A new week of Cal football players entering the transfer portal
Several more Golden Bears are in the portal, opening up a few more scholarships.
It was another week of spring transfers in Strawberry Canyon. Several Golden Bears departed last week including Elijah Mojarro, Fatu Iosefa, and Ethan Baxter.
Now another wave is into the portal this week. Let’s take a look at the Cal players who are moving on. We wish them well.
Offensive lineman Jackson Brown
TD mentioned this on Friday. This is a tough loss—the redshirt freshman offensive lineman saw some limited time last year as Cal’s front was ravaged with injuries. Brown was a late win in last year’s cycle and leaves the Bears thinner up front then they’d like to be. Cal is looking for immediate help in the portal but no one has bitten yet.
Here’s Brown’s note in his Twitter announcement.
First off I want to thank Coach Wilcox and the rest of the staff for recruiting and coaching me to Cal. After a lot of thoughts and prayer I’ve decided to enter my name in the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility remaining. This decision was not easy to make, but it’s in the best interest of my future. I wish the best to everyone at Cal, especially my teammates as they’re my brothers for life. Excited for what the future holds! Thank you Cal! Go Bears!
Defensive back Kaleb Higgins
It was not in the cards for Higgins at Cal. The redshirt sophomore could not crack a crowded secondary rotation, so he’s seeking opportunities elsewhere. Higgins should find a good place for himself though. Cal’s secondary should remain the best and deepest unit in 2023.
Here’s Kaleb’s tweet, with video highlights attached.
Thanks Cal for helping me grow better as a man and player these past years. I appreciate and love the coaches that I’ve worked with. With that being said I would like to announce my entrance into the NCAA Transfer Portal as a DB with 4 years of eligibility.
Running back Aidan Lee
Lee had a nice spring experience as injuries piled up in the backfield, but as long as Jaydn Ott, Byron Cardwell, Ashton Stredick and Justin Williams-Thomas are healthy, it’s going to be very tough for Lee to see the playing field. It’s a tough loss but Lee should find a nice home for himself.
Here’s Lee Twitter announcement:
First off I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunities…
I would like to thank Coach Wilcox as well as Coach Burl Toler for giving me an opportunity to play football at the collegiate level.
I would also like to thank the people at the University of California Berkeley who have helped me on this journey.
With that being said I am entering the transfer portal we 3 years of eligibility left. Thank you Cal Family.
I know Wilcox has not been very successful since the Red Box Bowl. I think we all thought that he had turned around the program at that point
Unfortunately since then we mostly have scuffled.
COVID and C of B definitely hurt us but should never have lost to Zona and CU. There were some mistakes made on the offensive side of the ball, obviously, leading to Buh like mediocrity. But Wilcox has been given the opportunity to resurrect himself and the program. Sonny might have been able to do the same if given the chance.
Sonny has moved on to become national coach of the year.
Sturdivant departure hurt a lot immediately. Brown departure could hurt down the line. His leaving highlights the fact Cal MUST sign offensive lineman. Look for Bloesch to pull from his Texas connections.
So far, Cal seems definitely ahead in the portal. Departure of marginal players opens up slots and scholarships. I like the way it gives guys opportunities to go somewhere where they have a better chance to play, while increasing the opportunities to acquire someone who is a better fit.