Cal Football 2020 Recruiting Class Breakdown

On early signing day on Wednesday, head coach Justin Wilcox talked about the Bears’ 2020 signees, fielding questions from the local media.

"We're pleased with this class," said Wilcox. "We felt like we were able to successfully identify and meet our needs in this class by signing a group of student-athletes that show tremendous potential in football program both on and off the field."

One of the elements Wilcox lauded was the amount of players coming from winning programs. He’s often noted that the mentality of expecting to win that players from successful programs bring to the next level is critical in building a winning culture and setting expectations for the program. The Bears are bringing in players who won a total of 42 conference, district or section titles between them.

"It's critical that winning is important to the student-athletes we bring into our program," said Wilcox. "Winning state and conference titles in high school does not guarantee winning at the next level but student-athletes that understand what it takes to win have a better chance of building upon their foundation to match or beat that success at Cal."

Offense

Quarterbacks

The Bears signed a pair of quarterbacks to bolster their thin depth behind center. The first to commit was 6-1/195 Hart-Newhall QB Zach Johnson‍. As a senior, Johnson was named Foothill League Offensive Player of the Year, completing 221-of-371 passes (59.6%) for 2788 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for a 92.7 quarterback rating while adding 246 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He’ll follow in the footsteps of former Hart/Cal QB greats Joe Kapp and Kyle Boller, heading to Cal this summer.

“Zach is an accurate passer with a mature, steady presence both on and off the field,” said Wilcox. “He has a quick release, can produce from both the pocket and when throwing on the move, and shows off his playmaking skills when the play breaks down. He was impressive when we saw him throw live and that carries a lot of weight.”

6-1/185 Calabasas QB Jaden Casey‍ committed early to former Cal head coach Jeff Tedford and Fresno State. The Bears continued to build a relationship with Casey throughout the process and when he became open to a flip, the Bears were there all along and garnered his commitment.

“Jaden will arrive as a mid-year enrollee and we are very excited to have him,” said Wilcox. “He’s an athletic passer with a versatile skill set and can distribute the ball all around the field. He’s accurate, mobile, and can throw from different angles and platforms. He has a point guard feel when he’s out there.”

Running Backs

The Bears also picked up a pair of running backs. First to commit was Bishop Amat RB Damien Moore‍. As a senior, the 5-10/210 Moore earned Mission League MVP honors, rushing for 1213 yards and 17 touchdowns for a Hart squad the finished 9-2 overall and 5-0 in league games to win the conference for the second consecutive season.

“Damien impressed us with his ability to overcome adversity after missing most of the 2018 season. He played well as a sophomore and even better as a senior. He’s a talented runner with natural vision and power. He’s always getting positive yards and that’s a great skill to add to our running back room.”

4 star JSerra running back Chris Street‍ was next, committing to Cal over the summer. Missing much of his senior season with a leg injury, the 5-9/195 Street posted two-year varsity totals of 1889 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground on 331 carries, while adding 19 receptions for 277 yards and three touchdowns to total 2166 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns overall.

““Chris is a natural, sudden runner with instincts and awareness for the position. He’s explosive with quick, light feet and runs with good toughness. He understands what it takes to compete at a high level and will bring a jolt of electricity when he arrives.”

Wide Receivers

The Bears took a large group of wide receivers to bolster their depth at the position. The first to commit was Central East (Fresno, CA) High School WR Jeremiah Hunter‍. The 6-2/180 4 star receiver had a big senior season, including a monster game in Central East’s victory over Steele Canyon in the state championship game.  in his senior season, Hunter had 72 receptions for 1070 yards and 15 touchdown catches while adding another 388 all-purpose yards for a total of 1459 total yards with 19 punt returns for 285 yards and one touchdown, four kick returns for 92 yards and one rush for yards for his 15-0 state champ squad. The Bears fought off a months-long effort by Oregon to poach the talented receiver. He also had offers from ASU, Utah and more.

