Fresh off the announcement of three new signees on late NLI day this morning, Cal head coach Justin Wilcox fielded questions from the media on the new players as well as coaches added in the last two months, starting with 6-7/330 LA City College OT Martin Tine.
“Martin is a big, athletic guy,” Wilcox said. “Came from Houston and then to East LA. Young as a football player. Hasn't played a lot of football, but really big frame and can move. So really looking forward to getting him here this summer. I would also say we're also gonna get a number of guys kind of back off of injury, which should help us in spring ball. I know Coach Bloesch is really eager to get to start to work with those guys and then it wouldn't be surprising to add another name or two as we enter into summer (at OL)
Wilcox was asked how quickly Tine is expected to play or make an impact at Cal.
“Well, to be determined,” Wilcox said. “When we recruit a transfer player or a junior college player, we're always looking at how quickly we think that they could help us on the field. And some of that, there's not an exact science to it. You look at the traits, you look at the work ethic, you look at the kind of the football IQ and just because they haven't played a lot doesn't mean they can't do that. There's a lot of guys that have played a long time who struggle to make the transition. So it doesn't rule it out by any means. I think what's key is what happens between now and June, and when he gets here in summer. What happens between June and the first game, and there's gonna be a lot of learning going on, but there's a lot of learning going on for a lot of people. We do feel good about him and his athletic ability and the traits that he's shown, and now it's about putting in the work.”
Tine’s time on the hardcourt as a prep basketball player is one of the traits his OL coach cited at LACC that gives the 6-7/330 OT an edge at the position.
“tt's hard to play a good offensive line if you don't have good feet,” Wilcox said. “It's just very rare. So the athleticism is key. Some guys have better feet than others, but I don't I don't think you see a lot of good offensive linemen with bad feet. So that's one of the things that jumped out is the athleticism, as mentioned before. And he's got a, a really big frame. He's 6’6, and I think he has like an 83-inch wingspan, and he's a tall, long guy. We’re just eager to get him here.”
6-5/205 Snow College WR Marquis Montgomery had a particularly strong offer list including LSU, Penn State, Oregon and Texas A&M, despite the fact that his offense didn’t throw the ball a lot. WIlcox was asked how they scout a player like that.
“Well, you look at the opportunities he did get and what he did with those opportunities,” Wilcox noted. “I think he's a talented athlete. He's big. I mean, he is a really big receiver and he can highpoint the ball. He catches the ball with his hands. And so we looked at the chances he did get and what did he do with those? And then again, you look at the traits, the physical traits and then the intangibles - the toughness, the work ethic and all those things. And we feel strongly about him.”
Next Wilcox was asked about new long snapper signee David Bird -ranked by many as the nation’s top long snapper.
“Well, I think you all know what kind of impact it has when you don't have somebody that's a good snapper,” Wilcox said, aluding to the Bears’ longsnapping and kicking problems in recent years. “I mean, it's one of those positions where nobody really talks about it until something goes wrong. So David is a very good snapper. We have in the past scholarshiped a snapper who we think is elite. And so, expectations for him to come in here and, and be the snapper (right away). But it's a critical position. As you all know, it's just something that you take for granted or a lot of people do. We don't, and so it's a valuable spot and every four years or so, we wanna make sure we got a great long snapper on the team, and that's what we're looking for from David.”
While the program added a significant number of additions through the portal for the early signing period, Wilcox noted that they’re far from done at this point.
“I'd probably put it around five, five to seven,” Wilcox said of the likely number of spring additions. That's my best guess as of today. But again, these things are so dynamic, bit that's what I would anticipate.
At least a couple of additions are expected to be offensive linemen.
“Yeah offensive line,” Wilcox responded. “There's probably not a position that we wouldn't take anybody, but certain positions probably have more of a need right now. But in the end, we always wanna make sure we're taking players that can help our team win and not just take a player, I think offensive line certainly fits into that category where we could add a player or two in the late spring, early summer. But again, depending on how the roster morphs, those those numbers can change.”
Another targeted position is adding QB depth through the portal in the spring to compete with portal transfer QB Sam Jackson and Fernando Mendoza.
