Looking back at 2025, Cal fans would feel remiss to look at Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s historic freshman season and not focus on the need for more surrounding offensive weapons. This starts with the need for a more consistent, depth-filled ground game to balance out Cal’s aerial attack.
Looking Back
Last season, the run games inefficiencies were apparent. Cal finished second-to-last in the ACC in rushing yards with 1062, averaging just 2.76 a rush.
The problem was that so much of the burden in the run game fell on Kendrick Raphael, who accounted for 943 of the team’s 1062 net rushing yards. He was also the only primary running back to appear in all 13 games. Now at SMU, Raphael will likely come face-to-face with his old team on October 24 when Cal travels to Dallas.
A New Rushing Identity
Like Raphael, the other top two contributors in the Cal running back room will not be returning in 2026. This forced Tosh Lupoi to make the backfield one of his many focuses in this busy transfer portal.
To start, he brought in Oakland native and college football coaching veteran Keith Bhonapha to coach the running back room. With over 20 years of coaching experience, his resume includes five NFL Draft Picks, including Ashton Jeanty, who he coached during his historic 2024 Heisman-caliber season. Bhonopha and Cal hit the portal hard, as they brought in some fresh new promise with a variety of tools. Here is a look at the revamped running back room.
Junior Adam Mohammed (Washington Transfer)
The backfield addition that raised the most eyebrows this offseason was that of Mohammed. Cal successfully landed the highly sought-after sixth-ranked running back in the portal. They can look forward to a back who provides versatility and proven production.
Towards the end of last season, Mohammed really broke through. He rushed for over 100 yards in each of his final two regular season games, including against a Oregon rush defense which ranked in the top 30. As the 3rd leading rusher at the University of Washington last season, it looks as though he will make the jump to be Cal’s RB1.
Listed at 6‘0, 220 pounds, Mohammed’s strength was on display. He consistently carried defenders for extra yardage while also patiently reading blocks to break off explosive runs. Furthermore, he had 17 receptions for 138 receiving yards and displayed a burst of speed on special teams, with 420 kickoff return yards. Apart from his contributions in the run game, coach Bhonapha likes what he is seeing with Mohammed in the pass blocking game.
“I think Adam is just so stout when it comes to getting up there,” Bhonapaha stated. “He’s just a bigger dude, has really good technique and is able to sit down there and really hold the point.”
With a combination of multiple factors, it should come as no surprise that Mohammed looks poised for a breakout year and landed on the Doak Walker Award Watch List. Biggest obstacle? Like any transfer running back, growing pains can come with adjusting to a new offensive line and being counted on for a bigger role.
Redshirt Sophomore Carter Vargas (UC Davis Transfer)
Last season, Vargas only appeared in eight games, but he made the most of his opportunity. On just 67 attempts, he rushed for 445 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.6 yards per attempt.
Instead of powering through defenders, Vargas consistently runs freely through open lanes, and would finish off runs by hurdling over defenders. Like Mohammad, Bhonapha is also high on his pass protection game. He is also a proven pass catcher. Vargas finished last season with 10 receptions for 177 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
With three years of eligibility remaining, look for Vargas to bring his versatility of speed, pass protection and receiving to complement Mohammed’s strength. While he will be making a jump from playing against FCS competition, he did average 8.6 yards per carry when UC Davis played Washington last season.
Redshirt Sophomore Ashten Emory (University of Texas El Paso Transfer)
Emory enjoyed a productive redshirt freshman season, as he led UTEP with 569 rushing yards and four touchdowns, including a stellar 181-yard rushing performance against New Mexico State. Additionally, he had 16 receptions for 103 yards and two receiving touchdowns. All of this earned him Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors.
If we can expect to see the same Emory from his freshman year at UTEP, look for him to explode directly up the middle for major gains and occasionally power through tacklers. Making runs out of difficult situations is what has raised eyebrows for Bhonapha about Emory. This will be essential for the team in order to get chunk yardage plays.
Redshirt Freshman Anthony League
The most experienced returner to the running back room, League appeared in five games last season, making one start. He wrapped up last season on a positive note in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl, rushing for a career-high 25 yards, averaging 6.3 yards a carry and recording the first touchdown of his collegiate career. League gave us a small sample size last year, but at 6’0 215 pounds, his high school scouting report had him as a strong running back capable of breaking multiple tacklers.
Redshirt Sophomore Carson Perry-Smith
Appearing in seven games last season as a redshirt freshman, Perry-Smith played as a receiver. This season he is transitioning to the running back position. Bhonapha has noted that, “In the past three or four practices he has become a critical piece in being able to be available and being able to do different things in the running back room.”
Redshirt Junior Dean-Taylor Chapman
Had one rushing attempt for five yards last season against Texas Southern.
True Freshman Victor Santino
The lone true freshman in the running back room, Santino showed positive upside out of high school. His upside particularly came from his speed as a track runner. His speed raised eyebrows while attending SoCal Under Armour Next Camp as did his hands as he made several acrobatic catches, according to Greg Biggins. He could be a young fresh option in the running back room.
Outlook
Like with defensive backs, Cal has had an immensely successful running back room throughout the last few decades, producing the likes of Marshawn Lynch,Justin Forsett, among many others. Bhonapha will look to build on this legacy and turn the run game around from its absence last season.
So far, he likes the variety of what the different running backs can contribute.
“This room for me is really special because you don’t feel like you’re hamstrung if a certain guy goes in the game which is really important when you’re talking about the full level of the offense.”
Instrumental to the success of most college football teams, running back depth is what will take the offensive attack to the next level. So far in camp signs have pointed to several pieces that could give Cal fans the ground game they craved last year. This would alleviate some of the pressure from JKS and could make Cal’s offense one of the more dreaded offenses to face in the FBS.
I look forward to seeing these running backs play this Saturday night. I sincerely hope the OL opens space for them to gain yards and keep the UCLA defense honest. Go Bears!
RB room portends obvious improvement in last year’s all but nonexistent running game. My main concern is the OL and the DL. Can these guys step up and block, open holes, push guys out of the way and chase down opposing QBs? And I’d say Santino is something of a sleeper behind Muhammad and Vargas, with blazing speed to unleash if he gets loose. I expect the running game to provide the balance that will help JKS work his magic by keeping defenses honest. Hopefully, we will have a better idea of where this team might be going in just 5 more days.