Cal Football 2025 Preview: Quarterbacks

Cal's first Freshman starter since...

Photo Credit: Cal Athletics (Cal Football on X)

THE ROOM

Coach: OC/QBs Bryan Harsin

Years at Cal: First Year

Experience: OC/QBs Coach 2006-2012, College HC 2013-2022

PLAYER DEPTH

Seniors: n/a

Juniors: Devin Brown (RS)

Sophomores: Dominic Ingrassia, Belay Brummel (RS)

Freshmen: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, EJ Caminong (RS)

Projected Starter: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

Popular consensus leaned toward Devin Brown right up until the announcement Monday, but in the end, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele proved to be highly coachable, bringing his development along at a steady rate.

Wideouts have been good teammates this August and never tipped their hand as to what was happening day to day at practice, but it was clear they took plenty of reps with both quarterbacks. The QB battle was a familiar dynamic of experience vs. explosive potential. Sagapolutele’s tools, when paired with his coachability, gave him the edge.

The online outpouring from the Cal faithful upon Sagapolutele’s announcement as starter has been something to behold. For better or worse, the timing of his commitment to Cal, the brief moment of doubt, and his final decision to come to Berkeley endeared him to a beleaguered Calgorithm amidst a particularly tumultuous transfer period.

Devin Brown has been described as, and comes across as, an exceptional football mind, but he did not see the field much at OSU, where he transferred from in December 2024. He recorded 331 passing yards and three touchdowns in his three years at Ohio State. He has developed around a certain caliber of player and a standard that is welcome on any team. He’s an important part of the QB room, and fans will be glad to have him if he’s ever needed.

EJ Caminong is still a Cal Bear, still getting reps, and remains a positive addition to the quarterback room. He appeared in the LA Bowl, a game sponsored by Gronk but remembered mostly for Malort. He threw for 57 yards and ran for 18 more in that game. Coaches have made clear that he’s got good timing. Players who can get the ball out on time to the right guy will see the field.

Dominic Ingrassia transferred from JUCO, where he led the College of San Mateo to the 2024 junior college state championship. It was a 12-1 season in which they beat most opponents by two or more scores, with their sole loss coming against a team they later beat. No telling if it translates, but he was slinging it at a lower level and could develop.

Belay Brummel is a pro-style QB from Wheaton, Illinois. This is his third year with the Golden Bears; he joined the squad in 2023 as a walk-on. Incredible vibes.

Alonzo Esparza is a freshman QB from Los Alamitos, CA. He received a flurry of offers from the likes of Ole Miss, Minnesota, and Oregon in 2022, but committed to the Bears the same day he was offered—June 19, 2024.

Editor’s note: Article was written prior to the release of the Game Week Depth Chart.