Cal Football

Bears Pick Up Another Grant Commit, 2026 OT Roger Vanderhoef

For the second day in a row, the Bears pick up a Grant HS recruit
By Jim McGill
January 24, 2026
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19 Comments
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Photo by X / Roger Vanderhoef

For the second day in a row, the Bears picked up a Grant Union High School commit, this one coming from giant 6-7/350 senior OT Roger Vanderhoef‍. 

The future Bear made a visit to Cal last weekend and was impressed with everything he saw on the trip to Berkeley.

“The coaches, honestly, what Coach Lupoi's building around there, and the staff he's bringing in,” Vanderhoef cited as some of the main reasons he committed to Cal.

“All their principles that they believe in, they're hard coaching, but they they're not just going to yell nonsense. They're always gonna be hard on me, but it's gonna be things that will help get me right.”

As for the strengths of his game, the newest Bear noted his agility and size combo are hard to beat.

"My ability to move in my size, there's not a lot of kids my size, but the kids anywhere near my size I don't think have the ability to move like I do in space."

Vanderhoef joins fellow 2026 OL commits Elisha Faamatuainu‍,‍ Esaiah Wong‍, Kamo'i Huihui-White‍ and Daniel McMorris‍ as incoming prep offensive linemen for the Bears.

The 2026 commit also had offers from Texas A&M, San Diego State and Sacramento State.

19 Comments
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2026 Cal football recruiting Esaiah Wong Elisha Faamatuainu Kamo'i Huihui-White Daniel McMorris Roger Vanderhoef Football Football Recruiting
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Bears Pick Up Another Grant Commit, 2026 OT Roger Vanderhoef

11,750 Views | 19 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by 82gradDLSdad
kc1121
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1:37p, 1/24/26
geez.. 6'8" 350 in HS?!?!?
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MinotStateBeav
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1:39p, 1/24/26
Why is he so tiny? Gotta get him at the training table!
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BearForceOne
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1:51p, 1/24/26
#GreatWallOfCalifornia

Go Bears!
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Big C
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2:51p, 1/24/26

Welcome to the Cal Family, Roger! We're super glad you are coming to Berkeley. GO BEARS!!!
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Nasal Mucus Goldenbear
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8:35p, 1/24/26

Quote:
85 inch wingspan



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TonyTiger
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11:48p, 1/24/26
Lol, day 1 starter, don't rush him just have him eliminate tight end skinny post over the middle. Still dont see why we got hm and sac state before us. I mean Alabama would at least let him walk on.
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ducktilldeath
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In reply to TonyTiger • 1:27a, 1/25/26
TonyTiger said:
Lol, day 1 starter, don't rush him just have him eliminate tight end skinny post over the middle. Still dont see why we got hm and sac state before us. I mean Alabama would at least let him walk on.

If you think a low 3 star 380lb true freshman is going to be a day one starter, that means you have perhaps the worst OL in the entire country.
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TonyTiger
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In reply to ducktilldeath • 3:29a, 1/25/26
ducktilldeath said:
TonyTiger said:
Lol, day 1 starter, don't rush him just have him eliminate tight end skinny post over the middle. Still dont see why we got hm and sac state before us. I mean Alabama would at least let him walk on.

If you think a low 3 star 380lb true freshman is going to be a day one starter, that means you have perhaps the worst OL in the entire country.

So freshman 380lb (Actually 350) fit linemen cant be day 1 staters at Cal?
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wifeisafurd
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In reply to TonyTiger • 7:59a, 1/25/26
TonyTiger said:
ducktilldeath said:
TonyTiger said:
Lol, day 1 starter, don't rush him just have him eliminate tight end skinny post over the middle. Still dont see why we got hm and sac state before us. I mean Alabama would at least let him walk on.

If you think a low 3 star 380lb true freshman is going to be a day one starter, that means you have perhaps the worst OL in the entire country.

So freshman 380lb (Actually 350) fit linemen cant be day 1 staters at Cal?

They can be, but my guess is Cal plans to make him quicker with a reed shirt year of training, and he is down to 325 to 335lbs.

