Depth Chart Released: Guard Williams Out for Year

As the Bears concluded fall camp with Saturday’s practice they released the first official depth chart, with one major surprise: no Gentle Williams.

Coach Justin Wilcox announced that the presumptive starting left guard (64 above) has sustained a lower body injury and will be out for the year.  Wilcox made the announcement following Saturday’s practice.

Redshirt freshman Matt Cindric becomes the starting left guard. Williams had not been practicing since earlier in the week, but the decision became official Saturdays. 

“It’s really sad for Gentle,”  WIlcox said. “He’s worked really really hard. We are going to support him until he’s back with us again. ...Gentle is a guy who’s worked hard and put himself into contention to be a starter. It’s unfortunate but that’s part of the game. The 6-3, 290-pound redshirt junior has at least one year of eligibility after this one. He could appeal for a sixth year and chances are pretty good it would be granted.

Williams injury leaves the offensive line with just four letter-winners. Cindric was around last year and got quite a few practice reps, even if many of them were on the scout team. But the backups are now woefully inexperienced and the Bears can ill afford another major injury to that unit.

As expected Chase Garbers is the starting quarterback. Behind him things are interesting.  Devon Modster and Robby Rowell are listed as a virtual equal at No. 2. Wilcox said this does not mean Modster will be even eligible to play in the season opener next Saturday. But Wilcox, not wanting to give UC Davis any hint of the Bears’ plans, did not elaborate on Modster’s status.

“If he is not eligible for the rest of the season we will let you know,” Wilcox said, refusing to comment further. “It doesn’t serve the player or our program.”

Garbers status was a virtual lock since the beginning of camp. 

“He’s earned it,” Wilcox said, “It was not by default at all. It was very competitive. Chase has had a really good offseason, Really proud of the way he handled himself. He worked on and off the field..I’m excited for him.”

Rowell is ahead of freshman Spencer Brasch. JC transfer Jack Newman is not on the depth chart.

Neither are the two experienced nose guards Siu Fuimaono and Aaron Maldonado, who have not practiced since fall camp started. “We don’t expect them back for the (UC Davis)  game. I can’t talk a lot about that. We are hoping they will return but right now we are coaching the guys that are here.” 

Luc Bequette is the starting nose guard on the chart, followed by Brett Johnson and Erick Nisch. Lone Toailoa and Zeandae Johnson are the starting defensive ends with Bequette inside. 

The starting wide re0ceivers are senior Jordan Duncan (no surprise) and redshirt sophomore Ricky Wallker III (a mild surprise). Nikko Remigio is the slot receiver. The coaches said that those three will have plenty of backups as the Bears may play as many as eight receivers/slots in the opener.

McCallen Castles is listed as the starting tight end. Gavin Reinwald, Jake Tonges and Collin Moore follow on the depth chart. As many as three of them could be on the field at the same time. 

At the end of practice the team broke out in a rousing cheer. After some prodding Wilcox admitted that the cheers were for the announcement that three former walk-ons had been awarded scholarships. 

He did not reveal the names, letting them break the news on social media. Turns out it was Walker, Tonges and outside linebacker Ben Hawk Schrider. 

Greg Thomas held off Gabe Siemiec for the placekicking job. “It’s been good, it’s been fun,” he said. He said he welcomed the competition. “It'/s a good thing, it makes everyone better, they just step up their game a little bit."

Redshirt freshman Slater Zellers is the new long snapper, replacing Alonzo Vera who graduated. “Slater is a great snapper,” Thomas said. “It's just a matter of getting the timing down. Every snapper is going to be a little bit different.”

The depth chart:

2019 Cal Football Depth Chart – Offense (as of August 24) 
 NO NAME POS HT WT YR EXP HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOLS)

LEFT TACKLE

 74 Will Craig OL 6-5 290 So. 1L Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay HS)

 76 Henry Bazakas OL 6-6 315 Sr. SQ Berkeley, CA (Berkeley HS) 

 LEFT GUARD (LG)

 73 Matthew Cindric OL 6-4 295 Fr.* RS Sammamish, WA (Skyline HS)

 70 Poutasi Poutasi OL 6-4 340 So.* SQ Las Vegas, NV (Desert Pines HS) 
 CENTER (C)

 53 Michael Saffell OL 6-2 300 Jr. 2L Huntington Beach, CA (Edison HS)

 73 Matthew Cindric OL 6-4 295 Fr.* RS Sammamish, WA (Skyline HS)

 56 Jack Beeman OL 6-4 290 So.* RS Loomis, CA (Del Oro HS) 
 RIGHT GUARD (RG)

 61 Valentino Daltoso OL 6-4 300 Jr.* 2L Boise, ID (Oregon/Boise HS)

 72 McKade Mettauer OL 6-4 285 Fr. HS The Woodlands, TX (The Woodlands HS) 
 RIGHT TACKLE (RT)

 71 Jake Curhan OL 6-6 335 Jr.* 2L Larkspur, CA (Redwood HS)

 78 Brandon Mello OL 6-6 295 Fr.* RS Clayton, CA (Clayton Valley Charter HS) 
 WIDE RECEIVER (WR) 

2 Jordan Duncan WR 6-1 205 Sr. 3L Hatiesburg, MS (Oak Grove HS)

 11 Kekoa Crawford WR 6-1 190 Jr.* TR Altadena, CA (Glendale CC/Michigan/Santa Margarita Catholic HS)

 14 Monroe Young WR 6-0 200 Fr.* RS Las Cruces, NM (Onate HS) 

 SLOT (SL)

