2022 Recruiting Class Recap

By Jim McGill

February 3, 2022

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The Bears announced their 2022 recruiting class to-date following yesterday’s National Signing Day, introducing late signing period signees OT Jackson Brown (Danville, CA/San Ramon HS), QB Fernando Mendoza (Miami, FL/Columbus HS) and CB Cameron Sidney (Santa Ana, CA/Mater Dei HS). The signing of the trio increases the size of Cal's 2022 recruiting class to 17.

Prior to yesterday’s signing day, the Bears signed 11 recruits during the early signing period, including spring enrollees CSM WR Mason Starling and Norco RB Jaydn Ott. They were joined by a trio of portal transfers: Purdue QB transfer Jack Plummer, Utah DE transfer Xavier Carlton and Washington transfe MLB Jackson Sirmon. All three transfers are expected to push to start and early enrollees Ott and Starling are expected to see solid playing time in their first seasons in the program, as well.

"We are excited to add three talented players to our 2022 recruiting class," said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox. "You are always looking to improve the personnel in your program any way you can, and we have done that by bringing in this trio of student-athletes. In today's college football world, there are many opportunities to improve your personnel including by signing student-athletes on what has been the traditional National Signing Day on the first Wednesday in February."

Nine high school players in the 2022 recruiting class have a top-60 national ranking within their position group including a pair of top-30 running backs in Ott (Rivals #15) and Hayes (Rivals #28). The others include Vatikani (No. 26 247), Ramsey (Rivals #26 OT), Burrell (ESPN #35 DE), Sydney (ESPN #44 CB), Thomas (247 #45 EDGE), Brown (247 #51 OT) and Javien Plummer (ESPN #59 WR). In addition, Starling is ESPN's #4 wide receiver in the 2022 junior college recruiting class, while Carlton was a consensus 4 star recruit and 247’s #9 strongside defensive end in the 2020 high school class, Sirmon was the #17 inside linebacker according to Rivals and Jack Plummer the #17 pro style quarterback of 247, both in the prep class of 2018.

Cal's current 2022 recruiting class includes 10 offensive players (Brown, Hayes, Mendoza, Morrow, Ott, Jack Plummer, Jaiven Plummer, Ramsey, Starling, Vatikani) and seven on the defensive side of the ball (Burrell, Carlton, Earby, Sirmon, Sydney, Thomas IV, Tuitele).

The Bears expect to add another JC transfer to the 2022 class along with as many as 2-4 additional portal transfers in the spring.

Quarterback:

Fernando Mendoza‍ 6-5/215 QB Miami, FL (Columbus HS/Belen Jesuit HS)

Mendoza commitment story

Jack Plummer 6-5/215 QB Gilbert, AZ (Purdue/Gilbert HS)

Plummer comitment story