Depth Chart Surprises: Moore No. 1 RB, Glover No. 2 QB

Cal released the depth chart Tuesday for Saturday night’s football season opener against Nevada, and it contained some surprises.

Sophomore running back Damien Moore (26, above), who actually led the Bears in rushing in 2020 with 188 yards, was listed as the starter ahead of Christopher Brooks (formerly Brown) who was presumed to be the first option.

And newcomer Ryan Glover, a grad transfer, is the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Chase Garbers.

Head coach Justin Wilcox said that Moore impressed the coaching staff “in terms of his all-around game, running the ball, protection, catching the ball. He’s very instinctive as a runner. Since he’s been here, each and every week seems to get better and better. He has done a really nice job in camp.”

Wilcox also cautioned not to read too much into depth chart placement.

“They’re all going to play. I know the depth chart is highly anticipated but in my mind they’re both starters," Wilcox said. "It will be just one guy running in first. It’s going to be spread out at that position and we’re fortunate enough to have more than one guy that can help at running back."

What has worked against Brooks/Brown is his health. He carried the ball just 21 times in the three games he played last year. “He’s had some unfortunate injuries along the way and we want to do a great job with him,” Wilcox said. “We are thoughtful about his carries and reps and where we get him the ball. He has done a really nice job in camp”

Glover, who transferred from Penn via Western Carolina, came to fall camp nursing an injury and did not take start practicing until last week, has shown enough in his brief time to move past Zach Johnson, Kai Millner and Robby Rowell on the depth chart.

“He’s played a lot of college football and he’s picked it up very quickly here. He’s a very smart guy," Wilcox said of Glover. "He has experience. Maybe not here, but he has college football experience and the transition went pretty quickly for him.

“However, we do feel good about Zach Johnson’s progress, the same with Robby Rowell ...Kai doesn’t have the same experience as the other guys but he has a lot of tools.”

Three tight ends, (in order) Jake Tonges, Collin Moore and Gavin Reinwald were listed. Those are the three seniors in the eight man position group.

WIlcox said without hesitation that “more than three tight ends will play.” 

On defense, Stanley McKenzie is the No. 1 nose guard ahead of Jaedon Roberts and Gunar Rask. Wilcox said he intended to take advantage of the deph in the D-line and play most of the nose guards and ends.

One of them won’t be senior Aaron Maldonado, who “likely won’t be up this week,” according to Wilcox.

There also was some unexpected shuffling in the offensive line. When the media had been permitted to watch practice, Brian Driscoll had been taking a majority of the snaps at center with the No. 1 offensive line. Matt Cindric, who started at guard, would take an occasional center snap.

Now Cindric is the No. 1 center, Ben Coleman, who had been backing up virtually at every spot along the line, is the left guard and Driscoll is No. 2 in both places.

Wide receiver Nikko Remigio and linebacker Cameron Goode also met with the media Tuesday. Both talked of how almost giddy they felt approaching the season opener.

“It’s as expected, Remigio said of the anticipation level. “I think also having fans able to attend as well. You can feel the excitement throughout the facility and in the air walking around campus. It’s in the air, you feel it in the atmosphere. It’s really exciting.

That first week is for all the guys who were here at the facility to see all the life on campus. People moving into the dorms is a great sight. It brings you back to the normalcy we had a couple of years ago.”

Goode felt much the same.

I’m really excited,” he said. “None of those strict COVID protocols we had last year. It is going to be a fun season.”

Related:

Browning Making HIs Mark at Cal

With a Week to Go Wilcox Pleased With Bears