Bears Pick Up Their 1st Commitment of the 2027 Class With Grant Edge Giovanni Hodge

The Bears picked up their first commitment of the 2027 class today with the addition of 6-4/250 Grant Union edge Giovanni Hodge this afternoon.

“Getting to know Coach Tosh since meeting him in Oregon, he’s very energetic and motivating,” Hodge said after his commitment today. “I love the Cal environment and being able to build a relationship has been beneficial as I have been to Cal a few times.

“The commitment to push me to continue to develop and be the best I can be along with speaking about future goals is big for me. And my relationship with the new staff is great also.”

The 3 star DL’s most recent visit to Cal was on their Elite Junior Day earlier this month and the visit made a big impression on the talented junior as it was his first to campus with the new staff.

“My impressions on the visit to Cal was amazing,” Hodge said after the visit. “I like how big the networking there is and how Coach Tosh is going to run the program now with this new defensive staff. Cal is very big in my recruitment.”

As a junior for Grant, where he plays for former Cal defensive back star Syd’Quan Thompson, Hodge put up 41 tackles, 4 sacks and 7 TFLs in 11 games for the Pacers and was cited by 247 as the top edge player in the Under Armour Next Camp in Salt Lake City last spring.

An excellent student, Hodge holds a 3.7 GPA through his first 5 semesters of high school.

The Bears beat out Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College and more for Hodge’s services.