“Yeah, that's another spot where it wouldn't be surprising to see another scholarship player added this summer. Again, just depends on how everything goes but yeah, the quarterback position in general is always gonna be one where there's gonna be a lot of movement. That's just, that's how it is in college football.”
Another new OL addition this spring is 6-7/285 OT Nick Morrow, who was part of the 2022 class who opted to greyshirt and enroll in the spring instead of fall and count towards ‘23 while he continued to add strength and weight to his previously lighter tight end frame.
“Nick came here, pretty interesting story, a couple summers ago in a camp, and he was a defensive end, tight end from Flagstaff (Arizona) and he was tall - 6’7” maybe 2 30, 240. And we put him through a bunch of drills and he ran pretty dang good and caught the ball pretty impressively for a guy that size, who was I think 17 at the time. So we signed him but ended up greyshirting him where he sat out last fall, and he just showed up here mid-year. He came to some games and things like that last year. And now he might be 280, 285. He is a big, big kid and has really long arms. We're gonna play him at offensive line. And probably the most impressive thing is for a guy that young who's, who's that big, to be able to jump in these workouts and compete with everybody else, it's been pretty impressive. But yeah, he's a 6’7, 280-85 pound guy that looks skinny. And he's young and he's got a lot of growing to do. He is gonna grow as a person and as a player, but really he has some things that you just can’t coach. So we're looking forward to getting to work with him in spring ball.”
Another big addition was the return of big defensive tackle Stanley McKenzie, who was home in Hawaii last season dealing with family matters.
“Stanley was home in the fall,” Wilcox said. “Stanley has been through a lot during his time here. We love Stan and he's back. He looks great. He's doing really well and he is a nose guard, interior lineman for us. And really just glad that he's back with us. He's a super, super guy and we love his family and we're glad he is here and, we’re looking forward to supporting him and watching him grow into the player that he can become.”
Wilcox was asked about players out last season who are not expected back till summer or fall camp and who would be returning.
“I guess the guys that would be out for spring, (Akili) Calhoun, (Collin) Gamble, (Darius) Long, Brett (Johnson), Mason Manum, Tyson McWilliams, Jaydon Roberts, Mason Starling, those guys will be out.
“Back for spring, we think in some capacity be Lu (Hearns), Kaleb Higgins, TJ Session, Bastian Swinney. Bastian's a guy who hasn't played very much. He's been dinged up since he's been here. Be really important for him to have a solid spring ball. Derek Wilkins, who we lost last spring will be back in spring. And then a, a number of other guys that were kind of dinged up last year, but as many guys as we can possibly get in spring ball, the better.”
A key returning piece of the defense next fall will be veteran DE Brett Johnson, who’s reportedly making good process rehabbing his acl.
“Brett, mentally and emotionally is gonna be one of those guys that things don't phase. Brett. And I know he is been through a lot the last couple years, two season-ending injuries, and for some folks that might be something that would be tough to overcome or maybe seem insurmountable, but he is just kind of a unique character that way. I mean, I think after the injury he had last fall, so he was gonna miss his second year in a row, which is rough. And I think for about a day he was in the tank. And then after that, he's just like a machine, man. He comes in, he works out, he does his rehab, and he's got a really impressive mindset. And so I'm not worried about him, mentally or emotionally and physically he looks really good. It's been a couple years, but I, I think he's going to come back and, and play really good football. I wouldn't expect anything else. He'll do some things I think in the spring, but we'll hold him out of essentially from everything that would be contact. I mean, he'll be moving around on the side, things like that.
Another key offseason addition is former TCU reshirt soph portal transfer QB Sam Jackson, who signed in December.
“Well, all these guys are pretty fresh and finding their way and just the daily routine of how we do things and where to go,” Wilcox said. “But he's done a really good job getting along with his teammates, meeting guys. When everybody got here with all the new faces and the movement in college football, the key is how quickly can you get to know each other? And great teams have great chemistry, you know, that we're not just a bunch of independent contractors. And Sam's been great with that.
