Cal Bears in the NFL Draft: Cameron Goode to the Dolphins, Elijah Hicks to the Bears
Cal Bears in the NFL Draft: Cameron Goode to the Dolphins, Elijah Hicks to the Bears
Congrats to the new Bears!
Cal Bears in the NFL Draft: Cameron Goode to the Dolphins, Elijah Hicks to the Bears
Two California Golden Bears added their names to the NFL ledger from the Justin Wilcox era.
Cameron Goode will get his NFL shot with the Miami Dolphins, being selected with the 224th pick in the seventh round.
The Dolphins have signed four linebackers this offeason (including former Cal Bear Brennan Scarlett), and also drafted Channing Tindal from Georgia, so Goode will face some competition to make the final 53-man roster as an outside linebacker.
Scouting report from PhinPhinatic on the new Dolphins linebacker:
From throwing on one of the highlight tapes that I found on YouTube, one thing that stuck out to me is that Cameron Goode is really good at not falling for play-action fakes. I feel like that is an underrated quality for linebackers. When the quarterback shows that he’s handing the ball off to one side and boots the other way, it’s always awesome when the edge player stays home and drives at that upfield shoulder … and gets to the quarterback.
With the drafting of Cam Goode, three of four linebackers from the 2018 Cal defense got an NFL shot.
Jordan Kunaszyk, Carolina Panthers (UDFA, now Washington Commanders)
Evan Weaver, Arizona Cardinals (drafted there, now a free agent)
Cameron Goode, Miami Dolphins
Cal now has another Taker that has been drafted. Elijah Hicks rounded out the seventh round.
The Bears aren’t deep at the safety position, so Hicks should be in good shape to make this roster.
After the Bears selected Jaquan Brisker in the second round, selecting Hicks is all about adding another fast, physical, and instinctive player to Matt Eberflus' defense. Safety has been a need the Bears have attacked in multiple ways this offseason, including signing Dane Cruikshank in free agency while bringing back DeAndre Houston-Carson on a one-year deal.
More from Nate Atkins and BearsWire on USA Today:
He’s a versatile defender who can play box safety, deep safety, or line up as a cornerback in a pinch. He’ll likely make a name for himself on special teams for the Bears while working to break into the starting defense.
With the drafting of Elijah Hicks, the entire starting Cal base secondary from 2018-19 has made it to the NFL.
Safety Ashtyn Davis, New York Jets (2020, 3rd round, 68th pick)
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins, Atlanta Falcons (2020, 4th round, 134th pick)
Cornerback Camryn Bynum, Minnesota Vikings (2021, 4th round, 125th pick)
Cornerback Elijah Hicks (2022, 7th round, 254th pick)
What an accomplishment by Gerald Alexander. Here’s Hicks’s amazing reaction to getting drafted.
Seven of the back eight in the 2018 Cal defense got a chance at the next level. An incredible unit.
During the Wilcox era, eight Golden Bears have now been drafted, all on the defensive side of the football (James Looney and Devante Downs also were picked). The Bears are living up to their burgeoning defensive reputation. Hopefully some of the offensive talent we’re starting to see flow in can join them!
More on the undrafted free agent signings for the Bears shortly.
Great news and congrats to Cam and Elijah. It's kind of intriguing that the Takers mostly had their origin in the Dykes era, considering how maligned the secondary was most of the time during his tenure. Let's see if Wilcox can do the same thing with his recruits.
Congrats to our drafted players!
Also congrats to these UDFAs: Trevon Clark, Kekoa Crawford, Kuony Deng, Jake Tonges, Josh Drayden and, of course, Chase Garbers (to the not-Oakland Raiders). Wishing them luck in camp!
https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/garbers-to-raiders