A fresh crop of scouts from the Panthers, Ravens, Jets, and Niners look on as practice warms up for 2026’s Golden Bears on another sunny Wednesday in Strawberry Canyon.
As camp wears on, nicks and dings accumulate. Ricky Fletcher was among those who did not participate today. Athletes in need were attended to as needed, camp continued on unabated.
Later in open periods, redshirt sophomore Kingston Lopa came down with a handy pick off QB1. Redshirt Senior Cam Sidney was also flashing effort on his reps in the drills available to press. The defensive backs and safeties coaches were made available for questions after practice.
Safeties Coach Connor Boyd and Defensive Backs/Co-Defensive Coordinator Da’Vone Brown were made available after practice for questions. Boyd was up first. A defensive analyst at Oregon, he’s stepping into an official position coach role for the first time. He keeps it short, but is clearly attacking the role saying “it’s been special”. Boyd has actively coached players like Christian Gonzalez, and his time as an assistant goes back to student assistant at Alabama working with Brent Key. He is no stranger to message discipline, and does not tip his hand when asked for notable players in the safety room that we can lock in for week one. He compliments Kingston Lopa’s athleticism when prompted, and keeps a simple mindset about the competition; “We just play the guys on the field, let practice take care of itself.”
Defensive Backs/Co-Defensive Coordinator Da’Vone Brown gave his time next. Brown is a pure ball coach, having spent a good chunk of his time at Western Kentucky presiding over successful position rooms and consistent defenses. The past two seasons with the title he holds at Cal now. Unprompted, he’s effusive about the weather, and his room’s love of the game, their desire to be around the game, the team and the facility. He also cites tough competition but name checks Niles Davis and Khamani Hudson as two young players who’ve stood out. “As a young guy you don’t really see it much, Niles Davis is a true freshman, Kamani Hudson is a redshirt freshman, so they tip toe then explode a bit, and it’s pushing the older guys.”
The competition is thick, but there’s a way to stand out; “Every DB that we have has natural coverage skills. I want them to be willing tacklers, that’s gonna run through peoples face, do the dirty work people don’t wanna do. That’s what I’m looking for.”
Another difference maker: "...do the dirty work people [typically] don't wanna do. That's what I'm looking for," says DB coach Da'Vone Brown. Practice, discipline, toughness.
We're 22-10 in the Joe Roth Memorial Games. The uniforms honor the memory of Joe Roth, a courageous young man who exemplified the finest qualities any of us could aspire to. Those were among the best teams we ever put on the field. Go Bears!