Cal defenders Xavier Carlton and Craig Woodson announce their 2024 returns
The California Golden Bears will have two defensive starters returning next season.
Cal got two great bits of news on Christmas weekend. The Bears will retain two of their top defenders in the ACC.
Safety Craig Woodson and outside linebacker Xavier Carlton will return for their final seasons of eligibility.
Both made their announcements on Twitter.
Carlton had a very solid season at the outside linebacking position in 2023, racking up 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 5 quarterback hurries, and 2 passes broken up (coming off a 36 tackle, 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sack performance in 2022).
Woodson, who has also started the last two seasons, put up 79 tackles. He racked up 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, an interception and two forced fumbles. Woodson has put up 154 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, nine pass breakups and three forced fumbles over the past two seasons.
The returns of Woodson and Carlton will ensure the Bears have at least five of their top eight returning tacklers (and hopefully eight of 11, as David Reese is applying for a medical waiver and is optimistic he will get it) back next season, barring more portal entries. Only Patrick McMorris and Jackson Sirmon (out of eligibility) and Kaleb Elarms-Orr (portalled to TCU) are out.
So Cal will have the players returning from a defense. Although it did struggle, if the Bears can add more playmakers like cornerback Marcus Harris and defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina, this should be a unit that is capable of improving.
This is great news. Woodson inspires confidence. Carlton, too.
Wait why can't Mcmorris return? He's only played five years. One was red shirted, and the with the covid year you'd think he would have one more year to play.