“We’ve really enjoyed getting to know Jeremiah,” said Wilcox. “He has an outstanding future ahead of him. Jeremiah was a dominant wide receiver and helped lead his team to a 15-0 record and 15 0 state title. He has a knack for big plays and tallied over 50 touchdowns during his career. He’s athletic, productive, and will be hungry from day one.”

The second receiver to commit to the Bears was Chaparral (Scottsdale, AZ) High School receiver Tommy Christakos‍, who had offers from Nebraska, Michigan State, Utah, ASU, Arizona and more. The 6-4/205 WR earned first-team All-State  senior when he had 43 receptions for 816 yards. He also handled placekicking, kickoff and punting duties for the Arizona state open division quarterfinalists.

“We wanted to add some big targets to our offense and Tommy certainly fits the bill,” said Wilcox. “He’s a very big receiver who catches the ball extremely well and will add value to the unit. He also possesses a powerful kicking leg and can help us on special teams. True two-position players are hard to come by and we’re excited we’ll have one here.”

Third to commit at receiver was Desert Vista receiver Aidan Lee‍. The 6-2/205 Lee came on strong his senior season after a strong camp circuit where he physically dominated. He earned All-State honors as a senior, with 76 receptions, 1080 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

“Aidan is a strong, sturdy wide receiver who has shown the physical tools our coaches want to work with,” said Wilcox. “We were impressed watching him develop and ascend as a wide receiver while his team transitioned from a run-oriented scheme to one that put more emphasis on the passing game.”

Next up was Kennedy Catholic (Sammamish, WA) High School WR/RB Justin Baker‍. The 5-10/180 3 star athlete is an electric athlete, sloted to play slot receiver for the Bears. Baker compiled 57 receptions for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns, 26 rushes for 259 yards and three touchdowns, 207 kick return yards on eight kick returns and  one interception on defense for a loaded Kennedy offense. He transitioned to receiver after starting out his high school career as a running back.

“Justin brings excellent overall athleticism to the table,”. “He has the talent to move around the field and has proven himself at wide receiver, running back and defensive back, as well as a returner along the way. He’s also an outstanding person who our fans will enjoy getting to know.”

The final receiver to join the class was Arkansas decommit Mason Mangum‍. The 5-11/185 Mangum, who is also an elite hurdler and long jumper for Austin Westlake High School, had a strong senior season, with 61 receptions for 957 yards and 13 touchdowns so far in helping lead Westlake to the Texas 6A (large school) state championship this weekend.

“Mason was an extremely productive receiver at a powerhouse Texas high school program and represents the ultimate student-athlete,” said Wilcox. “He excels in the classroom while also showing excellent athleticism, ball skills, and competitiveness on the field. Mason also has a successful track and field resume and if you want to get a taste for his athleticism, just watch him dunk a basketball.”

Tight Ends

The Bears inked two tight ends in their 2020 class. The first to commit was Capistrano Valley High School TE Jake Muller‍. The 6-5/225 TE has the frame to grow into a bigger inline blocking tight end with receiving ability. Muller had had 36 catches for 588 yards and four touchdowns his senior season for CV.

“Jake is a long, athletic tight end with a lot of upside,” said Wilcox. “He had a very strong senior season. He has a basketball background and impressed us with his smooth movement skills and pass catching ability. He also has big hands and showed he can make the difficult one-handed catches.

Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, WA) High School tight end DJ Rogers‍ was next, exciting Cal fans with his commitment days before early signing day and is one of the jewels of the 2020 class. The 4 star 6-4/235 Rogers possesses a rare size, speed and pass-catching ability that produces nightmare matchup problems for opposing defenses. Limited in 2019 with a MCL strain, Rogers compiled 33 receptions for 452 yards and six touchdowns for his state champion EC squad.

