Cal Football Transfer: Jericho Johnson, Defensive Tackle Via Oregon

The California Golden Bears continue their defensive rebuild.

The California Golden Bears landed one of their biggest needs on Saturday in the transfer portal: A prototypical athletic defensive tackle who could be a force on the interior. Welcome Jericho Johnson from the Oregon Ducks, a local Bay Area athlete originating in Fairfield!

Johnson played nine games last year for Oregon as a redshirt freshman, registering five tackles and a pass breakup in 2025. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Johnson is a massive talent when he was recruited in 2024, as he was ranked the 23rd best defensive lineman and 15th best California prospect in that class by 247Sports Composite. At 6-4 and 342 pounds, if he fully develops, his size could be an immediate difference maker in plugging run gaps up the middle, producing overall line mismatches if he develops, and greatly upgrading Cal’s defensive line disruption profile.

@bigco_00

Jericho Johnson on Instagram: "COMING HOME COMMITTED!!!!!!!!"

Johnson becomes the third Duck to follow Tosh Lupoi to Cal, joining wide receiver Cooper Perry and safety Kingston Lopa. The Bears are rapidly rebuilding their defense and Johnson will be a huge part of the new look.

Cal transfer portal arrivals

• Quarterback Jackson Brousseau (via Colorado State)

• Running back Adam Mohammed (via Washington)

• Running back Carter Vargas (via UC Davis)

• Running back Ashten Emory (via UTEP)

• Wide receiver Ian Strong (via Rutgers)

• Wide receiver Chase Hendricks (via Ohio)

• Wide receiver Cooper Perry (via Oregon)

• Tight end Dorian Thomas (via New Mexico)

• Offensive lineman Jimothy Lewis (via Mississippi State)

• Offensive lineman Mykeal Rabess (via Florida International)

• Offensive lineman Kahli Tafai (via Minnesota)

• Offensive lineman Ashton Rivera (via Kent State)

• Offensive lineman Jacob Arop (via South Dakota)

• Defensive lineman Jericho Johnson (via Oregon)

• Defensive lineman Justin Beadles (via Louisville)

• Defensive lineman Ashun Shepphard (via Mississippi State)

• Edge Solomon Williams (via Texas A&M)

• Edge Emmanuel Okoye (via Tennessee)

• Linebacker Tristan Jernigan (via Texas A&M)

• Cornerback Daniel Harris (via Georgia)

• Safety Kingston Lopa (via Oregon)

• Safety Michael Hurst Jr. (via Northern Arizona)

Returning Bears

• Quarterback EJ Caminong

• Tight end Mason Mini

• Wide receiver Mark Hamper

• Offensive tackle Frederick Williams III

• Center Bastian Swinney

• Defensive lineman Derek Wilkins

• Defensive lineman Nate Burrell

• Edge Jayden Wayne

• Defensive back Isaiah Crosby

• Defensive back Cam Sidney

• Kicker Chase Meyer (withdrew from portal)

Cal transfer portal departures

• Linebacker Cade Uluave (BYU)

• Linebacker Luke Ferrelli (Clemson)

• Linebacker Harrison Taggart

• Linebacker Eze Osondu

• Linebacker Buom Jock (Wake Forest)

• Linebacker Curlee Thomas (North Texas)

• Defensive lineman TJ Bush (Minnesota)

• Defensive lineman Ike Okafor

• Edge Ryan McCulloch (UCLA)

• Running back Brandon High (UTSA)

• Offensive lineman Lajuan Owens

• Offensive lineman Nick Morrow (Kansas)

• Offensive lineman Leon Bell

• Offensive lineman Braden Miller (Duke)

• Offensive lineman Daveion Harley

• Offensive lineman Jordan Spasojevic-Moko

• Tight end Landon Morris (Wake Forest)

• Quarterback Devin Brown (Weber State)

• Quarterback Belay Brummel

• Defensive back Kaden Cook

• Wide receiver Dazmin James

• Wide receiver Jaiven Plummer

• Kicker Abram Murray

• Punter Michael Kern

• Longsnapper Rino Monteforte (Kansas)

• Wide receiver Jayden Dixon-Veal

• Tight end Ben Marshall