Cal Football Kicker Updates: Chase Meyer Returns, Towns McGough Commits Via Auburn
The California Golden Bears have some portal movement on the kicking front.
Let’s dive into the new kicking additions.
According to On3 (and his Instagram), Cal landed a commitment from Towns McGough via Auburn.
McGough was one of the best touchback kickoff specialists in college football, notching a 70%+ touchback rate in 2024-25 (Cal was one of the worst touchback teams in college football last year, only notching 25% of kickoffs).
Chase Meyer has returned after dabbling in the transfer portal. Meyer was 10-13 on field goals in 2025, including hitting crucial 45 and 40-yard field goals that made the difference against Louisville and SMU.
It feels like Meyer is the favorite to be the placekicker and McGough the kickoff man next year.
Gone is Abram Murray, who handled kickoffs for the first quarter and final third of the season. He mostly took on Cal’s longer range field goals, hitting four of six from 40-49 yards.
Here’s a look at the full transfer portal comings and goings.
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)
Linebackers Tristan Jernigan (via Texas A&M), Kamar Mathudi (via Oregon)
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
Wide receivers Dazmin James, Jaiven Plummer, Jayden Dixon-Veal
Longsnapper Rino Monteforte (Kansas)







wow...from 25% to 70%...now THAT'S what a growth mindset looks like! I've always been perplexed why we did not emphasize excellence at the kicking position over the last number of years. This feels great.
Another good "get". GO BEARS!