“DJ is the type of player who could have an early impact in the conference,” said Wilcox. “He has size, athleticism, and football intelligence to excel as a pass catcher. DJ has big aspirations for himself and the team, and we are excited about doing everything we can to help him reach his potential.”

Wrapping up the offensive signings, the Bears inked three players likely slated to play OL at the next stop. First to commit (by a mile, with a commitment in February of his junior year) was big 6-7/315 Turlock OT Everett Johnson‍. The first team All-State player brings an excellent blend of size and technique and should compete to be in the rotation as early as next season, particularly as an early entrant.

“We have been excited about Everett for years now, since he verbally committed to us as a sophomore” said Wilcox. “He has rare size, excels in the classroom, and has all the tools to be a great player for us.”

6-5/265 Servite (Anaheim, CA) OL Ender Aguilar‍ was next for the Bears. Though he played more at defensive end, the Bears staff likes his skillset on the o-line. He had offers from Arizona, ASU, Colorado, OSU and more. Unusual bonus facts: Lost both thumbs in an accident only to have them successfully reattached. Also had a Cal hat at the age of two.

“Ender is a very intriguing former defensive lineman who has all the tools to transition into a successful offensive lineman,” said Wilcox. “He brings length, motor, toughness, and moves very well in the trenches. We are excited about getting him into the offensive line room full-time and watching him transform.”

The last addition to the OL is one of the more intriguing members of the 2020 class, Avon Old Farms (Avon, CT) DT/OL Jaeden Roberts‍. The 6-3/290 Roberts excelled on both sides of the line but focused on OL, where he’s likely to play at Cal, as a senior. Roberts brings tremendous strength and leverage to the field on both O and D.

“Jaedon brings versatility, size and power to the table,” said Wilcox. “He’s a great-looking prospect who has experience on both sides of the ball. He has strong local ties and we maintained a relationship with him while he attended Avon Old Farms. Jaedon has tremendous upside and it will be exciting to watch him ascend.”

Defense

Defensive Line

St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii) High School defensive tackle Stanley McKenzie‍ was the first defensive lineman to jump on board. The 6-2/310 DT starred for back-to-back state champ St. Louis as a multi-year starter. He brings the type of size, strength and ability to plug gaps up the middle that the Bears are looking for in their NT/DT’s.

“Stanley is a huge body defensive lineman who displays the power and athleticism to disrupt in the trenches,” said Wilcox. “He contributed for one of the best high school teams in the country and will arrive knowing how to work and compete. Stanley also grew up playing baseball and it shows in his coordination and hand quickness.”

6-3/280 defensive end Ethan Saunders‍ was the second DL to commit over the summer. The Orange Vista DE from Inglewood put up some big-time numbers his senior season, compiling 52 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 8 sacks and one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup on defense, and two receptions for 12 yards and one touchdown as a tight end on offense. He was named 1^st Team All-State Small School Division as a junior.

“Ethan is a fluid, big body defensive lineman with excellent athleticism who would fit in well with any defensive scheme. He’s a great player who was extremely productive as a senior and is still just scratching the surface of what he can grow into as both a pass rusher and run defender.”

Last up on the DL was the biggest body of them all, 6-4/330 Central East nose tackle Ricky Correia‍ -a teammate of Jeremiah Hunter. Correia earned Tri-River Athletic Conference Lineman of the Year honors as a 2019 senior by racking up 70 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks and one pass breakup. He also ran for a short touchdown in a Central East victory.

“Ricky is a massive defender who had a big senior season while helping lead his team to a state championship,” said Wilcox. “He moves well despite his rare size and has the ability to dominate in the trenches. You don’t find many people who can move like him and he really stands out when he’s chasing to the ball. Ricky will be a great addition.”

Linebackers

The first linebacker the Bears added was 6-3/220 Jesuit (Portland, OR) LB Andy Alfieri‍. The younger brother of former Stanford linebacker Joey Alfieri, the 3 star LB also played running back for Jesuit. After fracturing his back, Alfieri was cleared to return to the team, helping lead his squad to the state semifinals.