 4 Nikko Remigio WR 5-10 185 So. 1L Orange, CA (Mater Dei HS)

 10 Jeremiah Hawkins WR 5-8 180 Jr. 2L Buena Park, CA (Buena Park HS) 
 TIGHT END (TE)

 82 McCallan Castles TE 6-5 235 Fr.* RS South Lake Tahoe, CA (South Tahoe HS)

 84 Gavin Reinwald TE 6-3 235 So.* 1L Elk Grove, CA (Elk Grove HS)

 85 Jake Tonges TE 6-5 230 So.* 1L Los Gatos, CA (Los Gatos HS)

 16 Collin Moore TE 6-4 250 So.* 1L Novato, CA (San Marin HS)

 49 Nick Alftin TE 6-5 235 Fr.* RS Woodside, CA (Archbisop Mitty HS) 
 WIDE RECEIVER (WR)

 21 Ricky Walker III WR 5-11 190 So.* 1L Oakland, CA (San Leandro HS)

 17 Makai Polk WR 6-3 185 Fr. HS Richmond, CA (El Cerrito HS/Dorsey HS)

 80 Trevon Clark WR 6-4 180 Jr. JC Victorville, CA (El Camino College/Silverado HS)  

QUARTERBACK (QB)

 7 Chase Garbers QB 6-2 205 So.* 1L Newport Beach, CA (Corona del Mar HS)

 6 Devon Modster QB 6-2 210 Jr.* TR Mission Viejo, CA (Palomar College/UCLA/Tesoro HS)

- or - 15 Robby Rowell QB 6-2 220 Fr.* RS Lafayette, CA (Acalanes HS)

 13 Spencer Brasch QB 6-4 180 Fr. HS Gilbert, AZ (Higley HS)  

RUNNING BACK (RB)

 34 Christopher Brown Jr. RB 6-1 230 So. 1L Oceanside, CA (El Camino HS)

 23 Marcel Dancy RB 5-10 195 Jr.* RS Oakland, CA (Laney College/West HS)

 26 DeShawn Collins RB 5-10 195 Jr.* JC Sacramento, CA (City College of San Francisco/Grant HS)

 9 Alex Netherda RB 6-0 215 Sr.* 3L Santa Rosa, CA (Maria Carrillo HS)

*Has used redshirt season prior to 2019   
2019 Cal Football Depth Chart – Defense (as of August 24)

DEFENSIVE END (DE)  NO NAME POS HT WT YR EXP HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOLS)

55 Lone Toailoa DE/DT 6-2 290 Sr.* 1L Auckland, New Zealand (Mt. San Antonio College/Kelston Boys’ HS)

 47 JH Tevis DE/DT 6-3 265 Fr.* RS Piedmont, CA (Menlo School) 
 NOSE GUARD (NG)

 93 Luc Bequette NG/DT 6-2 290 Sr.* 3L Little Rock, AZ (Catholic HS)

 90 Brett Johnson NG/DT 6-5 285 Fr. HS Phoenix, AZ (Desert Vista HS)

 68 Erick Nisich NG/DT 6-4 290 Fr.* RS Goleta, CA (Dos Pueblos HS)

 DEFENSIVE END (DE)  

44 Zeandae Johnson DE/DT 6-4 290 Sr.* 2L Fresno, CA (Central HS)

 92 Gabriel Cherry DE/DT 6-5 280 So.* SQ Bakersfield, CA (Centennial HS)

- or - 37 Braxten Croteau DE/OLB 6-5 240 Fr. HS Peoria, AZ (Liberty HS)  

  OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (OLB)

 19 Cameron Goode OLB 6-3 235 Jr.* 1L Spring, TX (Klein Collins HS)

 98 Ben Hawk Schrider OLB/DE 6-3 240 Sr. TR Berkeley, CA (Tennessee-Chattanooga/Saint Mary’s College HS)

 48 Orin Patu OLB 6-4 220 Fr. HS Seattle, WA (Rainier Beach HS)  
 INSIDE LINEBACKER (ILB)

 8 Kuony Deng ILB 6-6 220 Jr.* TR Aldie, VA (Independence CC/Virginia Military Institute/John Champe HS)

 42 Colt Doughty ILB 6-1 230 Sr. 1L Los Gatos, CA (College of San Mateo/Los Gatos HS)

 53 Tommy Vanis ILB 6-1 215 Fr.* RS Los Angeles, CA (Loyola HS)

 
 INSIDE LINEBACKER (ILB)