“All these guys are fresh into winter workouts and I can tell you he is a dynamic athlete, that's for sure. And so I think just the more time he spends in the weight room and with his teammates getting to know each other, and then we get out on the field with them, we get some time with the coaches, I think each day, it's just gonna get better and better.”
Wilcox is also happy with the adjustment of hs three new staff additions in OC Jake Spavital, OL coach Mike Bloesch and TE coach Tim Plough.
“Couldn't be any better, to be honest with you,” Wilcox said of their adjustment to Cal. “Jake has been here before, so he knows the lay of the land. “ Offensively, different style of play and it's something that I know the players are very, very excited about.
“Coach Bloesch, who's been a coordinator and been very successful with the offensive line and the run game. I know he's been a joy to be around. And then Tim Plough, who's also been a coordinator, so we got three guys that have coordinator experience, and you see 'em all, they get in there and we're talking football, and it's a lot of fun because there's a lot of ideas and there's a lot of experience in there, and they all have got a ton of energy. And so those guys have been great. Really, really pleased that they're here with us and, uh, I think we gotta get some things kind of settled and talk through language and semantics and some of those things to make sure that everything's dialed in. And then the players will be ready to start meeting and spending time with the coaches here soon.”
So far the new staff’s activities have been a hybrid of recruiting and coaching and with the late signing day passing and spring ball coming up next month, the majority of focus likely returns to coaching.
“Well, it's, yeah, kind of combination of both,” Wilcox noted. “I mean, when you're in January, it's heavy recruiting mode, and then when you're not recruiting and you’ve got four hours, then you go in and close the door of the staff room and you start talking through verbiage and formation names and all those things. So it's, it's really all of it and it's kind of balancing your time and now that the signing day is upon us, we'll, we'll spend a lot more time in the football offices, talking through those things specifically. You know, recruiting never really stops, but we're not traveling anymore. And, and we'll be able to just kind of hone in on getting prepared for spring football.”
"Coach, you were able to recruit a promising OL, WR, and the #1 rated longsnapper in the country. That's strong. Do you think with this recruiting class that you are now positioned to earn a winning conference record this year?"
Weak question. Even if he privately didn't think so, who would answer "no"?
Cal Strong would like to see how he answers when asked about the expectations. He no seem to understand that fans and donors want to see that now.
This far more important question than footwork, NIL, or staff camaraderie.
I gotta' agree with ConcernedParent, a hardball question will receive a bull**** and sunshine answer.
Honestly, it's really clear that JW hates pressers. We lose, his answers are predictable. We win, well, success has a thousand fathers.
I feel he might do his job better, if he had a press representative or, better yet, a dummy to stand up and answer questions that obviously distract him and waste his time. I do not need him to be Cicero, rather Andy Smith or Pappy Waldorf.
"Coach, you were able to recruit a promising OL, WR, and the #1 rated longsnapper in the country. That's strong. Do you think with this recruiting class that you are now positioned to earn a winning conference record this year?"
Weak question. Even if he privately didn't think so, who would answer "no"?
Cal Strong would like to see how he answers when asked about the expectations. He no seem to understand that fans and donors want to see that now.
This far more important question than footwork, NIL, or staff camaraderie.
I gotta' agree with ConcernedParent, a hardball question will receive a bull**** and sunshine answer.
Honestly, it's really clear that JW hates pressers. We lose, his answers are predictable. We win, well, success has a thousand fathers.
I feel he might do his job better, if he had a press representative or, better yet, a dummy to stand up and answer questions that obviously distract him and waste his time. I do not need him to be Cicero, rather Andy Smith or Pappy Waldorf.
Just win, baby, don't worry about the press.
We have no idea how he would answer a "hardball" question about reasonable expectations/timelines, because no one has ever asked him one.
But we already receive a bs/sunshine answer for all the weak questions, so Cal Strong not sure what we have to lose by asking him an actual question.
He makes $3m+/year. Why not ask him a real question every once in a while?
