Maybe he is looking at other WRs in the room - many who didn’t playing meaningful minutes due to injuries - and want to cash in while his stock is at a high. He will definitely need to share the rock with more studs next year
Ouch. Granted, we've been down this road plenty of times before with it often working out poorly for the athlete. I'm not going to say we can get an equal talent in the portal, but the potential drop in production will be manageable at that position.
Big loss, very sad about this one. Unless Cal starts throwing around $20M+ dollars on NIL like the Oregons and Ohio States of the world, I think it's natural that Cal is going to occasionally lose preternatural talents like Hunter. Wish him success in the future and to get that bag.
I am certainly not taking him for granted, and would absolutely love to keep him. Remember telling Avi at the beginning of the year that he was my sleeper. But of all the positions in the portal, WR is the deepest.
We went 6-6 with Hunter. That doesn’t change next season without better play elsewhere, and Cal was always gonna lose guys in todays CFB.
Would be a real bummer to lose him. Been durable and very dependable all season, and a real play maker. Unlike NIL juggernauts, the Cal collective has to make hard choices about who they can retain and bring in.
I don't understand this move. Unless he thinks he will be recruited over from the portal. Only one high school wide receiver signed by the Bears - Meyer Swinney.
If he does end up leaving it'll be another WR portal datapoint. For whatever reason, two of our most prominent WRs in the portal era, JM Sturdivant and Jeremiah Hunter, both had steep drops in production at their new schools.
Exactly! Both Sturdivant's and Hunter's productivity dropped in half. I thought Sturdivant had more upside. Hunter didn't create any separation but was a beast with 50/50 balls. I believe both would have done better staying at Cal. Perhaps it is better to be a top option at Cal vs. a #3 or #4 WR at a higher-ranked team.
Maybe he is looking at other WRs in the room - many who didn’t playing meaningful minutes due to injuries - and want to cash in while his stock is at a high. He will definitely need to share the rock with more studs next year
Ouch, this hurts.
Ouch. Granted, we've been down this road plenty of times before with it often working out poorly for the athlete. I'm not going to say we can get an equal talent in the portal, but the potential drop in production will be manageable at that position.
Big loss, very sad about this one. Unless Cal starts throwing around $20M+ dollars on NIL like the Oregons and Ohio States of the world, I think it's natural that Cal is going to occasionally lose preternatural talents like Hunter. Wish him success in the future and to get that bag.
One must wonder who and what whispered in his ear.
JW hinted that some players may have contracted with agents.
This looks like a move that could be good for the agent and not so good for the player.
The portal giveth, the portal taketh away.....
"The transfer portal comes for all." For coaches, kinda' like "The Grim Reaper comes for thee".
Love Nyziah. Tough loss.
But WRs are a dime a dozen…you can fill that gap. But success depends on the OL.
I don't know. It's easy to take for granted receivers who can make big catches and have a knack for the end zone..
I am certainly not taking him for granted, and would absolutely love to keep him. Remember telling Avi at the beginning of the year that he was my sleeper. But of all the positions in the portal, WR is the deepest.
We went 6-6 with Hunter. That doesn’t change next season without better play elsewhere, and Cal was always gonna lose guys in todays CFB.
Hurts for Cal, or for him?
Has anyone spun him the sad tales of D-Rob, J-Mike, and fellow Hunter, Jeremiah?
Whenever I see UCLA play I wonder what could've been if JMike had stayed. So underutilized there.
Didn't that Hunter play in the title game?
No. He played this year for a 6-6 team and halved his production.
Would be a real bummer to lose him. Been durable and very dependable all season, and a real play maker. Unlike NIL juggernauts, the Cal collective has to make hard choices about who they can retain and bring in.
Has great hands and attacks every ball thrown in his direction. Was not expecting him to utilize the portal. Unfortunate.
I don't understand this move. Unless he thinks he will be recruited over from the portal. Only one high school wide receiver signed by the Bears - Meyer Swinney.
More likely feeling out his value. He is young and good and will get paid, by us or someone else.
If he does end up leaving it'll be another WR portal datapoint. For whatever reason, two of our most prominent WRs in the portal era, JM Sturdivant and Jeremiah Hunter, both had steep drops in production at their new schools.
Exactly! Both Sturdivant's and Hunter's productivity dropped in half. I thought Sturdivant had more upside. Hunter didn't create any separation but was a beast with 50/50 balls. I believe both would have done better staying at Cal. Perhaps it is better to be a top option at Cal vs. a #3 or #4 WR at a higher-ranked team.
Hey, Sturdivant is BACK in the portal - let's bring him back! ;-)
Man Fernando and Hunter had some good chemistry- ugh
Noooooo, I really like this kid.