BERKELEY — Cal closed a chapter on its busiest soccer offseason in years Saturday, with a two-hour scrimmage in its Spring Showcase in entrance of maybe 500 followers at sunny Memorial Stadium.
With school soccer within the throes of dramatic change, ninth-year coach Justin Wilcox is below some strain to take the Bears to a different stage heading into their second season within the Atlantic Coast Convention.
“I think we came together really well,” Wilcox stated of progress remodeled 16 spring practices. “I feel really good about where the team can be. We’ve got a lot of areas where we’ve got to continue to improve. I’m very confident.”
Cal performed in a bowl sport final fall for the second straight season however hasn’t accomplished a successful season since 2019 nor a successful convention report since 2009.
The offseason has featured an overhaul of Wilcox’s teaching workers, with six new assistant coaches, together with offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, the previous head coach at Boise State and Auburn.
Defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon exited to the New Orleans Saints, so outdoors linebackers coach Vic So’oto and defensive backs assistant Terrence Brown had been elevated this week as co-coordinators.
One-time Washington State coach Nick Rolovich was employed as a senior offensive assistant and Bob Gregory, who served as DC for eight seasons below Jeff Tedford, is on board as a senior defensive assistant.
Overseeing your complete operation is former NFL head coach and legendary Cal linebacker Ron Rivera, who was introduced on as normal supervisor and can report on to Chancellor Wealthy Lyons. Expectations have ratcheted up.
“Another six-win regular season will be disappointing given how much we are investing,” Lyons informed this information group’s Jon Wilner in a February interview.
All three quarterbacks competing for the No. 1 job bought important reps in the course of the scrimmage. Junior Devin Brown, a switch from nationwide champion Ohio State, boasts probably the most expertise. Freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is a left-hander with a giant arm. And redshirt freshman EJ Caminong, the one returnee, has saved himself within the combine with constant play.
Wilcox, who isn’t anticipated to call a starter till someday within the weeks previous to the Aug. 30 season opener at Oregon State, has been inspired by all three.
“They’ve all shown some impressive things on the football field and in the meeting room,” he stated. “All of them have one other step they will take and can take earlier than we get to the primary sport. Very, very happy with that quarterback room and what Coach Harsin has carried out with these guys.
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“We’ve put quite a lot of stuff on them. We’re going to push the envelope there and by the point we get to the season there’s going to be issues we are able to choose and select from for these guys and for our offense that we really feel actually good about.”
Senior working again Jaydn Ott, who rushed for greater than 1,300 yards in 2023 however was injured most of final season, appears to be like like his previous self, fast and decisive. He scored a pair of touchdowns throughout Saturday’s motion.
The Bears introduced in 5 transfers to assist retool an offensive line that has been subpar, and the protection should exchange 4 starters within the secondary, together with All-America cornerback Nohl Williams and two others who could also be chosen within the NFL draft.
Each program from a Energy 4 convention will cope with anticipated adjustments this fall that embody a roster restrict if 105 gamers and direct funds to athletes. And the switch portal opens Wednesday, so participant motion — in each instructions — is about to renew.