Offers from a top tier SEC school, SDSU and Sac State is quite a variety of schools.
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TonyTiger
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10:37a, 1/25/26
Why would you want to trim him down he states his main strength is his quickness for his size. Why not add more weight and maintain his quickness thus a more dominant player, that is if his playing defense on offense i could see you wanting him as quick as could be for pulling.
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ducktilldeath
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In reply to TonyTiger • 3:27p, 1/25/26
TonyTiger said:
ducktilldeath said:
TonyTiger said:
Lol, day 1 starter, don't rush him just have him eliminate tight end skinny post over the middle. Still dont see why we got hm and sac state before us. I mean Alabama would at least let him walk on.

If you think a low 3 star 380lb true freshman is going to be a day one starter, that means you have perhaps the worst OL in the entire country.

So freshman 380lb (Actually 350) fit linemen cant be day 1 staters at Cal?

You don't know anything about football if you think that's even close to likely.
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Big C
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In reply to TonyTiger • 9:05a, 1/26/26
TonyTiger said:
Why would you want to trim him down he states his main strength is his quickness for his size. Why not add more weight and maintain his quickness thus a more dominant player, that is if his playing defense on offense i could see you wanting him as quick as could be for pulling.

Are you kidding around here?
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HearstMining
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In reply to TonyTiger • 10:00a, 1/26/26
TonyTiger said:
Why would you want to trim him down he states his main strength is his quickness for his size. Why not add more weight and maintain his quickness thus a more dominant player, that is if his playing defense on offense i could see you wanting him as quick as could be for pulling.

I don't believe a HS kid weighing 350 lb doesn't have a lot of excess fat. Remember Vilimi Moala, who was a 5* ranked HS lineman from Grant in Sacramento and showed up at Cal weighing ~375lb or something? They had to put him on a weight loss program to become fit enough for college football. Oh, and he died at 30 years-old.

I don't care if this kid himself thinks he's quick. He obviously has no idea how quick major college linemen are.
I hope he works out for Cal, but the smartest thing for him is to get the Cal S&C staff to give him a weight loss plan now, along with a strength program.
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Bobodeluxe
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In reply to HearstMining • 12:11p, 1/26/26
HearstMining said:
TonyTiger said:
Why would you want to trim him down he states his main strength is his quickness for his size. Why not add more weight and maintain his quickness thus a more dominant player, that is if his playing defense on offense i could see you wanting him as quick as could be for pulling.

I don't believe a HS kid weighing 350 lb doesn't have a lot of excess fat. Remember Vilimi Moala, who was a 5* ranked HS lineman from Grant in Sacramento and showed up at Cal weighing ~375lb or something? They had to put him on a weight loss program to become fit enough for college football. Oh, and he died at 30 years-old.

I don't care if this kid himself thinks he's quick. He obviously has no idea how quick major college linemen are.
I hope he works out for Cal, but the smartest thing for him is to get the Cal S&C staff to give him a weight loss plan now, along with a strength program.

Some here would put him on a raw red meat and beef tallow diet to get even bigger. Knowledge is overrated.
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MinotStateBeav
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1:40p, 1/26/26
Looking at the picture of the kid, he carries his weight very well, he's an athletic big guy that looks like he has room to shape his body into more muscle. Football coaches will want to transform him from a flabby athletic big guy to a toned athletic big guy that gets stronger and doesn't lose his agility. Having a little chub in the belly isn't a big deal, and after his football career is over its pretty easy to lose that weight.
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82gradDLSdad
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In reply to HearstMining • 1:53p, 1/26/26
HearstMining said:
TonyTiger said:
Why would you want to trim him down he states his main strength is his quickness for his size. Why not add more weight and maintain his quickness thus a more dominant player, that is if his playing defense on offense i could see you wanting him as quick as could be for pulling.

I don't believe a HS kid weighing 350 lb doesn't have a lot of excess fat. Remember Vilimi Moala, who was a 5* ranked HS lineman from Grant in Sacramento and showed up at Cal weighing ~375lb or something? They had to put him on a weight loss program to become fit enough for college football. Oh, and he died at 30 years-old.

