Cal Football 2026 Fall Camp Notebook: Day 1

Football returns to Strawberry Canyon

Photo Credit: Rob Hwang

The new tenets of Cal Football hang above the north gate entrance, above the ice baths, which now feature little floating polar bears. Ron Rivera passes the gaggle of press, pared down from yesterday back to the core beat as whistles blare in the distance, shuffling around installs during zero period. NFL Scouts pass by in the tunnel. There are representatives from the Cardinals, Panthers, Raiders, Bucs and more, on hand for day one of Cal fall camp. Entering CMS for the beginning of period one we are greeted with the familiar sounds of returning strength coach Jason Novak, the familiar sight of a football field full of stretching athletes, and what sounded like a new Meek Mill song, until the squad breaks out for drills and someone turns on “Thunderstruck.”

While the vast majority of the team goes through their warm up routine, the kickers take the other side of the field, all three of whom hit multiple 40 yard field goal attempts. There’s no telling until they’re being rushed by an opposing defense, but it stands to reason that last year’s special team woes will be mitigated, the floor raised. The increase in coaching staff is palpable once units break out for drills, there are simply more eyes on the details of individual player’s form, more voices reinforcing the principals of each drill.

The running backs looked sharp in cone and short yardage passing drills. Davis transfer Carter Vargas looks to be a confident pass catcher. It wouldn’t be a stretch to start imagining a thunder and lightning type of setup with stand out Washington transfer Adam Mohammed, who appears to possibly be a new team captain. If you turn your attention from the running back drills that sit along the visiting sideline, to the tight ends installing blocking drills in by the north gate tunnel, you are reminded of the depth of that room going into this season. Your thoughts might turn to 12 personnel packages, to a returning Mason Mini theoretically becoming the tight end 2 with the arrival of New Mexico transfer and Mackaye Award Watch List candidate Dorian Thomas.

Throughout it all is Coach Lupoi, flying from from group to group, coaching up players and staff alike, calibrating business to his standard, re-enforcing yesterday’s comments about his attention to detail on both sides of the ball. As the 6th period comes to a close and press exit the field, the action does not stop, it only ramps up, as the sun finally cuts through the morning gloom, lighting up Panoramic Way.