Cal Football '23 NLI Signing Day Central

The Bears kicked off the 2023 early national signing day by receiving signed National Letters of Intent from eight high school signees, one JC signee and scholarship agreements by two portal transfer players this morning so far who committed last week and also added a pair of big portal transfer commits in former 4 star preps and Clemson ILB Sergio Allen‍ and Oregon RB Byron Cardwell‍ this morning as well.

Kaylin Moore‍ 5’10/185 Colorado portal transfer DB - Played in a combined 20 games with 14 starts during his 2021 freshman and 2022 sophomore campaigns, contributing 45 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-2 yards) and three passes breakups. Started all 12 contests and registered career highs of 38 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-2 yards) and two pass breakups as a 2022 sophomore after picking up seven tackles and one pass breakup in eight games and two starts as a 2021 freshman

Cade Uluave‍ 6-1/230 ILB Mountain Ridge HS/South Jordan, Utah -A two-way player who registered 154 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks (-41 yards), four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries that he returned for seven yards and one touchdown on defense, while rushing for 1638 yards and 26 touchdowns on 290 carries, and making 20 catches for 164 yards and one touchdown as well as converting one rushing two-point conversion on offense in 24 games over four seasons. Also returned four kickoffs for 84 yards including one for a touchdown to run his all-purpose yardage total to 1886 while punting 29 times. Earned preseason All-State honors prior to his 2022 senior season but was limited to four games due to injury but still contributed 25 tackles, a career-high 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack (-19 yards) and all three of his career forced fumbles on defense, as well as 49 carries for 345 yards and five touchdowns rushing as well as two receptions for 13 yards on offense, in addition to one kickoff return for 22 yards and 14 punts for a squad that finished 8-3 and reached the second round of the UHSAA/Mountain America 6A State Championships

Nyziah Hunter‍ 6-2/200 Salinas HS/Salinas, CA WR -– Totaled 93 receptions for 1563 yards and 22 touchdown catches while adding 15 rushes for 169 yards and five scores on the ground over his final two seasons as a 2021 junior and 2022 senior while earning first-team All-Pacific Coast League both campaigns. Played in all 11 games and led his team with 52 receptions, 912 yards receiving and 14 touchdown catches while adding six rushes for 28 yards and one score on offense, as well as three tackles and two interceptions on defense to earn first-team All-Pacific Coast League and his team’s MaxPreps Offensive Player of the Year honors for a squad that finished 10-2 overall and reached the semifinals of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs after capturing the Pacific Coast League Gabilan Division title with a 5-1 conference mark. Had 41 receptions for 651 yards receiving and eight touchdown catches while adding nine rushes for 141 yards and four rushing scores on offense while picking up one interception on defense as a 2021 junior to earn a nomination for Cal-Hi All-State honors, as well as both All-County and All-League recognition from the Monterey Herald in addition to a spot in the Get Sports Focus All-Star Draft following the campaign for a squad that finished 8-1 overall and won the Pacific Coast League Gabilan Division. In his second season of varsity basketball as a 2022-23 senior after also playing as a 2021-22 junior. A state finalist in the 100 meter during his 2022 junior track season, finishing 18th in a time of 10.71 after earlier winning the Pacific Coast Gabilan Division titles in both the 100 and 200 meters

