Check in on the depth chart battles post the halfway mark of Fall camp
This follows the series of articles we did prior to the start of Fall Camp on the most competitive position groupsTHE OFFENSIVE LINE:The group appears set though they mixed and matched a lot over the first 8 practices. The surprises here are in the two deeps:From left to right, the 2nd team OL appears to be: Kahlee Tafai, Mykeal Rabess, Ashton Rivera. Ben Howard and Mike Klisiewicz The one wild car is Jacob Arop who has been practicing for the past week and has a high celling. He's a tackle and could push Kahlee Tafai into the top IOL backup. Howard and Klisiewicz have been nice surprises. Lots of kudos from the staff and observers (such as Troy Auzenne) about the true Freshman class, in particular Daniel McMorris THE OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS:Solomon Williams and Jayden Wayne have seemingly cemented their starting roles. Injuries to Justin Beadles and Joshua Pierce have muddled things behind them with Odera Okaka standing out having a nice camp and Emmanuel Okoye getting in some good pass rush reps. Recently, Cal has moved Jonathan McKinley around getting him reps both inside and out and I wouldn't be shocked to see him get some snaps vs UCLA on the outside. Serigne Tounkara is almost 100% back and is practicing so he could find his way onto the depth chart as well.I suspect Pierce will be the next player back healthyTHE INSIDE LINEBACKERS:This one is hard to evaluate as a lot of players having get reps with the first team this camp. I suspect four players will see significant snaps in the opener vs. UCLA. The surprise here is Mckinley, who started the scrimmage and looked solid. He's so big and athletic and seems to play with a maturity and aggressiveness beyond the normal Freshman. Perhaps the most consistent player here has been AJ Tuitele. Despite his not being as big, he's aggressive and physical and his pass coverage skills are special. Tristan Jernigan has also played well and he'd be my odds on favorite to start alongside Tuitele. Aaron Hampton will be somewhere in the rotation though he hasn't stood out as much as others and Kamar Mothudi has been in and out of practices with a minor injury. THE SECONDARY:Even less seems settled here than at ILB. Ricky Fletcher will start at one CB position and right now Kingston Lopa and Isaiah Crosby seem set to start at Safety. The NB and other CB position seem open with Quimari Shemwell and Cameron Sidney having the edge in the slot and a three way battle between Marquis Groves-Killebrew . Daniel Harris on the outside. This room is deep as Niles Davis, Aiden Manutai, Michael Hurst Jr and Khamani Hudson have all played well and will provide depth across the secondary. My sense is that if Groves can get fully healthy (he's been banged up), he and Shemwell will start (on the outside and at NB respectively) I expect to see some rotation at Safety and the NB/OCB positions vs UCLA
12 days ago by
Jim McGill
After taking their first day off of Fall Camp, the Bears were back at it today with another perfect weather day in the high 60s.The ACC Huddle Road Trip crew was there and Jaron put on a show for them with a really sharp practice, despite not having some of his usual targets with Strong, Hamper and Boscia held out and running bleachers. Hopefully nothing serious to keep them out much more. It wasn't the best day for the backups. Jackson Brousseau and QB3 EJ Caminong have had their moments but need to display more consistency and throw less INTs to be more viable backups.RS frosh WR Meyer Swinney was one of the main recipients of the extra playing time availability and probably had the most catches of practice. He's a long, sure-handed receiver who gives a deep unit even more quality depth. Chase Hendricks continues to look like a potentially elite target. Cooper Perry, Trevor Rogers, Kai Meza and Quaron Adams all had nice grabs along with TE Dorian Thomas.RB Carter Vargas looked elite out there, running with burst and elusiveness and will be a big weapon in the passing game. They've been running Adam Mohammed up the middle a lot till today but he was able to pick up some bigger gains outside the tackle today and in the passing game. RB3 Ashten Emory continues to play well and he's a nice passing target out of the backfield, too. RB4 Anthony League has shown much more quickness and burst this year vs last and he can shine if he gets his chance. The OL continued to play 1st teamers Fred Williams and Tyson Ruffins with 2nd teamers Ashton Rivera, Ben Howard and