Cardwell Finds His Way Back to Berkeley After Signing With Cal

By Jim McGill

December 21, 2022

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It took four long years from when the Bears started recruiting running back Byron Cardwell‍ at San Diego’s Morse High School but after narrowly missing out to Oregon the first go-round, the Bears finally got their guy with the former 4 star running back committing and signing a scholarship agreement on NLI day Wednesday.

“The biggest thing was just going to a school where they loved me, needed me and wanted me like Cal,” said Cardwell. “This is a staff where I really feel at home and I know that they’re going to support me and help me get to where I need to be in my life.”

In his initial recruitment as a prep player, Cal running backs coach Aristotle Thompson and the Bears’ staff narrowly missed getting Cardwell’s signature on the dotted line but the relationship is still strong two years after his signed with Oregon.

“With him, it’s really transparent,” noted Cardwell said of his relationship with Thompston. “We can just talk about anything. Very open and I just kind of speak my mind and he doesn’t try and tone it down. He understands what I’m saying and respects it and that’s something I appreciate.”

The return visit to Cal three years after his first recruiting trip helped solidify the 6-0/205 running back’s positive feelings about the program.

“It was just family atmosphere at Cal,” Cardwell said. “Great weather, fresh air, it was all great. I just kind of got a sense of the previous guys who had success there and kind of feeling that energy. There’s a lot of little factors I like about Cal but everything felt great. Also, too, my siblings went with me there and it was really cool to just be able to interact with them there. It’s for sure nice to be closer to home, too.”

After an impressive true frosh season in 2021 where he gained 417 yards in 61 carries for a 6.8 ypc average along with 3 TDs on the ground, Cardwell added 76 yards in 11 carries for a 6.9 ypc average and a TD before an ankle injury sidelined him for four games and he opted to take a redshirt season in 2022. He also totaled eight receptions for 37 yards and one additional TD through the air in his two seasons at Oregon.

Now he gets a fresh start back in his home state and is ready to embark on his new start in just a month’s time.

“I’m just ready to come in and work and have an opportunity to compete and win a lot of games and boost my name, image and likeness,” said Cardwell. “And coming away with my Cal degree and the opportunity to go help the community in any way possible. Then when my athletic career at Cal is over, then taking my talents to the NFL.”