Bear Insider Video: Cal WR Dazmin James

The Bears signed a trio of new receivers for the 2025 class, with all three on campus this spring, including 6-2/190 University of Arkansas portal transfer wide receiver Dazmin James‍.

James got on the Bears’ and the nation’s radars in December.

After redshirting his freshman season in 2023 and accumulating no stats in the 2024 regular season, James blew up in his bowl game when he finally got a chance to shine, hauling in 3 catches for 137 yards, including an electric 94-yard TD in the Razorbacks’ 39-26 Liberty Bowl victory over Texas Tech. That started a whirlwind recruiting process for the speedy wide receiver.

"It was, it was pretty good," James said. "Luckily, Cal was in that list, and they wanted me, and they got me. So it was great."

"I just finally got my opportunity just to get the ball run with it, and I saw what I could do.”

James was a North Carolina state champ in the 100 and 200, running a blazing 10.46 100 as a senior in high school, also turning in a stellar 21.06 200 meters, running for Clayton High School in Clayton, NC. Though he’d be a good candidate to join Cal’s track and field team, he has no plans to do so, at least this first spring.

James arrived at Cal a month after new wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo and he’s liked what he’s seen so far from his new position coach.

"I really love the way he teaches and lets me know, like, 'You need to do this. This is how we're gonna get you better and keep improving' and I really like that about Coach Cef."

The new Bear WR is also enjoyed getting to know he new wide receiver room, which includes two new additions, including UNLV transfer Jacob De Jesus‍, who also joined Cal after blowing up against the Bears in their LA Bowl win in December.

"Yeah, that's crazy," James exclaimed. "I actually met I met Jacob before I came to Cal on a Purdue visit early January with some other receivers and that's where I met him, and we both talked about having Cal on our list."

"It's been great getting to know the receiver room and receivers. We working."

With spring ball around the corner, the new Bears receiver has a few things in mind he’d like to see.

"Some of my goals for spring ball would be just to instill that confidence in myself and my teammates, build the trust and things like that and just get better every day with the receivers, receiver coach and everybody."

As for what Cal fans should expect to see from the talented redshirt frosh, don’t expect a lot of self-promotion from the new arrival.

"I don't really talk about what I'm gonna do,” James noted. “I just do it."

Related:

Bear Insider Video: Cal WR Jacob De Jesus