“We developed a strong relationship with the Alfieri’s while we were scouting Andy’s older brother, Joey,” said Wilcox. “Andy is a big, physical linebacker who will play hard every snap. He enjoys contact and showed good speed and burst while playing on both sides of the ball for Jesuit.”

The second and final linebacker was Mililani, Hawaii LB Muelu Iosefa‍. The high 3 star linebacker is a high-motor, relentless defender and earned a spot on the prestigious Polynesian Bowl with future teammates McKenzie and Rogers after leading his Mililani squad to the state semis. The Bears beat out USC, Oregon, Utah and more for Iosefa’s services.

“Muelu has the tools to contribute early for us and will be an excellent addition to our team,” said Wilcox. “He is talented, with a unique combination of size and athleticism and will be fun to watch develop. Muelu contributed often in pass coverage for Mililani but also has impressive run stopping skills that will be valuable for us at inside linebacker.”

Defensive Back

The first DB to jump on board was one of the earliest commits in the class. 3 star Corona Centennial High School CB/Nickel Isaiah Young‍ committed to the Bears in the spring and showed well on the camp circuit, locking down talented receivers. The 5-10/170 Young had 44 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, one interception returned for a touchdown and five pass breakups for the 18^th ranked squad in the nation. The Bears beat out Oregon and several others for Young.

“Isaiah was one of the first commits of this class and we were extremely happy to get him. He’s a quick, sudden corner with very good toughness and should excel as a nickel for us. He has great hips and feet and tackles well. He is very serious about his game and will prepare like a pro from day one.”

Next was Antioch High School safety Dejuan Butler‍. The 5-11/180 Butler excelled on both sides of the ball, starring at safety, cornerback, linebacker and running back for the Panthers, playing with an aggressive, athletic, hard-hitting style. A 4 year, two-way starter, butler had 42 tackles, one interception, one tfl and four pass breakups on D and 35 rushes for 380 yards (10.8 ypc) and six tds on the ground and four receptions for 100 yards (27.5 ypc) and a touchown through the air. The Bears beat out UCLA and several others for Butler.

“Dejuan is a smooth, versatile defensive back who we are excited about,” said Wilcox. “The Antioch coaches moved him all around the field and put him anywhere they thought he could make an impact. He’s a tough kid who will come downhill and tackle well. It’s important to keep players at home from the area and we’re excited we did.”

The third DB commit was 6-3/205 Buhach Colony (Atwater, CA) High School CB/Safety Trey Paster‍. Named All-League as a senior, Paster had  33 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, two interceptions, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The Bears beat out Oregon, Washington, UCLA, Utah and more for Paster’s services.

“Trey is a big, athletic defensive back,” said Wilcox. “He’s a smooth-moving player who was also productive on offense when they put the ball in his hands. As good as he is as a player, it’s also worth noting that he’s an outstanding person with a great personality and was a bit of the ring leader for this recruiting class.”

Liberty Christian (Argyle, TX) High School DB Collin Gamble‍ was the fourth DB to join the Bears’ 2020 class. Sporting one of the most impressive offer lists in the class, Gamble also had offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Utah, Northwestern, many of the Ivy League programs and more. The 5-10/200 speedy DB had 50 tackles, four interceptions, 25 pass breakups and four interceptions on defense, as well as eight touchdowns as a senior at receiver, earning back-to-back All-State honors. He also earned All-District honors as a punter.

“Collin is a talented player from Texas who did a little of everything for his team,” said Wilcox. “He’s a fluid athlete with very good quickness and shows his toughness in run support. He’s going to fit in well with what we’ve been building in our defensive backs’ room and should also contribute as a returner for our special teams.”

