Cal Football: Modster and a legacy Bear reportedly enter the transfer portal, but one big return announcement

The Bears lose two, but keep one.

The transfer portal has tempted two more Golden Bears away from Strawberry Canyon. If you’re having trouble keeping track of all the announcements this year thanks to the extra eligibility wrinkle due to COVID-19, check out our Transfer Tracker.

DL Gabriel Cherry thanked Sonny Dykes, the strength coaches, and the Berkeley faculty in his announcement that he would be entering the transfer portal after graduating this spring. Cherry is a second-generation Football Bear, with his great-uncle Duane Williams being a Cal center for the 1975 and 1976 seasons. Cherry had opted-out of the 2020 season and only played in the 2018 Idaho State game.

Gabriel Cherry @gabecherry72

On to the next...

According to 247 Sports, QB Devon Modster has also been lured into the transfer portal. Modster was the second-team quarterback for the past two years and was thrust into the starting role in 2019 after injuries to Chase Garbers. Modster started his career at UCLA, which included a win over us. In the (real) blue and gold, Modster appeared in seven games with three starts, which included a home win over Washington State. With Modster’s departure, the quarterback room becomes Chase Garbers as the presumed starter, Spencer Brasch (two games, one start), Robby Rowell (one game), and a trio of quarterbacks who have yet to take a college snap (Jaden Casey, Zach Johnson, and Kai Millner).

But there is a bright spot in all this news. Long snapper Daniel Etter announced that he will return!

Daniel Etter @dw_etter

I’m back too #longsnappersmatter #specialistsarepeopletoo #pelagic #pfg #GoBears #UnfinishedBusiness

Long snappers never really get much attention—even at Cal, which is Long Snapper U—and Slater Zellers is our primary long snapper, but it’s good to see a player like Etter have some fun with these announcements and social media posts.

Thanks to all three Bears for their hard work and commitment here. We wish Gabe and Devon luck as they find the next steps in their journeys and look forward to another year in Memorial Sttadium for Daniel.