"Help!"
Cal is apparently content to swimming in the MWC recruiting pool. So, I ask why all the consternation aimed at me when I mention my tongue-in-cheek jest as to why doesn't Cal go whole-hog and take a running dive off the springboard into that MWC pool, especially when stellar recruits seem to prefer the waters of the Power 5 pool instead?
I imagine many BI readers, particularly the Premium Board members, are thinking, "What the hell is Blueblood talking about now?" The following may help answer such a query for most of you but may not for the truly obtuse, like oh I'll be nice and won't mention any specific cyber-handles.
First, we all know that Cal's recruits are generally rated *** players. This is okay if a consistent 7-6 records are the ultimate goals. For me, this isn't the case.
Next, let's take a look at the current 16 recruits that make up the Bears' 2020 recruiting class. This is the third recruiting class for which head coach Wilcox is fully responsible for, I believe.
I list the total offers (which include the one from Cal) that each player received, then out of that number the total from MWC schools.
DB Paster - 8 offers, 3 from MWC (Fresno St., Nevada, San Jose St.)
RB Moore - 8 offers, 5 from MWC (Colorado St., Nevada, San Diego St., UNLV, Utah St.)
TE Ballungay - 9 offers, 5 from MWC (Fresno, St., UNLV, Utah St., San Diego St., Wyoming) #
DB Butler - 8 offers, 5 from MWC (Boise St., Colorado St., Hawaii, San Jose St., UNLV)
RB Street -13 offers, 5 from MWC (Colorado St, Nevada, San Jose St., Utah St., Wyoming) #
DE Aguilar - 10 offers, 3 from MWC (Utah St., New Mexico, Fresno St.) #
TE Muller - 2 offers, 1 from MWC (Utah St.)
DT McKenzie -10 offers, 4 from MWC (Boise St., Hawaii, San Jose St., UNLV) #
LB Losefa - 7 offers, none from MWC #
QB Johnson - 2 offers, none from MWC
WR Christakos - 21 offers, 3 from MWC (Air Force, UNLV, San Diego St.)
WR Hunter - 8 offers, 5 from MWC (Fresno St., Hawaii, Nevada, UNLV, San Jose St.)
WR Filkins -13 offers, 2 from MWC (Utah St., Nevada) #
LB Alfieri - 5 offers, 1 from MW (Air Force) #
DB Young 8 offers, 1 from MWC (UNLV)
OL Johnson 6 offers, 3 from MWC (Fresno St., Utah St., San Jose St.) #
# Indicates offer from Oregon State, that is, not a success-oriented endorsement.
Again, we all know that Cal's defense recruiting has been fairly adequate so far. But, I believe that for Cal to go anywhere (i.e., conference championships, Rose Bowls, or even an occasional Holiday Bowl bid) the Bears' offense will have to improve too. I don't see any game changers among the offensive recruits (in bold above). If there is one, he is well hidden.
Sonny has already shown what one dimensional recruiting gets us. Cal will have to learn how to compete for recruits against the likes of the Ducks, UDub, the furds, and even the Trojans, not Utah State or Oregon State.