BREAKING: Top 2025 QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele is back at Cal again

Cal now has one of their best prospects of the Justin Wilcox era, at the right position, at the right time.

Credit: Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele

The California Golden Bears put their faith in Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele being the quarterback of the future. At the eleventh hour, it seems as if they had lost him to the machinations of modern college football recruiting.

Suddenly, in the last week, he’s back.

Sagapolutele spent a few weeks with the Oregon Ducks, decided it wasn’t for him, and transferred.

Today, he’s back with Cal.

With Fernando Mendoza gone to Indiana, the door is wide open for Sagapolutele to come in and attempt to win this job full-time.

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Drama aside, Sagapolutele has already been cited by many scouts as one of the top prospects of the 2025 recruiting class. He was unanimously considered the best prospect out of Hawaii this year.

• On3 ranked him a five-star prospect, the 4th best quarterback in this class and the 19th best player in this cycle overall. (Scouting: “His live arm and downfield passing ability reminds us of another prolific lefty, Michael Penix.”)

• 247Sports situates him 106th overall, the 8th best quarterback of the 2025 class. In the portal, he’s ranked 19th overall (4th best QB). (Scouting: His deep ball accuracy is among the best in the country as well and he can really layer the football in to tight windows. His release is smooth and tight and he has improved in his ability to make quick decisions and get the ball out on time.”)

• Rivals ranked him the 9th best pro-style quarterback and the 90th best prospect in this class. (His Elite 11 report ($) was outstanding, nailing all the little things).

• ESPN ranked him the 18th best quarterback in this class.

Offers included half the West Coast (Boise State, Colorado, Oregon State, Utah, Washington, Washington State). But he has been locked in with Cal as one of his first choices with the beginning, and it’s a credit to this recruiting staff (led by Marshall Cherrington and Benji Palu) for overcoming an offensive assistant overhaul (with new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, offensive line coach Famika Anae, wide receiver coach Kyle Cefalo, and assistant Nick Rolovich) to re-engage and close.

What a saga. Nothing is ever straightforward with Cal fandom, is it?

Welcome to Cal Jaron! Go Bears!