Having visited Cal three years ago before his senior season, quarterback Zach Maynard loved what he saw in Berkeley but never envisioned the opportunity to build his career in the blue and gold of Cal. But now that fate has brought him back to Berkeley, Maynard was more than happy to make the move out west.
The former Grimsley (Greensboro, NC) High School quarterback spent the first two years of his career at the University of Buffalo, starting this past season for the Bisons. But with the departure of former Head Coach Turner Gill to the University of Kansas, Maynard felt it was the opportunity he needed to make a move.
"I started talking to Coach Tedford in December after Coach Gill left," said Maynard. "He knew me from camp and when when he found out I wanted to transfer, he let me know he was interested.
"I respect the coaches a lot and Coach Tedford has a lot of experience with quarterbacks, as does the offensive coordinator (Andy Ludwig) and the academics are great. It's the greatest public institution there is. So just looking at all the ingredients, I see Cal as the best place to take things to the next level."
Maynard took an official visit to Clemson on January 22nd in a visit that put the Tigers in the lead for Maynard, as well as his brother, Keenan Allen, who visited Clemson and Cal with Maynard while reconsidering his commitment to Alabama.
But their visit to California put the Bears out in front for both players, as both Maynard and Allen verbally committed to Cal after returning home and talking to the other programs that had recruited them.
"On my trip, I got to check out campus, go to San Francisco and Alcatraz," said Maynard. "It's real nice out there. I got a great overview of campus and the area. I liked it a lot and I feel real comfortable out there, knowing that I'll be there the next three years."
The circumstances during this visit were much different than those of Maynard's visit to Cal the last time for camp, which took place after Cal quarterback Beau Sweeney had already committed to the Bears.
"I went to camp before my senior year of high school at a three day camp on my first trip out to Cal," said Randolph. "I was pretty busy with the camp so I didn't get to see nearly as much as I did on my official visit two weeks ago, but I liked Coach Tedford a lot and it was nice weather. I learned a lot at that camp and I used a lot of the techniques and reads I learned in my senior year at Grimsley (High School/Greensboro, NC).
"He wished me well and said he hoped I'd have success in my career."
The speedy Maynard, who boasts a "low 4.5" forty time -exceptional for a quarterback- racked up strong all-purpose yards in high school, passing for 1,635 yards and 20 TDs, and rushing for 1,404 yards and 14 more TD's during his senior season at Grimsley, earning all-area and all-conference honors, and leading his team to a league title.
Maynard earned a starting position in his true sophomore year at Buffalo, completing 218 of 379 passes (57.5%) for 2,694 yards and 18 TDs with 15 interceptions, while rushing for 455 yards and one TD on the ground, as well.
"At Buffalo, they didn't really have me run the ball," said Maynard. "That's one thing I didn't really like. They didn't let me use my running ability that much. They pretty much just had me in the pocket or rolling out and throwing the ball. I like to pass first, rather than just run, but having some plays designed to run are great, too."
Maynard and Allen are excited to be able to play together at Cal and with both greatly enjoying their visit and all that Cal had to offer both players, it made the decision a relatively easy one for both in the end.
"Keenan's one of the greatest players in the nation in high school and we had a chance to play together my senior year (at Grimsley HS, before Allen transferred to Northern Guilford his junior season). We have a great connection and we've always wanted to play together since we were little.
But not only do Maynard and Allen have the chance to play together but they also will be reunited with good friends Gabe King and Chris McCain at Cal.
"We've been friends for a long time," said Maynard. "Gabe played at Page and they're our rival school and we played against them every year. I've played with those guys since we were little. We always dreamed of playing together later in our careers and now it's a reality for us.
"We can't wait."
