Remigio Finds a Home at Cal on Official Visit

4 star Mater Dei receiver Nikko Remigio has a new home away from home in Berkeley after spending a weekend with future and and former teammates on his official visit to Cal.

"It was excellent. It was a great time up there," said Remigio. "I think my biggest takeaway from the whole weekend was being able to spend time with the players and getting to dive into the playbook a little bit. 

"I'm ready to get up there."

The 5-10/170 receiver, who chose Cal over local USC and UCLA as well as Tennessee, Wisconsin and others has a ready-made group of friends already on campus with a Mater Dei crew of QB Chase Forrest, centeer Addison Ooms, receiver Matt Rocket and fullback Malik McMorris already on the Bears' roster.

Does that help increase Remigio's comfort level coming into the program?

"Oh yeah," said Remigio. "I think that's going to be one of my biggest supports out there, just having them to show me the ropes. It's always nice going somewhere where you know a few people. I think it's huge for me.

"Matt and a few of the other Mater Dei guys were saying that Coach Wilcox and the staff have totally changed the vibe up there as far as weeding out the negative energy and all. They also mentioned that Coach Wilcox and the whole staff really care a lot about the players and the direction they're going in life. They really admire that about them and so do I. I love the environment there."

Besides Wilcox, one of the other coaches that's made a big impression on Remigio is his future position coach, wide receivers coach Nick Edwards.

"Oh man, I think I couldn't have found a better wide receiver coach to help coach me at the next level," said Remigio. "We were breaking down the playbook and going through some film while I was there.

"I sat at dinner with him and some of the receivers, like Jeremiah Hawkins and the relationship was like there was a common respect but he was really cool with us, too. 

"I get the same vibe with (DB) Coach (Gerald) Alexander.

"My relationship with Coach Edwards has escalated and now it's time to get ready with my season over and me focused on Cal.

"We talked a lot of business but I find myself gravitating a lot towards Coach Edwards and what he has planned for me and the other receivers. 

"I'm excited to get coached by him in the future.

Remigio spent a lot of time with Campolindo athlete John Torchio on his visit, with both joking about the potential result if 2016 4A state champ and 2017 NorCal 4A finalist Campolindo and Mater Dei met on the field. Torchio predicted a 55-0 loss, with Remigio opining that it would be even worse for Campo.

"That came up a few times this past weekend," said Remigio, with a laugh.

"I saw John's film and he was huge player for his team. He's a really cool dude. He's someone I can see myself hanging out with in the future.

"I saw he got the offer. Hopefully he can make his decision soon and join us."

Remigio also spent a lot of time with Houston DE Christian Jones.

"He's a great guy," said Remigio. "His dad's super cool, too. 

"I think the reason I gravitated towards Christian a little bit is he reminds me of my cousin Tito. He has a really cool vibe to him. I really want to see him join the squad.

"It was a really cool group of guys up there. Even the commits that came in early are great guys. I talked to Chigi (Anusiem) a little bit when I was up there since he was hosting DJ."

One of the other coaches Remigio spent time with was new running backs coach Burl Toler, finding common ground with the former Bear receiver.

"I talked to Coach Toler, too," said Remiggio. "My nationalities are Filipino, black and white and he's actually Filipino and black so we were chopping it up about some stereotypical Filipino things and all that. He's super cool. I'm glad to see there he's there now."

Remigio signed in the early signing period and will be joining his 2018 teammates for summer bridge in June.