Mike Klisiewicz at C, RG and RT and 2nd teamers Kahlee Tafai and Mykeal Rabess at LT and LG (each played the reverse positions mostly prior to today) with starters Bastian Swinney (C), Sioape Vatikani (RG) and Jimothy Lewis (RT).On defense, edge Solomon Williams continues to impress and ILB Tristan Jernigan had some good reps. At DB, corner Jae'on Young had his best practice and looks to push Marquis Groves-Killebrew to start opposite Ricky Fletcher. Likely safety starter Kingston Lopa was held out as the team helped the Oregon transfer grieve the loss of his father by taking a knee and praying for him as a team after practice.Tomorrow will have the first media availability of the fall with WR coach Ike Hilliard and TE coach Steve Haunga on the mic.@JaronKeawe puts on a display in peactice in today's Fall Camp day five for the ACC Road Trip crew https://t.co/laLTliLBFa pic.twitter.com/fd9Qe2No20— Jim McGill (@BearInsider_com) August 10, 2026
dialed.#GoBears pic.twitter.com/cVmO1PGRwt— Cal Football (@CalFootball) August 11, 2026
14 days ago by
Jim McGill
Many of you have probably seen that we've highlighted how the staff has chosen to season the depth on offense this season by mixing a consistent group of starters and backups together, practicing together on both sides of the field.On the line, that's played out with JKS on the South half of the field playing with the left side of his line - Big Fred at LT, Ruffins at OG and Swinney at center. The right side has pretty consistently featured Mike Klisiewicz at RT and Ben Howard at RG.On the North side of the field with QB2 Jackson Brousseau, the other two starting OL - RT Jimothy Lewis and RG Vatikani have teamed with LT Mykeal Rabess, RG Kahlee Tafai and C Ashton Rivera.Hard to get a feel for the first team as a unit since they haven't fully played together but in 1x1s and 11x11s, all the starters have excelled, particularly Big Fred and Ruffins. The backups have gotten valuable experience working with some OL starters and seem to be developing pretty well, especially Klisiewicz and Howard so far in the first week.Will be interesting to see the starters all play together and how they function as a unit as the rest of the offense looks ready to bust out if the OL does it's part this season.
Some inside info on the Offensive Line
I got some grease on how one of, if not the most pivotal, position group on the field is coming together.Bryan Harsin vs. Jordan Sommerville evolution will have two big impacts on the OL. Harsin had a system that he had used to great success prior to Cal and every Offensive position coach had to adapt to that system. It was very regimented. Sommerville is more collaborative and wants to have very position coach give input on what will best set up their charges for success. Secondly, the protection schemes under Sommerville will reflect what the OL personnel does best. Rather than what the system proscribesThe Cal staff believes Frederick Williams III made a big jump this Spring and is playing at a much higher level than he did in 2025. They are confident Jimothy Lewis is a future NFL player and simply a "dude". However, those guys need more snaps and experience and the Bears will lean on their hugely experienced interior OL for leadershipThere's a belief that Vaikani's inconsistency had a lot to do with his carrying too much weight last year. They've revamped his nutrition plan, his BMI is much improved and they saw him have his best Spring ever at Cal. Swinney has cemented himself as the starting Center. He played really well at the end of the year last year, is comfortable at Center and snapping the ball and his confidence is sky high. Ruffins is the bell cow of that interior groupThey believe this group can be a very good run blocking line and they want to lean into that. Williams is likely a better run blocker than pass protector right now. My sense is that early in the season, they will utilize protections to help the tackles on obvious passing downs.Jacob Arop looks like the next Tackle up as he's recovered/recovering from an injury and Kahlee Tafai will push hard for snaps on the interiorThey really like Mike Klisiewicz (perhaps a year away) and think the 2026 incoming OL class is the best they've had in many years
The Most Competitive Position Groups Entering Fall Camp - Interior OL
We go deep on five areas of the roster where the battle for playing time will be fierce. Our third analysis focuses on the interior offensive line, where a transfer and a now-healthy transfer from 2025 plan to push the returning starters.
