Cal Football New Transfer Portal Entries Include RB Kendrick Raphael, OL Braden Miller
The California Golden Bears have some work to do on the offensive end in the portal.
There were a few significant entries for the California Golden Bears in the transfer portal. Running back Kendrick Raphael was the most significant offensive entry.
Raphael rushed for 943 yards, 13 touchdowns on 4.06 yards per attempt, while also catching 34 passes for 245 yards (one TD). He put up two 100-yard ACC performances: 111 yards and a touchdown against SMU, and 119 yards and a touchdown against Boston College. He also had multi-touchdown performances against Virginia, Virginia Tech (3), and Duke (2).
Brandon High has also entered the portal, so LJ Johnson Jr. is the one Cal running back in the top three of the depth chart who remains at the moment.
Offensive tackle Braden Miller is also in the portal. Miller rotated around the offensive line, seeing most of his time at left or right tackle (and a spell in the interior), starting eight of 13 games.
With Nick Morrow and Leon Bell also in the portal, that leaves Cal with Frederick Williams as their primary offensive tackle remaining in the two deep. There’s still hope that Cal can retain a few of these players, but it’s likely we will see some turnover.
Current transfers
Linebackers: Cade Uluave, Harrison Taggart, Luke Ferrelli, Eze Osondu, Buom Jock
Edges: TJ Bush, Ryan McCulloch
Defensive lineman: Nate Burrell, Ike Okafor
Defensive back: Cam Sidney, Kaden Cook
Running backs: Kendrick Raphael, Brandon High
Offensive linemen: Lajuan Owens, Nick Morrow, Leon Bell, Barrett Miller, Daveion Harley
Kicker: Abram Murray
Punter: Michael Kern
Quarterback: Devin Brown, Belay Brummel
Wide receiver: Dazmin James
How concerned should we be with the # of transfers (particularly of high quality players)? Seems like this is the new norm but don’t know if it’s slightly worse for us
I am not too concerned yet.
In today's reality, it makes perfect sense to enter the portal if either
1) you are a decent player or
2) you are not going to get playing time (tho giving up on cal degree.. dont know about that).
If you are big contributer - you have to enter it. gives you negotiation leverage. Why settle for a mere scholarship when other schools can woo you with $$, which then either Cal matches, beats it or you go somewhere for more money and possibly more playing time.
The only reason JKS didn't enter is because we probably threw huge $$$ at him upfront and probably promised to hype him up for NFL attention.
Also our HC is still coaching. I am excited for the good news once he is in full recruiting mode. I suspect some of these players (who prefer to stay at CAL or don't like the market) will quickly try to come back in the fold once we start giving scholarships to more and more incoming transfers. We only have so many.
Having said all that.. if you don't have a realistic chance of going to NFL... that CAL degree...