Cal linebacker Hunter Barth graduate transfers to Stanford
Tough blow and an even tougher move.
The turmoil of the transfer portal continues to strike. Potential starting linebacker Hunter Barth is on his way to **exasperated sigh** Stanford. Here was his transfer portal message saying farewell to Cal fans.
After mostly making his mark on special teams, Barth got his opportunity at the end of last season to make noise. When Cade Uluave got hurt at the end of the regular season, Barth stepped in and had some major performances alongside Teddye Buchanan, with seven tackles against Wake Forest, Syracuse and Stanford in each performance. Barth also forced two fumbles last year, one against Wake Forest, and then had two sacks, both against Wake Forest. There is great potential to be realized.
It’s exciting to see Barth earn his Berkeley degree before fully transferring. It’s less exciting to see him move down the Farm, where he will likely compete for one of the starting roles. Nevertheless, that’s the way the game is these days.
Cal is now a bit thinner at linebacker to fill in the Uluave spot. Buom Jock, Aaron Hampton, Eze Osondu, and Luke Ferrelli are interesting options but not long-term solutions. The Bears have been rumored to have a few linebackers on visits, so hopefully a commit is coming?
stolen from elsewhere, but the most likely reason is he got tired of having the Axe and wanted to see what it's like to not have it.
The rumor is that he is about to jumped in the org chart by another incoming LB. With just a single year of eligibility I can absolutely forgive him. But Furd? Really? That's a bridge too far, man. I'll never understand why some of these guys squander the equity they develop with a fanbase by choosing a close rival or leaving in a messy way (Ott, Jet, Nando, Andrej). Maybe time heals all wounds, but I'd prefer not to see any of these dudes on campus for a couple decades at least.