Predicting the Cal Football Depth Chart

Get ready for kickoff

Fall camp has come and gone, and we don’t have all the answers as to who the 2024 California Golden Bears are. Some positions are set in stone, others have a cohort of players fighting for playing time, and game week is no longer approaching but right here and now.

Below is an educated guess as to how the depth chart will shake out heading into UC Davis (any injuries noted have been talked about by Justin Wilcox).

Quarterback

Fernando Mendoza/Chandler Rogers/CJ Harris

It’s been a close quarterback battle in fall camp, but I believe that Fernando Mendoza gets the nod over veterans Chandler Rogers and CJ Harris under center. I believe that the coaches see Mendoza as the future of the program and having him take control as the incumbent makes a lot more sense both in the short term and long term. Compared to last years battle, this was one with decidedly more talent in the room and not a battle of futility. Should a situation arise where Rogers or Harris need to step in, there isn’t an immediate on set of doom compared to prior years. Mendoza has the keys, lets see how good of a driver he is consistently.

Running Back

Jaydn Ott/Kadarius Calloway/Jaivian Thomas or Byron Cardwell

Not much to glean from here, other the group behind Jaydn Ott. Kadarius Calloway has taken the reigns as the second running back and should be able to spell Ott effectively in spurts. Jaivian Thomas will be a change of pace back and should the situation call for it, Byron Cardwell will be in line for snaps as well.

Wide Receivers

Tobias Merriweather/Mason Starling/Jordan King

Kyion Grayes/Trond Grizzell

Slot: Mikey Matthews/Mavin Anderson/Josiah Martin

There are a plethora of weapons for Burl Toler III and Justin Wilcox at their disposal. Mikey Matthews was dinged up during fall camp and Justin Wilcox noted that there will be several game time decisions across the board, so his status will be something to monitor. Trond Grizzell can shift into the starting slot role if Matthews is ruled out and is looking to build on a breakout season here in 2024. Tobias Merriweather and Kyion Grayes should increase the ceiling when they are on the field this season, although Merriweather’s status may also be a part of the unknown calculus since he was held out of the last few open practices for the Bears.

Tight End

Jack Endries/Corey Dyches/JT Byrne or Ben Marshall

This group intrigues me personally because they seem a lot more versatile compared to years past. Jack Endries proved that he could both block and catch effectively and Corey Dyches’s athleticism should allow more two tight end sets and shifting. Should others come into the fold, the young but impressive Ben Marshall and fundamentally sound JT Byrne should see the field.

Offensive Line (LT-RT)

Nick Morrow/Bastian Swinney/Will McDonald/Sioape Vatikani/TJ Session

Frederick Williams III/Rush Reimer/Matthew Wykoff/Braden Miller/Victor Stoffel

Cal has been shuffling the left side of the offensive line throughout fall camp, with an unknown of who will be starting center come game day. Will McDonald and Bastian Swinney have been switching back and forth depending on what alignment Mike Bloesch set out for them, but beyond that mini-battle the first five listed above will be the starting group. Sioape Vatikani may be unavailable for week one but as with all injuries at this juncture, the status is being kept close to the chest.

Blocking drill via @calfootball

Defensive Line

Ricky Corriea or Aidan Keannaina/Stanley Saole-McKenzie

Nate Burrell/Akili Calhoun

The interior defensive line got a solid reinforcement with the transfer of Aidan Keannaina from Notre Dame but largely its a lot of the same names trying to plug run gaps this year. The more space they can fill the better and the Bears will certainly need it if they want to make noise in the ACC.

Outside Linebackers

David Reese/Ryan McCulloch

Xavier Carlton/Cheik Fall/Myles Williams

Another spot where there aren’t a ton of new faces is the outside linebacker core. David Reese is the unquestioned leader of the group and will need to lead the charge if Cal hopes to have any pass rush. Some new faces that provide solid athleticism are Ryan McCulloch and Cheik Fall. McCulloch got some spot snaps towards the end of last season and Fall has broken on the scene towards the end of fall camp and looks poised to take an increased role.

Inside Linebackers

Cade Uluave/Liam Johnson

Teddye Buchanan/Hunter Barth/Aaron Hampton

A group that has fortified their starters mans the middle of the defense. Cade Uluave and Teddye Buchanan will lead the charge at the inside linebacker group, and can cover ground fairly well. This group does suffer from a lack of depth, something that can hurt them if injuries pile up at any point.

Cornerback

Marcus Harris/Lu-Magia Hearns

Nohl Williams/Collin Gamble/Khamani Hudson

Slot: Matthew Littlejohn/Jasiah Wagoner

The secondary this year for Cal should be much improved. Marcus Harris coming into the fold increases the floor of the room significantly and will force quarterbacks to think an extra second or so on whether to test him. Furthermore, Cal now has two corners in Harris and Williams who should give offensive coordinators trouble as opposed to last year.

Safety

Craig Woodson/Cam Sidney

Miles Williams/Isaiah Crosby/Ryan Yaites

A veteran group led by Craig Woodson and Miles Williams, the safeties have a solid baseline for this season. How productive the secondary will be is a result of how effective the pass rush is, which is something that every Cal fan will have on their minds. Woodson’s status for the opener is unknown at this moment, but looks to be over the worst of his hamstring mishap.

Specialists

Lachlan Wilson/Derek Morris

Ryan Coe

David Bird

PR: Kyion Grayes/Marcus Harris/Nohl Williams/Josiah Martin

KR: Jaydn Ott/Kadarius Calloway/Jaivian Thomas

Cal fans, what are your thoughts as to how this depth chart may shake out? I can’t believe its already game week.