose yards to lead No. 24 UNLV to a 24-13 win over Cal in the LA Bowl on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif.

UNLV clinched their first 11-win season since 1984 with the victory, although all those wins were later vacated after the NCAA penalized the Rebels for using ineligible players. It was the program’s first bowl win since beating Arkansas in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.

De Jesus tallied 75 yards on punt returns, 27 yards on punt returns and 38 yards receiving in his final collegiate game. Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Jackson Woodard also closed his career with a strong performance, racking up 11 total tackles.

Ricky White was a gametime scratch, presumably because the wide receiver expects to be an NFL draft pick in April.

UNLV’s Jai’Den Thomas ran for 72 yards on 18 carries, while Kylin James ran for a touchdown and 37 yards on seven carries.

UNLV took a 14-10 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter when DeJesus hauled in a 9-yard touchdown reception from Hajj-Malik Williams. The Rebels executed a fake punt on the previous play, as punter Marshall Nichols hit a wide-open Cameron Oliver with a shuffle pass for 52 yards.

Cal was faced with a goal-to-go situation at the two-minute warning in the first half, trailing 14-10. UNLV’s defense held firm and forced Cal to kick a 30-yard field goal after Johnathan Baldwin sacked CJ Harris for a loss of nine on third down.

Harris was replaced by EJ Caminong on Cal’s second drive in the first quarter before eventually going to the locker room with an undisclosed injury. Caminong served as the Golden Bears’ fourth-string signal caller during the regular season but was given reps with Cal starter Fernando Mendoza in the transfer portal and the second- and third-stringers unavailable due to injury.

Harris finished with 109 yards through the air, completing 13 of his 20 attempts. In his college debut, Caminong struggled in relief, completing only 6-of-19 pass attempts for 57 yards. Jaydn Ott ran for 79 yards on 11 carries.

Cal opened the scoring with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter on a 43-yard field goal by Derek Morris. UNLV responded quickly with a 43-yard touchdown connection from Williams to Kayden McGee for McGee’s first career touchdown. He entered with just three receptions on the season.

Josiah Martin capped a nine-play, 89-yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown run to give Cal a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter.

–Field Level Media

Dec 6, 2024; Boise, ID, USA; UNLV Rebels quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams (6) throws down field against the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images

No. 24 UNLV, Cal aim to focus on LA Bowl amid upheaval

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The LA Bowl on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif., will feature two teams in flux, as No. 24 UNLV aims to secure an 11-win season against Cal after losing its head coach — and hiring a new one in the same week.

Purdue announced Dec. 8 that UNLV’s Barry Odom would become the Boilermakers’ 38th head coach. The news broke less than 48 hours after the Rebels’ College Football Playoff dreams died in a 21-7 loss to Boise State in the Mountain West championship game.

UNLV (10-3) responded Thursday by announcing the head-coaching hire of Dan Mullen, the former Florida and Mississippi State coach who spent 13 years leading teams in the SEC.

Del Alexander, a former Southern California receiver and Los Angeles native, will be the Rebels’ interim coach in the bowl game after spending the last two seasons as UNLV’s wide receivers coach.

“I’ve been around some great coaches,” Alexander said. “I think I have a winning record in being a part of teams that have won bowl games. The influence from those experiences is what I’m using. You know, short and sweet. Make sure the guys have fun. Make sure they’re locked in on the details for the situations, and then bring it all together in the end.”

Things have gone awry in Bear Territory as well, as Cal star quarterback Fernando Mendoza elected to enter the transfer portal. Leading receiver Nyziah Hunter also chose to enter the portal after hauling in 578 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season.

Cal (6-6) also chose to part ways with offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch, hiring former Auburn and Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin to take Bloesch’s place.

Cal coach Justin Wilcox confirmed this week that quarterbacks CJ Harris and EJ Caminong were splitting reps in practice in the lead-up to the bowl game with Chandler Rogers working to make his way back from injury.

Wilcox explained how the coaching staff will delegate play-calling on Wednesday after overhauling the offensive staff, saying it will be “a collaborative effort.”

“We got a couple guys on our staff who work and practice run and pass games, so we got some great support there,” Wilcox said. “Right now (Harris) and (Caminong) are taking the majority of the reps, Chandler’s day-to-day, so we’ll see how he’s doing.”

UNLV lost its coach but has only one notable opt-out as running back Greg Burrell entered the transfer portal. Cornerback Tony Grimes also entered the portal but will play in Wednesday’s game regardless.

Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams will make his final start after a six-year career at Campbell and UNLV. He threw for 17 touchdowns and 1,845 yards this season while rushing for a career-high 824 yards in 10 starts.

UNLV stalwart and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Jackson Woodard will play in Wednesday’s game, closing a career that saw him end as a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

It was a full-circle moment for Woodard, who grew up in Arkansas and started his career at Brandon Burlsworth’s SEC alma mater.

Rebels star receiver Ricky White is also expected to cap off his collegiate career in Wednesday’s game before graduating in the spring and heading to the NFL draft.

White enters the LA Bowl 352 yards short of UNLV’s all-time receiving record despite spending only three of his four seasons at the school. He tallied a career-high 11 touchdowns this season after racking up career highs in receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,483) in 2023, the latter of which was a program record.

–Field Level Media