Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Reflects on Growth From Freshman Year at ACC Media Day
Cal's sophomore QB discusses how his perspective has shifted since starting as a true freshman, and what's carried over as he leads the Bears into 2026.
On his evolving perspective as a sophomore starter
Asked how things differ from being a true freshman at Media Day last year:
“It’s changed a tremendous amount, but same thing’s the same thing. Just continue to keep the main things the main things, and just continue to build this culture. Just continue to get in with these guys, just the continuous reps to be ready for season. I’m just so excited to head into this new season with a bunch of great guys.”
On GM Ron Rivera and playing a coast-to-coast schedule
“Coach Ron Rivera has been tremendous, especially to our program. Just being able to talk one-on-one with him pretty much on the weekly has been great. What he’s helped me do, just making me feel comfortable in everything I do — he’s been a tremendous help for me, not just for me, but for the program.”
On facing East Coast road trips while keeping the Stanford rivalry alive:
“Playing on the East Coast, I really find it exciting. Being able to travel to new places and just see new stadiums and new fan bases, just being able to take on a challenge is always fun for me. While also keeping that Stanford rivalry is fun as well — they’re a great program, very well respected. I’m just excited for this new season, this new challenge ahead.”
On the new receiving corps (Ian Strong, Chase Hendricks, Cooper Perry)
Asked about spring practice with the transfer additions:
“Those three, super talented guys. Their talent jumps off the roof and you see it right away. I’m just blessed to be able to throw to those guys, and all the guys that we’ve brought in and the guys that we’ve kept. We have so much talent in our receiver room, running back room, tight ends room, and especially our O-line — it’s where it starts. We have great talent all over.”
On the now-legendary story of Coach Lupoi’s midnight flight to Hawaii
Asked when he found out Lupoi was flying out and what came of that meeting:
“It caught me by surprise. I was back home watching my alma mater in the state championship, and it’s around 9:00 — I get a call from my mom that he’s flying in, used to land around 12. Gets in about 1:30, and we talked all the way to like about 4:30 in the morning.
“It was a great talk. It just felt right, knew this is where I wanted to be. He’s a head coach about winning, and that’s obviously what I want to do as well. The culture that he’s brought has been tremendous — relentless head coach that just wants nothing but the best for the program and for the players.
“Being able to just continue to meet with him weekly and continue to talk ball, life — has just been great for mental health, everything. It’s just been so great and tremendous for sure.”
On his Manning Passing Academy invite (not in the original article)
Asked about being invited to the camp this summer:
“It was a great blessing to be able to be invited to the Manning Passing Academy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend it, but just being able to be on the eyes of such prolific people like the Mannings is really a blessing for sure, and definitely would love to attend it next year. Just grateful that I was on their radar.”
On having the trust of two different coaching staffs
Asked about earning belief first as a true freshman starter, now as a sophomore under a new staff:
“It’s tremendous. I’m just so grateful that I have people that believe in me — especially this new staff now, that’s been full-on, not just me but all the players that we brought and the guys that we have in the building. We’ve been working relentlessly this whole offseason getting ready for our first game, September 5th. We’re just excited to show what we can do on the field, and we’re going to continue to keep working the rest of summer into fall camp as we get into that first game.”
