Cal Football Transfer: Rico Walker, Tight End From Purdue

The California Golden Bears land their second tight end of the 2025 portal period.

Cal’s transfer portal period is winding down, and it seems as if they’ve addressed most of their pressing needs. The latest need addressed is tight end depth, as they secured the addition of Rico Walker via Purdue. Walker will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Chris Hummer@chris_hummer

Cal has signed Purdue TE transfer Rico Walker, @mzenitz and I have learned for @CBSSports. Walker caught 9 passes for 100 yards this year. He's a former four-star recruit who's made career stops at Auburn and Maryland. 247sports.com/player/rico-wa…

2:36 AM · Jan 23, 2026 · 22.4K Views

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14 Reposts · 81 Likes

The 6'3", 250-pound tight end caught nine passes for 100 yards with the Boilermakers last season. He was previously at Auburn and Maryland.

Cal lost two tight ends to the portal in Landon Morris and Ben Marshall. But Dorian Thomas was widely considered one of the best tight ends available in the portal, and Walker and Marshall do provide a solid one-to-one comp.

Cal transfer portal arrivals

• Quarterback Jackson Brousseau (via Colorado State)

• Running backs Adam Mohammed (via Washington), Carter Vargas (via UC Davis, Ashten Emory (via UTEP)

• Wide receivers Ian Strong (via Rutgers), Chase Hendricks (via Ohio), Cooper Perry (via Oregon)

• Tight end Dorian Thomas (via New Mexico), Rico Walker (via Purdue)

• Offensive linemen Jimothy Lewis (via Mississippi State), Mykeal Rabess (via Florida International), Kahli Tafai (via Minnesota), Ashton Rivera (via Kent State), Jacob Arop (via South Dakota)

• Defensive linemen Jericho Johnson (via Oregon), Justin Beadles (via Louisville), Ashun Shepphard (via Mississippi State)

• Edges Solomon Williams (via Texas A&M), Emmanuel Okoye (via Tennessee), Joshua Pierce (via North Texas)

• Linebackers Tristan Jernigan (via Texas A&M), Kamar Mathudi (via Oregon), AJ Tuitele (via USC)

• Cornerbacks Ricky Fletcher (via Ole Miss), Daniel Harris (via Georgia)

• Safeties Kingston Lopa (via Oregon), Michael Hurst Jr. (via Northern Arizona)

• Punter Angus Davies (via Tulsa)

• Kicker Towns McGough (via Auburn)

Cal transfer portal departures

• Linebackers Cade Uluave (BYU), Luke Ferrelli (chaos), Harrison Taggart, Eze Osondu, Buom Jock (Wake Forest), Curlee Thomas (North Texas)

• Defensive linemen TJ Bush (Minnesota), Ike Okafor

• Edge Ryan McCulloch (UCLA)

• Running back Brandon High (UTSA)

• Offensive linemen Lajuan Owens, Nick Morrow (Kansas), Leon Bell (Colorado), Braden Miller (Duke), Daveion Harley, Jordan Spasojevic-Moko

• Tight end Landon Morris (Wake Forest), Ben Marshall

• Quarterbacks Devin Brown (Weber State), Belay Brummel

• Defensive back Kaden Cook

• Wide receivers Dazmin James, Jaiven Plummer, Jayden Dixon-Veal

• Kicker Abram Murray

• Punter Michael Kern

• Longsnapper Rino Monteforte (Kansas)