Cal Bears named to the 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-Pac-12 Teams
Nine Bears make the list
The start of College Football is right around the corner and it begins with the announcement of Preseason awards. Phil Steele released his season preview and has 9 Cal Bears on the All-Pac-12 Team.
Senior S Daniel Scott - First Team
Scott returns as the senior leader of the secondary now that Elijah Hicks has moved onto the NFL and Josh Drayden has graduated. Scott is getting some low-key NFL buzz—how will he handle taking on the mantle of leadership?
Senior ILB Jackson Sirmon - First Team
Sirmon transferred from Washington and immediately becomes one of Cal’s most productive leaders based on his work with the Huskies. Can Jackson make sure the Bears are holding up?
Junior DL BRETT JOHNSON - Second Team
Cal’s most ferocious defensive lineman returns after a painful injury that sidelined him last season. Can JOHNSON return to his old form and become an agent of havoc up front?
Sophomore CB Lu-Magia Hearns III - Third Team
Hearns usurped many experienced defensive backs to take on the starting position last fall, and by the end of 2021 he had become a solid lockdown corner. Expect Hearns to make his name this season as one of the best corners in the country.
Junior OL Ben Coleman - Third Team
Coleman has shown promise as Cal’s most execution-focused offensive lineman, holding his own on the blind side. His performance this season could make or break the Cal passing game as the team transitions away from the Chase Garbers era.
Senior OL Matt Cindric - Fourth Team
Cindric is a steady presence in the middle and will hopefully be able to help the Bears unlock their less-than-steady rushing attack.
Junior NG Ricky Correia - Fourth Team
While JOHNSON is the well-known name, it could be Correia’s year to shine in the interior and really take the Cal defensive line to the next level. Correia was a standout all spring, grinding the Cal run game to dust in many a practice.Sophomore ILB Femi Oladejo - Fourth Team
Another major standout this spring, Oladejo kept on making play after play in disrupting the Cal offense in their reps. He still has a ways to go to prove himself in game action, but it seems he is ready to make the leap.
Freshman RB Jaydn Ott - Fourth Team
The true freshman is already wowing in camp with some special offensive talent. It remains to be seen how much he contributes as a true freshman, but Ott provides a lot of speed that’ll be hard to keep off the field.
Congratulations to all the guys for being recognized for their hard work.
Go Bears!
Hopefully by the end of the season most of these young men will be named to first team lists.
Especially after the Golden Bears from Cal beat down the Irish in South Bend.
This is terrific that so many Bears are receiving attention, some nationally. Hopefully it translates into 7+ wins this year and a bowl game, perhaps that Sun Bowl in El Paso?