Finley already graduated from NCST when he transferred here. Was a grad transfer. Now he probably finished a certificate or 1 year program. It’s not an undergrad degree.
this contradicts O.Overall though. It was my understanding as well that he arrived with NCST BA in hand so perhaps no MS / MA from Cal just grad credits going to his next grad program?
I have no actual knowledge of his situation, was just assuming that if he transferred here and got a Cal degree that is why - like so many regular transfer kids at Cal. Trust Rob H over me!
Makes sense. He won't beat out Mendoza and isn't a change of pace like SJV, who can't transfer without sitting a year (unless he gets a medical exemption). Appreciate his service and wish him luck as long as it's not against us in the ACC.
Good luck . Sorry to see any player go. You can see the progress on some of the players. Look what Plummer did at Louisville this year. I am more afraid of Mendoza or Ott or other skill players leaving for greener pastures especially if big NIL money comes their way.
He's just a sophomore and can't do the grad transfer thing. If he transfers again he'd have to sit out a year. And I'm assuming he's okay being coached up by the guy who coached up Johnny Football etc., and having the opportunity to come in as a backup or gadget player.
Yeah, with another year with Spavital and injury healed, Sam Jackson gets another chance to battle for QB1 next year. If he develops, he can be better than Mendoza.
Honestly, SJV is built for speed, like a WR or Cornerback. I wish him luck, since that's his dream, but can you imagine the separation he gets as a WR? I have heard he's done one-handed catches, too. Him sitting on the bench is like leaving money on the table.
It'll be a fun battle to watch and the competition between them will push both to get better. But Sam is definitely more athletic and seems to have a stronger arm. It's just that his height hurts him in terms of seeing the whole field, and he needs to find passing windows between his linemen instead of being able to pass over the top of their heads.
And they still have a harder time seeing the field than taller QBs, and need to find passing lanes between their linemen. Don't just take it from me. Spav, who coached Kyler Murray, said so in one of his press conferences earlier this year.
He threw the ball with some major zip that seemed to be more than Nando throws with. Accuracy and pocket awareness can be taught (and SJV was always a developmental prospect that way given his lack of experience at QB in both HS and college)
This could put Cal in a real bind during the bowl game, if there is any illness/injury to Mendoza, as I don’t know if SJV is going to be available for the bowl game. Who was fourth string this year? Weingart? Brummel?
The handwriting is already on the wall that Mendoza is going to be a long-time starter at Cal. Jackson is probably next into the portal. That leaves a very thin position group with just the true freshman from Washington coming in? The portal is going to go bat-shit crazy with antsy quarterbacks, and Cal needs to fine someone who won't brood if he ends up holding a clipboard for Mendoza all year.
SJV would have to sit out a year if he transfers again (pretty sure he's not ready to grad transfer like Ben did). He'll stick around and solidify himself as the backup and have gadget plays. As a competitive guy, I'm guessing he'll also just keep trying to push Fernando for the starting job.
The fact that a potential QB is in the portal means that they were definitely unhappy not being the starter at their school -- just like Finley. They're transferring to get a realistic opportunity to start, which, as you've noted, they won't get at Cal, (sans a Mendoza injury). It's the downside of keeping decent backups in the NIL/loose transferring restrictions era.
Better to develop QB talent via HS recruits, they are excellent at holding clip boards.
I'm sure plenty of people would be fine being the backup, but Finley was looking at being #3 and maybe being jumped by the incoming true freshman, who has a lot of talent. People looking to transfer here would be looking at being depth guys, too.
We got through this year with three scholarship QBs and two PWO true freshmen. We should have a solid 1-2 next year with a good but young 3rd stringer, and a couple of sophomore PWOs. A little more precarious than I'd like, so hopefully we can can bring on another guy to shore up the depth chart and just get through the year without testing it too much.
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Good luck to him. Not a bad deal, got some snaps, got a Berkeley degree, and now can get some grad school paid for.
Finley already graduated from NCST when he transferred here. Was a grad transfer. Now he probably finished a certificate or 1 year program. It’s not an undergrad degree.
this contradicts O.Overall though. It was my understanding as well that he arrived with NCST BA in hand so perhaps no MS / MA from Cal just grad credits going to his next grad program?
I have no actual knowledge of his situation, was just assuming that if he transferred here and got a Cal degree that is why - like so many regular transfer kids at Cal. Trust Rob H over me!
He transferred to Cal and graduated there so gets a degree from Cal
If your credits transfer, you get the degree.
You could've really caused panic if you went with the title "Cal Football Quarterback to Enter the Transfer Portal"
I could've.....but Cal Football on the field tends to do the job for me ;)
Thankful for his contributions to Cal, wish him the best in his next adventures.
