Cal Football Preseason Award Watch Lists Headlined By Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
Lots of recognition for multiple Cal offensive players on this list.
Maxwell Award watchlist: Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
Meant to be awarded to the best player in college football, Sagapolutele is already attracting early attention for these lists. He passed for 266 yards a game last year, 16th in the nation, fourth in the nation among all underclassmen, eighth among all returning seniors.
Hornung Award Watchlist: Adam Mohammed
Expected to line up this season as Cal’s starting running back, Mohammed comes in from Washington with requisite experience as a complete ball-carrier who can run, catch and block. He put up 716 yards on 148 carries and five touchdowns in 26 games while adding 23 receptions for 179 yards. Much is expected from Mohammed as he takes on his first P4 starting role.
Mackey Award Watchlist: Tight end Dorian Thomas
Thomas transferred in to be the proper safety valve for Sagapolutele. As one of the top tight ends in the nation last year, with the third most catches in FBS among tight ends (56) and eighth most receiving yards (560), Thomas should get many opportunities this year to add to this total.
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
King caught 22 passes for 267 yards and two scores last year. But this award is for his off-the-field activities, where he has been living up to the moniker of a sturdy golden bear.
Over the course of his career in Berkeley, King has coached at the annual Golden Buddies Football Clinic that pairs kids with and without disabilities in a series of fun football activities. In addition to his work with Golden Buddies, he helps lead the Cal Football Reading Challenge. King has visited schools on multiple occasions to help promote reading over the summer to elementary and junior high-aged children.