I don't care if this kid himself thinks he's quick. He obviously has no idea how quick major college linemen are.
I hope he works out for Cal, but the smartest thing for him is to get the Cal S&C staff to give him a weight loss plan now, along with a strength program.


Look up Kevin Gogan if you don't remember him. I only know of him because he went to my highschool. He was a monster and absolutely horrible in football and basketball in highschool. I was shocked when UW gave him a scholarship. He went on to star there and star for the Cowboys and 49ers. I don't know exactly what coaches look for in gigantic big guys but having seen this kid in highschool he shocked me with how good he was in college and pros. I'm sure there are many others that shocked bot good and bad.
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MinotStateBeav
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In reply to 82gradDLSdad • 5:23p, 1/26/26
82gradDLSdad said:
HearstMining said:
TonyTiger said:
Why would you want to trim him down he states his main strength is his quickness for his size. Why not add more weight and maintain his quickness thus a more dominant player, that is if his playing defense on offense i could see you wanting him as quick as could be for pulling.

I don't believe a HS kid weighing 350 lb doesn't have a lot of excess fat. Remember Vilimi Moala, who was a 5* ranked HS lineman from Grant in Sacramento and showed up at Cal weighing ~375lb or something? They had to put him on a weight loss program to become fit enough for college football. Oh, and he died at 30 years-old.

I don't care if this kid himself thinks he's quick. He obviously has no idea how quick major college linemen are.
I hope he works out for Cal, but the smartest thing for him is to get the Cal S&C staff to give him a weight loss plan now, along with a strength program.


Look up Kevin Gogan if you don't remember him. I only know of him because he went to my highschool. He was a monster and absolutely horrible in football and basketball in highschool. I was shocked when UW gave him a scholarship. He went on to star there and star for the Cowboys and 49ers. I don't know exactly what coaches look for in gigantic big guys but having seen this kid in highschool he shocked me with how good he was in college and pros. I'm sure there are many others that shocked bot good and bad.

Quick feet and athleticism is the 2 biggest traits
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Goobear
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6:31p, 1/26/26
All I went through this with my son. 99.99% of recruited linemen need a year or two to get strength, knowledge to play with the speed college football requires. Most redshirt the first year. Then in year two they get some reps, if they are good they start in year 3 and start in year 4 and start in year 5. This was the trajectory of my son. He competed in year 2 for starting job but was likely too inconsistent to play. He was a back up in year 1 right away which is rare and backup in year 2. Rigsbee was his mentor.
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82gradDLSdad
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In reply to MinotStateBeav • 6:43p, 1/26/26
MinotStateBeav said:
82gradDLSdad said:
HearstMining said:
TonyTiger said:
Why would you want to trim him down he states his main strength is his quickness for his size. Why not add more weight and maintain his quickness thus a more dominant player, that is if his playing defense on offense i could see you wanting him as quick as could be for pulling.

I don't believe a HS kid weighing 350 lb doesn't have a lot of excess fat. Remember Vilimi Moala, who was a 5* ranked HS lineman from Grant in Sacramento and showed up at Cal weighing ~375lb or something? They had to put him on a weight loss program to become fit enough for college football. Oh, and he died at 30 years-old.

I don't care if this kid himself thinks he's quick. He obviously has no idea how quick major college linemen are.
I hope he works out for Cal, but the smartest thing for him is to get the Cal S&C staff to give him a weight loss plan now, along with a strength program.


Look up Kevin Gogan if you don't remember him. I only know of him because he went to my highschool. He was a monster and absolutely horrible in football and basketball in highschool. I was shocked when UW gave him a scholarship. He went on to star there and star for the Cowboys and 49ers. I don't know exactly what coaches look for in gigantic big guys but having seen this kid in highschool he shocked me with how good he was in college and pros. I'm sure there are many others that shocked bot good and bad.

Quick feet and athleticism is the 2 biggest traits


Kevin had cement blocks for feet in highschool. I'm not kidding.
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