Jaivian Thomas transfers to UCLA
The Cal running back room will be starting over in 2025.
Cal running back Jaivian Thomas has officially announced his transfer to UCLA. The Golden Bears will have a brand new backfield in 2025.
With Jaydn Ott off to Oklahoma, and Kadarius Calloway, Byron Cardwell and Justin Williams-Thomas all portalling, the Bears will have to look to new faces to lead the way in the run game. Jamaal Wiley and freshman Anthony League are the two scholarship backs who will be on the fall roster, with Jayden Parker and Dean Taylor-Chapman also getting a lot of spring reps.
Cal has since picked up a commitment from UTSA running back Brandon High, so the losses are starting to be patched up, but it definitely feels like an offense in transition as we move to fall camp. Whether it’s a new offensive install with Bryan Harsin, a change in running backs coach, a concern about an offense in transition, or just concern about Justin Wilcox fielding a competent unit that can consistently score, the Cal offense will be brand new this year. Be prepared for the bumps.
I really hate to see Jaivian Thomas go but, as Pappy Waldorf once told me, "good running backs are a dime a dozen but linemen are hard to find." So as deehart mentioned in their comment, I'd be more concerned if all the O linemen left. Yes, I'm old enough to talk to Pappy Waldorf. I since became a football coach for 41 years and remembered those words which helped me in all those years.
Every player they steal from us should up the Calimony payments.