https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/09/15/pac-12-recruiting-assessing-the-impact-of-realignment-on-cal-oregon-state-and-washington-state-so-far-so-good
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By Jon Wilner | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: September 15, 2023 at 7:16 a.m. | UPDATED: September 15, 2023 at 7:58 a.m.
The Hotline is delighted to provide Pac-12 fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on Sept. 14 …
By the time Cal took the field for its season opener at North Texas, the Bears knew they had a future in a Power Five conference. The day before, the ACC had officially invited Cal, along with Stanford and SMU, to join in 2024.
So there was plenty of anticipation when the Bears returned to Berkeley and began preparations for their home opener against Auburn. There were also plenty of recruits who were excited to see the Bears coming off their win over North Texas, to watch them play an SEC program and to know Cal had a future in the power conferences.
While the Bears lost a late lead and fell to Auburn, the fourth-quarter collapse didn't ruin their mojo.
Linebacker Marco Jones, who attends San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, is the top 2025 prospect in the Bay Area and the No. 2 prospect in Northern California in his class.
He attended the game and was encouraged by what he saw and, more importantly, with the future.
"I really like the coaching staff that they have there, and I feel like they are building some big things in the future," Jones, rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports, said.
Quarterback EJ Caminong, a three-star prospect from Garfield High School in Seattle, had initially committed to play in his backyard, at Washington, before he opened up his recruitment.
In June, he took an official visit to Cal and committed to the Bears shortly after. A few weeks later, the Pac-12 was on life support; Cal's future was murky. But the ACC move was greeted warmly by Caminong, who is eager to see another side of the country.
"Football-wise, I'm excited to see some of these bigger schools," Caminong said. "It's going to be a bigger stage, so I'm excited to face that. But I'm also excited to see some new places around the country. That's cool to me as well."
Caminong joined several other Cal commits in Strawberry Canyon last weekend and said he and his fellow pledges are eager for the future.
"I think we all were very relieved and excited when talking with my guys," Caminong said. "Talking with my guys, we all feel strong and are happy with realignment."
...
/****
By Jon Wilner | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: September 15, 2023 at 7:16 a.m. | UPDATED: September 15, 2023 at 7:58 a.m.
The Hotline is delighted to provide Pac-12 fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on Sept. 14 …
By the time Cal took the field for its season opener at North Texas, the Bears knew they had a future in a Power Five conference. The day before, the ACC had officially invited Cal, along with Stanford and SMU, to join in 2024.
So there was plenty of anticipation when the Bears returned to Berkeley and began preparations for their home opener against Auburn. There were also plenty of recruits who were excited to see the Bears coming off their win over North Texas, to watch them play an SEC program and to know Cal had a future in the power conferences.
While the Bears lost a late lead and fell to Auburn, the fourth-quarter collapse didn't ruin their mojo.
Linebacker Marco Jones, who attends San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, is the top 2025 prospect in the Bay Area and the No. 2 prospect in Northern California in his class.
He attended the game and was encouraged by what he saw and, more importantly, with the future.
"I really like the coaching staff that they have there, and I feel like they are building some big things in the future," Jones, rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports, said.
Quarterback EJ Caminong, a three-star prospect from Garfield High School in Seattle, had initially committed to play in his backyard, at Washington, before he opened up his recruitment.
In June, he took an official visit to Cal and committed to the Bears shortly after. A few weeks later, the Pac-12 was on life support; Cal's future was murky. But the ACC move was greeted warmly by Caminong, who is eager to see another side of the country.
"Football-wise, I'm excited to see some of these bigger schools," Caminong said. "It's going to be a bigger stage, so I'm excited to face that. But I'm also excited to see some new places around the country. That's cool to me as well."
Caminong joined several other Cal commits in Strawberry Canyon last weekend and said he and his fellow pledges are eager for the future.
"I think we all were very relieved and excited when talking with my guys," Caminong said. "Talking with my guys, we all feel strong and are happy with realignment."
...