Cal football reported transfers: Elijah Mojarro, Ethan Baxter, Fatu Iosefa enter the portal
Cal was expected to lose some players after 2023 spring practice, and a few Bears are seeking new opportunities.
As expected, a few Cal players are looking for something new after the conclusion of 2023 spring practice. Here are the three names to immediately enter the portal the week after spring game.
Tight end Elijah Mojarro
Mojarro has decided to enter the portal, becoming the third tight end for the Bears to leave (Jermaine Terry to Oregon State, Keleki Latu to Nevada). Cal saw solid performances from Oregon State transfer J.T. Byrne, North Texas transfer Asher Alberding and redshirt freshman Jack Endries in spring camp, so it was possible Mojarro might have fallen down the rotation. Mojarro put up eight catches for 74 yards last season.
Punter Ethan Baxter
It seems we have one piece of news from Cal spring practice—transfer Lachlan Wilson appears to have won the starting job at punter, as he is now appears to be the only punter on the roster. Baxter’s name appeared in the transfer portal of 247Sports this week, leaving the Tulsa transfer as the heir apparent to Jamieson Sheahan 4th down boots in Memorial Stadium. Wilson was an excellent punter at Tulsa, so I would expect the Bears to remain consistent here.
Defensive back Fatu Iosefa
The brother of Cal linebacker Mo Iosefa, Fatu has just not been able to find a place for himself in the two deep of the Takers, playing only a few snaps near the conclusion of the 2022 season. With Cal continuing to grind heavy in the portal and filling up the defensive back coffers with new players like Patrick McMorris, Iosefa is looking for a new home.
These will likely not be the last moves from the current Cal roster, as the transfer portal becomes a way of life for every college coach in the mad dash of the post-spring football world.
I hate that kids who dedicated themselves to Cal football had their dreams change on them; it's just the nature of college sports. Good luck to them all.
I'm glad that there seem to be no Sturdivant-level guys in the portal. Fingers crossed that it stays that way. Portal seems to be working to our benefit this year: we picked up multiple starter level guys on defense, a quality punter on special teams, and is arguably a wash on offense. Sturdivant loss hurts, but Jackson V fits the offense better than who he replaces and has multiple years of eligibility.
If Cal could get a couple of O-line guys and a solid 3rd QB, plus maybe another defensive guy or two, I think you'd really have to say that the portal is unequivocally working for Cal in all three phases.