Cal Football Fall Camp Notebook #7
There's a football game on Saturday
It’s hard not to notice, walking up to Memorial for the final practice and banner session before the start of the 2025 season, that something is different. There’s actually students around. In the facility there’s a ramping up of energy, and everyone is collectively excited, no matter what happens, to talk about actual football games, after a month of prognostication, poking, and prodding. The individual drills look more purposeful as everyone begins to understand their role better and better. It’s not that there wasn’t a sense of purpose three weeks ago, but things have progressed, and there’s not much left to do but fly to Corvallis and play football.
Coach Justin Wilcox took the banner first, and said it succinctly; “I think the first game always comes at the right time, at some point you need to play.”
On Quarterbacking in general, and taking things of Jaron-Keawe’s plate; “There’s a lot of responsibility, It’s the most important position in all of sports, but it takes everybody” he cites the responsibility of the offensive line, wideouts, really everyone to do their part. “You see teams once in a while, where everything goes as the quarterback goes, and it’s not fair to do that, really to anyone, but especially not a freshman.” He added this had nothing to do with Sagapolutele’s ability, and that he expects him to go have a game.
The reality of the sport is that a head coach knows less about their team before they see them play than ever before, but Wilcox is confident in what he’s seen at practice, and what he’s seen from this year’s transfers tape.
“I expect this group, each time we play, we’re going to get better and better and better. Are there more unknowns? Yeah, but I’m very, very optimistic about what they can accomplish together.”
Starting a left handed quarterback puts an extra bit of attention on who will be playing right tackle. Braden Miller has stepped up in camp, and has been named the starter.
The O line as a whole has had some moving parts. There’s great depth but all camp there’s been talk about five guys really separating from the rest, and it’s not clear that’s happened yet. “We’re gonna play more than five guys. It’s ultimately about who performs the best. We feel like there’s more competitive depth there than we’ve had…now it’s about putting it together.”
Crosby and Aiden are the starting safeties, but expect a lot of rotation on saturday in general. Chalk this up to the nature of the transfer portal and its effect on the game, rather than the panic this uncertainty might have induced in the past. It’s a brave new world.
Cade Uluave has been named captain, and is a clear leader of the team, which is a change of pace from how he’s carried his role in the past. He seems to be taking to the task affably and with enthusiasm, building off his ability to lead by example.
Luke Ferrelli has earned a spot alongside Cade at Linebacker, after a great camp. “Luke’s a dog, he’s a beast. One thing that Luke’s learned in his time here, is he’s matured a ton.” I will continue to give out spiels on how the game has changed, but it doesn’t stop the fun of watching these guys develop as people over a few years when you get the chance. You can see it in Uluave, and how he speaks about Ferrelli.
You get the sense he just “gets it” when it comes to leadership, that teammates might gravitate towards him. “I want to be someone that everyone can turn to, a resource that everyone has.”
Who’s got the stomach for violence? “Ryan McCulloch is super physical…I feel bad for the tight ends or pullers that are going against him man..” Aidan and boths TJs also came to mind immediately.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele finished out the day answering a few more questions about his first career college start.
One thing that’s easy to take away from being around Jaron-Keawe is that he is not one of those physically gifted people that is iffy on the sport they play. He has the energy of someone that would want to be playing at any level because playing is fun. “Obviously there’s always nerves before that (first) game, but they’re good nerves. Just excited to go out there and play with my brothers, jsut to have a fun game, just to compete at a high level.”
Today’s practice was moving at full speed on offense. “I think we’re ready.” He’s excited to start his career on the road, have as many firsts as possible.
It seems like trust is a big part of his maturity. It’s been mentioned by several people over camp, Coach Wilcox in particular, that JKS never gets too high, and never gets to low. While that’s a built in part of his natural personality, it also sounds like it’s something he considers and makes room for.
Jaron-Keawe is definitely chuffed that fellow Hawaiian true freshman Safety Aidan Manutai has also secured a starting role. The two played each other in high school several times, with Aidan’s team coming out on top the majority of the meetings. “(Off the field), great friends, on the field, not so great friends.” They’ve been playing against each other since their sophomore year of high school, and both player’s parents will be in attendance on saturday to watch their kids start their journey with Cal Football.
Something not mentioned is that JKS says in his remarks that in this practice he was psyched about the offense moving right down the field. Given that we know we have a strong defense, stronger than most teams we will face, I take this as a good sign for the offense. Confidence matters.
Thank you for the post Jesse. The more we know about the players, the more we can support and connect with them. Go Bears!