 89 Evan Weaver ILB 6-3 235 Sr. 3L Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)

 54 Evan Tattersall ILB 6-2 235 Fr.* RS Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay HS)

 51 Blake Antzoulatos ILB 6-2 220 Fr. HS Simi Valley, CA (Chaminade College Prep)

- or - 50 Kyle Smith  ILB 6-3 215 Fr. HS Los Gatos, CA (Los Gatos HS)  
 OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (OLB)

 96 Tevin Paul OLB/DE 6-4 260 Jr.* 2L Austin, TX (Lake Travis HS)

 91 Chinedu Udeogu OLB/DE 6-4 270 Jr.* 2L Inverness, IL (Georgetown Prep)

- or - 13 Joseph Ogunbanjo OLB 6-3 240 So. 1L Houston, TX (Alif Taylor HS)  
 CORNERBACK (CB)  

24 Camryn Bynum CB 6-0 195 Jr.* 2L Corona, CA (Centennial HS)

 7 Chigozie Anusiem CB 6-1 190 Fr.* RS La Habra, CA (Sonora HS)

 18 Branden Smith CB/NB 5-10 170 So.* 1L Lancaster, CA (Paraclete HS)

SAFETY (S)

 27 Ashtyn Davis S 6-1 200 Sr.* 3L Santa Cruz, CA (Santa Cruz HS)

 5 Trey Turner III S 6-1 185 Sr.* 3L Mobile, AL (Murphy HS) 
 SAFETY (S)

 6 Jaylinn Hawkins S 6-2 210 Sr.* 3L Buena Park, CA (Buena Park HS)

 32 Daniel Scott S 6-2 195 So.* 1L Pasadena, CA (St. Francis HS)

 26 Craig Woodson S 6-0 190 Fr. HS Grand Prairie, TX (South Grand Prairie HS) 
 CORNERBACK (CB)

 3 Elijah Hicks CB 5-11 195 Jr. 2L Long Beach, CA (La Mirada HS/St. John Bosco HS)

 20 Josh Drayden CB/NB 5-10 180 Sr. 3L DeSoto, TX (Bishop Dunne HS)

  18 Branden Smith CB/NB 5-10 170 So.* 1L Lancaster, CA (Paraclete HS) 
 NICKELBACK (NB)

 22 Traveon Beck NB/CB 5-9 165 Sr. 3L Paramount, CA (St. John Bosco HS)

 20 Josh Drayden CB/NB 5-10 180 Sr. 3L DeSoto, TX (Bishop Dunne HS)

- or - 18 Branden Smith CB/NB 5-10 170 So.* 1L Lancaster, CA (Paraclete HS)

 43 Deon White NB 6-4 215 Sr. 1L Stockton, CA (College of San Mateo/Chavez HS)

*Has used redshirt season prior to 2019 
 
 
 
 
  
2019 Cal Football Depth Chart – Specialists (as of August 24) 
 PLACEKICKER (PK)

 NO NAME POS HT WT YR EXP HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOLS)

 39 Greg Thomas PK 5-9 165 Sr.* 1L Petaluma, CA (City College of San Francisco/Arizona State/Petaluma HS)

 46 Gabe Siemieniec PK 6-1 215 Jr.* 1L Caledon, Ontario, Canada (Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School) 
 KICKOFF (KO)

  46 Gabe Siemieniec PK 6-1 215 Jr.* 1L Caledon, Ontario, Canada (Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School)

 39 Greg Thomas PK 5-9 165 Sr.* 1L Petaluma, CA (City College of San Francisco/Arizona State/Petaluma HS) 

 PUNTER (P)

 37 Steven Coutts P 6-4 215 Sr.* 1L Brisbane, Australia (Louisiana/University of Queensland/Citipointe Christian College)

 30 Dario Longhetto P/PK 6-0 170 Fr.* RS Newbury Park, CA (Bridgton Academy/Newbury Park HS)

 
 LONG SNAPPER (LS)

  45 Slater Zellers LS 6-1 235 Fr.* RS Scottsdale, AZ (Notre Dame Prep)  

32 JJ Lindsay LS 6-1 185 Fr. HS Walnut Creek, CA (Las Lomas HS) 

 HOLDER (HOLD)

 37 Steven Coutts P 6-4 215 Sr.* 1L Brisbane, Australia (Louisiana/University of Queensland/Citipointe Christian College)

 30 Dario Longhetto P/PK 6-0 170 Fr.* RS Newbury Park, CA (Bridgton Academy/Newbury Park HS) 
 KICK RETURNER (KR)

 27 Ashtyn Davis S 6-1 200 Sr.* 3L Santa Cruz, CA (Santa Cruz HS)  

10 Jeremiah Hawkins WR 5-8 180 Jr. 2L Buena Park, CA (Buena Park HS) 
 PUNT RETURNER (PR)

 4 Nikko Remigio WR 5-10 185 So. 1L Orange, CA (Mater Dei HS)

 6 Jaylinn Hawkins S 6-2 210 Sr.* 3L Buena Park, CA (Buena Park HS)

 22 Traveon Beck NB/CB 5-9 165 Sr. 3L Paramount, CA (St. John Bosco HS