Sailasa Vadrawale‍ 5-11/170 Rancho Cotate/Rohnert Park safety Played both ways as well as on special teams for three seasons as a 2020 sophomore, 2021 junior and 2022 senior, picking up North Bay League Oak League Division MVP honors while leading his squad to division titles in each of his final two campaigns. Registered a combined 145 tackles, 0.5 sacks (-5 yards), six interceptions that he returned for 62 yards, one pass deflection, five fumble
recoveries that he returned for 59 yards and one touchdown and two blocked field goals, on defense. Recorded back-to-back 1000-yard receiving seasons in his final two campaigns and finished with 143 receptions for 2346 yards with 26 touchdown catches over his final three seasons while adding 205 yards and five touchdowns on the ground on 29 carries, plus 19 kick returns for 472 yards and 16 punt returns for 223 yards and one touchdown to total 3308 all-purpose yards, while also making three of four field extra points. Career highs as a 2022 senior included 12 games played and on offense 1069 yards receiving and 17 touchdown catches, while he also had 62 receptions, as well as 11 rushes, 66 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground, while on defense his 75 tackles, 0.5 sacks (-5 yards), one pass defense and one fumble return touchdown were career bests, as were his 20 total touchdowns, 123 points and three extra points, while his one blocked field goal tied a career-high for a team that finished 9-3 overall and reached the semifinals of the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs. Also recorded several career highs including 68 receptions, 18 rushes, 139 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns on the ground, while on defense picking up four interceptions, 61 interception return yards and three fumble recoveries while totaling 1615 all-purpose yards including 12 kick returns for 290 yards and seven punt returns for 81, and equaling a career-high with one blocked field goal, while he also had 1044 yards receiving and eight touchdown catches on offense as well as 50 tackles on defense for a team that finished 10-2 overall and reached the semifinals of the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs

Tiumalu Afalava‍ 6-2/275 Bishop Amat/Baldwin Park DL – Registered three-year totals over 21 games played of 67 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks (-37 yards) for a trio of teams while reaching the Southern Section Division 2 playoffs in each of his final two campaigns and posting an 18-13 record overall. Picked up 29 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 sack (-8 yards) in nine games while serving as a team captain as a 2022 senior for a team that finished 9-4 overall and reached the semifinals of the Southern Section Division 2 playoffs. Named to Southern California’s Elite Cannon List for defensive linemen along with fellow Cal 2023 recruiting class member Ryan McCulloch and was among the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s top five defensive players prior to his 2022 senior campaign. Had career highs of 31 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss to go along with 1.0 sack (-10 yards) in nine games as a 2021 junior to earn first-team All-Area and All-Mission League honors for a squad that finished 8-4 overall and reached the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division 2 playoffs. Contributed seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a career-high 2.5 sacks (career-high -19 yards) in the spring of 2021 over the three games he played in a season delayed and shortened to five contests by COVID

Frederick Williams III‍ 6-5/265 Serra HS/Los Angeles, CA DL -Registered two-year career varsity totals of 50 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks (-33 yards), one fumble recovery, one pass deflection and two safeties over 23 games played for a pair of teams in his final two seasons as a 2021 junior and 2022 senior that won a state I-A title and reached the postseason both campaigns. Recorded all of his career highs as a 2022 senior with 43 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks (-24 yards), one fumble recovery, one pass deflection and two safeties for a squad that finished 7-5 overall and reached the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division 2 playoffs. Added seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks (-9 yards) as a 2021 junior for a team that was 11-4 overall including four postseason wins to capture the Division I-A State and Southern Section Division 3 finals. Named to Southern California’s Elite Cannon List for defensive linemen along with fellow Cal 2023 recruiting class member Ryan McCulloch and among the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s top five defensive players prior to his 2022 senior campaign. Participated in track and field as a 2020 freshman during a season shortened by COVID. Earned a spot on his school’s honor roll for three straight semesters (spring 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021)

Ryan McCulloch‍ 6-3/240 Rio Hondo HS/Duarte, CA OLB -A two-way player who participated in 30 games over his final three seasons and posted combined totals of 171 tackles, 48.5 tackles for loss, 25.5 sacks (-165 yards), four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 40 quarterback hurries and one safety on defense while adding 167 carries for 1342 yards and 18 touchdowns along with 26 receptions for 439 yards and six touchdowns, and one kickoff return for 10 yards to total 1781 all-purpose yards, while also completing 1-of-2 passes for nine yards and one touchdown on offense. Earned Gold Coast League Defensive MVP as well as first-team All-Southern Section and All-Gold Coast honors as a 2022 senior when he had team-highs of 64 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks (-66 yards), a career-high two forced fumbles and 15 quarterback hurries on defense, while also leading the team with career highs of 93 carries, 897 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the ground, as well as 19 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns for a career-high 1144 all-purpose yards while also completing 1-of-2 passes for nine yards and one touchdown in nine games for a team finished 8-2 overall and reached the opening round of the Southern Section Division 10 playoffs. Named to Southern California’s Elite Cannon List for defensive linemen prior to his 2022 senior campaign along with fellow Cal 2023 recruiting class member Tiumalu Afalava. Picked up first-team All-Area, All-Southern Section and All-Gold Coast League recognition with career highs of 76 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks (-99 yards) and 25 quarterback hurries, as well as two fumble recoveries on defense, while adding 67 carries for 408 yards and six touchdowns as well as seven receptions for 192 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdown receptions as well as his lone kick return for 10 yards for 610 all-purpose yards in 11 games as a 2021 junior for a team finished 10-2 overall and reached the second round of the Southern Section Division 7 playoffs. A three-sport standout who has also played prep baseball and basketball, nearly averaging a double-double (10.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg) in 11 games of hoops as a 2021-22 junior and hitting .456 with seven home runs and 46 RBI in 21 contests as a 2021 sophomore on the diamond