Got his degree, got some film and chasing the dream. Good for him and best of luck on his next life journey!
got some film being chased by Huskies
I thought he was excited to return to ACC with Cal. Oh well. Best of luck.
Makes sense. He won't beat out Mendoza and isn't a change of pace like SJV, who can't transfer without sitting a year (unless he gets a medical exemption). Appreciate his service and wish him luck as long as it's not against us in the ACC.
Good luck . Sorry to see any player go. You can see the progress on some of the players. Look what Plummer did at Louisville this year. I am more afraid of Mendoza or Ott or other skill players leaving for greener pastures especially if big NIL money comes their way.
Best of luck Ben, and thanks for your contribution this year. Hope you can find a great spot to follow your dream.
I wouldn't be surprised if SJV is next.
He's just a sophomore and can't do the grad transfer thing. If he transfers again he'd have to sit out a year. And I'm assuming he's okay being coached up by the guy who coached up Johnny Football etc., and having the opportunity to come in as a backup or gadget player.
Coach up Johnny Football is a paradox.
Yeah, with another year with Spavital and injury healed, Sam Jackson gets another chance to battle for QB1 next year. If he develops, he can be better than Mendoza.
I root for Sam Jackson, but I don't think he's better than Mendoza. He'd have to REALLY get his fundamentals down.
Honestly, SJV is built for speed, like a WR or Cornerback. I wish him luck, since that's his dream, but can you imagine the separation he gets as a WR? I have heard he's done one-handed catches, too. Him sitting on the bench is like leaving money on the table.
It'll be a fun battle to watch and the competition between them will push both to get better. But Sam is definitely more athletic and seems to have a stronger arm. It's just that his height hurts him in terms of seeing the whole field, and he needs to find passing windows between his linemen instead of being able to pass over the top of their heads.
It's not height...Noah Fifita is 5'10", Kyle Murray 5'10", Russell Wilson 5'11"
And they still have a harder time seeing the field than taller QBs, and need to find passing lanes between their linemen. Don't just take it from me. Spav, who coached Kyler Murray, said so in one of his press conferences earlier this year.
Stronger arm? No. Accuracy? No. Pocket awareness? No. etc.
He threw the ball with some major zip that seemed to be more than Nando throws with. Accuracy and pocket awareness can be taught (and SJV was always a developmental prospect that way given his lack of experience at QB in both HS and college)
If it was so easy to teach accuracy and pocket awareness there would be a whole lot more good QBs out there.
Been wondering about SJV myself. Sort of disappointed we did not find a way to mix him into the offense, even as a decoy.
he was hurt for the last part of the season
That would make sense. Does it trace back to the shoulder injury?
This could put Cal in a real bind during the bowl game, if there is any illness/injury to Mendoza, as I don’t know if SJV is going to be available for the bowl game. Who was fourth string this year? Weingart? Brummel?
Great point. Hopefully, Ben and/or SJV don;t jump until after the Bowl.
Thanks Ben, best of luck
The handwriting is already on the wall that Mendoza is going to be a long-time starter at Cal. Jackson is probably next into the portal. That leaves a very thin position group with just the true freshman from Washington coming in? The portal is going to go bat-shit crazy with antsy quarterbacks, and Cal needs to fine someone who won't brood if he ends up holding a clipboard for Mendoza all year.
SJV would have to sit out a year if he transfers again (pretty sure he's not ready to grad transfer like Ben did). He'll stick around and solidify himself as the backup and have gadget plays. As a competitive guy, I'm guessing he'll also just keep trying to push Fernando for the starting job.
The fact that a potential QB is in the portal means that they were definitely unhappy not being the starter at their school -- just like Finley. They're transferring to get a realistic opportunity to start, which, as you've noted, they won't get at Cal, (sans a Mendoza injury). It's the downside of keeping decent backups in the NIL/loose transferring restrictions era.
Better to develop QB talent via HS recruits, they are excellent at holding clip boards.
Agree, need a HS kid
I'm sure plenty of people would be fine being the backup, but Finley was looking at being #3 and maybe being jumped by the incoming true freshman, who has a lot of talent. People looking to transfer here would be looking at being depth guys, too.
We got through this year with three scholarship QBs and two PWO true freshmen. We should have a solid 1-2 next year with a good but young 3rd stringer, and a couple of sophomore PWOs. A little more precarious than I'd like, so hopefully we can can bring on another guy to shore up the depth chart and just get through the year without testing it too much.
So, does anyone think Dante Moore would be worth pursuing? Maybe a change would suit him.
BTW- I hear Cam Warden has multiple offers of $1 mil. or more.
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