The last DB to jump in with the Bears’ 2020 class was Augustine (San Diego, CA) High School defensive back Tyson McWilliams‍. The Bears beat out Nebraska, Iowa State, Oregon State and ah host of Ivy League and other programs for the 6-2/175 DB’s commitment. The 3 star athlete had 22 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, two interceptions returned for 42 yards, including a touchdown, and 12 pass breakups on defense, along with 17 catches for 304 yards and three td’s on offense.

“We are excited about adding Tyson,” said Wilcox. “He has experience as a wide receiver and fits the mold of a long, rangy athlete with a bright future as a full-time corner. He has outstanding ball skills and length and moves very well. Tyson has a high ceiling and I’m looking forward to seeing him after he spends time with coach Becton and our strength and conditioning staff.”

The final member of the class committed just days before LOI day when the Bears secured a committment from 22-year old Aussie Rules Football player and punter Jamieson Sheahan. Sheahan will jump in right away as a midyear enrollee, working to earn the starting position from departing punter and fellow Aussie Stephen Coutts. Sheahan Reached the second-highest level of Australian Rules Football as a member of the Essendon Victorian Football League squad and was selected the team’s top first-year player in 2018.

“Jamieson is a former Australian Rules football player who we are excited to have punt for us,” said Wilcox. “He started developing his kicking skills at a young age and went on to play at a high level. We got a chance to spend time with him during his official visit and he’s a first-class person and the type of student-athlete we aspire to have here.”

2020 Class Roster

Ender Aguilar – OL – 6-5 – 265 – Mission Viejo, CA (Servite HS)
Andy Alfieri – ILB – 6-3 – 220 – Portland, OR (Jesuit HS)
Justin Baker – WR – 5-10 – 175 – Bellevue, WA (Kennedy Catholic HS)
Dejuan Butler – DB – 5-11 – 180 – Antioch, CA (Antioch HS)
Jaden Casey – QB – 6-1 – 185 – Westlake Village, CA (Calabasas HS)
Tommy Christakos – WR – 6-4 – 205 – Scottsdale, AZ (Chaparral HS)
Ricky Correia – DL – 6-4 – 330 – Fresno, CA (Central HS)
Collin Gamble – DB – 5-10 – 200 – Flower Mound, TX (Liberty Christian HS)
Jeremiah Hunter – WR – 6-2 – 180 – Fresno, CA (Central HS)
Muelu Iosefa – ILB – 6-3 – 220 – Mililani, HI (Mililani HS)
Everett Johnson – OL – 6-7 – 315 – Turlock, CA (Turlock HS)
Zach Johnson – QB – 6-1 – 195 – Valencia, CA (Hart HS)
Aidan Lee – WR – 6-1 – 200 – Mesa, AZ (Desert Ridge HS)
Mason Mangum – WR – 5-11 – 185 – Austin, TX (Westlake HS)
Stanley McKenzie – DL – 6-2 – 310 – Honolulu, HI (St. Louis School)
Tyson McWilliams – DB – 6-2 – 175 – San Diego, CA (St. Augustine HS)
Damien Moore – RB – 5-10 – 210 – La Puente, CA (Bishop Amat HS)
Jake Muller – TE – 6-5 – 225 – Fr. – Mission Viejo, CA (Capistrano Valley HS)
Trey Paster – DB – 6-2 – 205 – Merced, CA (Buhach Colony HS)
Jaedon Roberts – ATH – 6-3 – 290 – HS – Sausalito, CA (Avon Old Farms HS)
DJ Rogers – TE – 6-4 – 230 – Bellevue, WA (Eastside Catholic HS)
Ethan Saunders – DL – 6-3 – 280 – Inglewood, CA (Orange Vista HS)
Jamieson Sheahan – P – 6-0 – 200 – Jr. – Bendigo, Australia (Geelong Grammar School)
Chris Street – RB – 5-9 – 195 – Eastvale, CA (JSerra Catholic HS)
Isaiah Young – DB – 5-10 – 170 – Eastvale, CA (Centennial HS)