Zurich Ashford‍ 6-2/275 Arbor View HS/Las Vegas, NV DL -Recorded two-year career varsity totals over 22 games of 109 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 16.0 sacks, one interception that he returned 20 yards, one pass deflection, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 10 quarterback hurries while also scoring twice, once each on an interception and fumble return, for a pair of teams that reached the semifinals of the 5A Southern Region playoffs each season and combined for a 17-5 overall record. Collected 11-game totals of 54 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, as well as career highs of seven quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries including one he returned for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles to earn All-Desert League honors as a 2022 senior for a team that was 9-2 overall and reached the semifinals of the 5A Southern Region playoffs. Posted career highs of 56 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks (tied for second in Nevada), as well as three quarterback hurries, his lone career interception and pass deflection, returning the pick for 20 yards and a touchdown, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble to earn first-team All-Desert League and second-team All-Southern Nevada honors as a 2021 junior for a squad that was 8-3 overall and reached the semifinals of the 5A Southern Region playoffs. Also a participant in the shot put and discus as a 2020-21 sophomore with a top shot put mark of 45’ 8”

Ben Marshall‍ 6-4/220 Blackman, HS/Murfreesboro, Tennessee TE -Named Offensive MVP of Region 4-6A for a squad that posted a 10-3 overall mark including a pair of postseason wins and reached the quarterfinals of the Division I Class 6A Tennessee High School Football Playoffs. Listed as one of Tennessee’s top-10 tight end candidates by Tennessee Varsity Rivals heading into his 2022 senior campaign. Played in nine games as a 2021 junior and totaled 65 receptions for 834 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 23 carries for 139 yards and two touchdowns, and 2-of-6 passing for 46 yards, as well as his lone career kick return (16-288) and punt return (3-18) numbers while he booted his lone career punt 58 yards. A two-sport standout who also played baseball

Nohl Williams‍ 6-1/185 UNLV DB - A three-year starter who played in 26 games and contributed 98 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-3 yards), five interceptions that he returned for 62 yards, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, while also adding 14 kick returns for 294 yards as well as 11 punt returns for 74 punt return yards for a total of 430 all-purpose yards. Earned honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference honors from the league and was a second-team All-MWC pick of Mountain Wire after playing in 11 contests as a 2022 junior and registering career highs of 40 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-3 yards), three interceptions including a pair that he returned for 62 yards against Utah State that earned him a spot on that week’s Hornung Award Honor Roll, five pass breakups and one forced fumble, as well as a career-high-tying one fumble recovery, while also adding four punt returns that he brought back 28 yards, as well as a career-high 172 kick returns on a career-high-tying seven kick returns for a total of a career-high 262 all-purpose yards. Earned All-Mountain West Conference preseason second-team (Athlon) and third-team (Phil Steele) honors prior to his 2022 junior campaign. Played in 10 contests with eight starts as a 2021 sophomore and contributed 33 tackles as well as one interception and four pass breakups. Started all five games he played as a 2020 freshman and contributed 25 tackles, one interception, one pass breakup and a career-high-tying one fumble recovery

Byron Cardwell‍ 6-0/210 University of Oregon/San Diego, CA - Played in a combined 16 games during his 2021 freshman and 2022 sophomore seasons and rushed for 493 yards and four touchdowns on the ground on 72 carries, while adding eight receptions for 37 yards and one scoring grab for teams that combined for a 19-7 overall record and qualified for a pair of bowls (2021 Alamo Bowl, 2022 Holiday Bowl) while adding a Pac-12 North title in his first season. On the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list honoring the nation's top running back as a 2022 sophomore but limited to playing in the first two games of the campaign due to injury and finished with 76 yards on 11 rushes while adding four receptions for 34 yards and one touchdown catch. Played in all 14 games as a 2021 freshman and posted career highs of 61 rushes and 417 yards on the ground that ranked second among all Pac-12 freshmen while scoring three rushing touchdowns and leading the conference with an average of 6.84 yards per carry, in addition to collecting three receptions for four yards to total 421 all-purpose yards. Had a huge role during three straight wins as a 2021 freshman, plcking up a career-high 127 yards on the ground against Colorado followed by a career-high 16 carries for 55 yards in the following game at Washington, and a career-best two rushing touchdowns to go with 98 yards rushing on nine carries against Washington State to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors against the Cougars

Sergio Allen‍ 6-1/230 Clemson/Fort Valley, Georgia -The former 4 star Fort Valley, Georgia prep recruit also offered by the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and more was a 4-year prep starter, Allen posted 357 total tackles, including 222 solo, to rank in the top five in school history in career tackles, adding 45 career tackles for loss, including 15 sacks and 48 quarterback hurries.

Jaivian Thomas‍ 5-10/175 McClymonds HS/Oakland, CA RB -His four teams during his tenure at McClymonds combined for 41-3 record, winning a state title during his 2021 junior season, while finishing as runners-up during his 2019 freshman and 2022 senior campaigns. Combined for 4028 yards on the ground over his final two seasons as a 2021 junior and 2022 senior. Earned Cal-Hi Sports North Coast Section Player of the Year and Oakland Athletic League MVP honors as a 2022 senior captain after registering 169 carries for 2528 yards (14.5 yards per rush) and 30 touchdowns to rank second in the state and set a single-season McClymonds record for rushing yards, while adding 10 receptions for 224 yards and three receiving touchdowns while returning his lone kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown for a team that finished 12-2 overall and won the OAL with an unbeaten 5-0 conference mark before reaching the state Division 2-AA finals. A member of the 2022 Preseason All-Bay Area football squads selected by the Bay Area News Group and West Coast Preps with the latter also including him on its list of the top 15 running backs heading into the 2022 campaign. Earned second-team All-Bay Area honors from West Coast Preps, second-team All-Metro recognition from the San Francisco Chronicle and first-team All-OAL honors after rushing for 1500 yards and 20 touchdowns as a 2021 junior for a team that finished 12-1 overall and won the state crown and OAL title with a perfect 5-0 conference record. Missed his 2020 sophomore season shortened to six games and delayed to the spring of 2021 by COVID with an injury. Moved up to varsity during his 2019 freshman season with his squad reaching the state championship game. Also ran track and field and was a member of a school-record setting 4x100 relay squad that finished third in the state in a time of 40.9 while clocking a personal best 10.8 in the 100 meters during his 2022 junior track campaign. Honor roll student in each of his last thee academic years

Matt Littlejohn‍ 5-11/180 Citrus College/San Antonio, TX safety - A two-time first-team All-Southern California Football Association American Division Metro League selection who played in a combined 17 games as a 2021 freshman and 2022 sophomore, and contributed 76 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss (-19 yards), one fumble recovery that he returned five yards, three interceptions that he returned for 34 yards and one touchdown, and 16 pass breakups for teams that combined for a 17-4 record. Played in eight contests and contributed 25 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss (-9 yards), one fumble recovery that he returned for five yards, one interception that he returned for six yards, and a career and team-high nine pass breakups as a 2022 sophomore for a squad that was 11-0 overall and won both the American Metro League American Division title as well as the school’s first bowl championship game since 2013. Played in nine games and recorded career highs of 51 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss (-10 yards), two interceptions that he returned for 28 yards and one touchdown, and a team-high-tying seven pass breakups, while adding his lone career reception for seven yards as a 2021 freshman for a team that finished 6-4 overall.

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