As for press, even Tedford was more open about his life than Wilcox. He talked about crushing budweisers with his staff and showed pictures of the players hooping it up on his Cal basketball court. Sonny had reporters over for his family pizza nights. In contrast, we know barely anything about Justin Wilcox. All we know is that he liked Tom Petty and he likes some breakfast place near the Claremont.
As for press/access, many coaches use this as a recruiting advantage. Those coaches tend to recruit better players and win more games than our coach. Just look what is happening at other Pac schools. But it seems that Wilcox doesn't need any recruiting or PR boosts from letting fans, supporters, or potential players in.
"Coach, you were able to recruit a promising OL, WR, and the #1 rated longsnapper in the country. That's strong. Do you think with this recruiting class that you are now positioned to earn a winning conference record this year?"
Weak question. Even if he privately didn't think so, who would answer "no"?
Cal Strong would like to see how he answers when asked about the expectations. He no seem to understand that fans and donors want to see that now.
This far more important question than footwork, NIL, or staff camaraderie.
I gotta' agree with ConcernedParent, a hardball question will receive a bull**** and sunshine answer.
Honestly, it's really clear that JW hates pressers. We lose, his answers are predictable. We win, well, success has a thousand fathers.
I feel he might do his job better, if he had a press representative or, better yet, a dummy to stand up and answer questions that obviously distract him and waste his time. I do not need him to be Cicero, rather Andy Smith or Pappy Waldorf.
Just win, baby, don't worry about the press.
We have no idea how he would answer a "hardball" question about reasonable expectations/timelines, because no one has ever asked him one.
But we already receive a bs/sunshine answer for all the weak questions, so Cal Strong not sure what we have to lose by asking him an actual question.
He makes $3m+/year. Why not ask him a real question every once in a while?
As for press, even Tedford was more open about his life than Wilcox. He talked about crushing budweisers with his staff and showed pictures of the players hooping it up on his Cal basketball court. Sonny had reporters over for his family pizza nights. In contrast, we know barely anything about Justin Wilcox. All we know is that he liked Tom Petty and he likes some breakfast place near the Claremont.
As for press/access, many coaches use this as a recruiting advantage. Those coaches tend to recruit better players and win more games than our coach. Just look what is happening at other Pac schools. But it seems that Wilcox doesn't need any recruiting or PR boosts from letting fans, supporters, or potential players in.
I must agree with you on a few points.
My point, exactly, WIlcox often comes off overformal (probably doesn't want to say the wrong thing), so much so that he can look like someone facing a firing squad (e.g. the cover photo for this article). He could and should seek public-speaking coaching. Maybe join Toastmasters? And, indeed, this builds impressions for possible recruits. All that being said, Tom Landry was not a bubbling personality and he made things work in Cowboy-land. Still, I must agree, we need a bit more than the corporate accountant running down the balance sheet, if only to show the more human aspects of Cal Bear football. You're right, his tone and manner becomes the face of Cal football and right, now, it feels like, a little warmer than Ben Stein.
I would love for him to swing away on a hardball question, but there' a point where it would be become hostile. Then the real bs starts and he shuts down. What has he done to deserve hostility? Personally, all the talk about his failures overlooks the successes he has had and the circumstances need consideration. Student enthusiasm is tepid; administration is indifferent to success; the City is hostile and unaccommodating. Lonely job if you ask me. I am willing to see how this one last rebuild goes, but it's a tough schedule- time will tell.
I think it's hard to compare current college sports coaching results year over year with another coach from 10+ years ago. The transfer portal has changed the game and teams lose and gain considerable talent year over year.
Justin Wilcox got a two year pass in my book for Covid. Unlike so many other coaches, Berkeley's covid rules really hampered athletics through tje 2021 season.
That was two years ago now, so his pass is ending. This past season really hurt as we had elite offensive skill players for the first time in a long time. It's a shame our O line couldn't give the QB any time.
Hopefully, a new offensive staff will change things around. I will still go into the season hopeful, but every year I'm a little less hopeful than the last.
I think it's hard to compare current college sports coaching results year over year with another coach from 10+ years ago. The transfer portal has changed the game and teams lose and gain considerable talent year over year.
Justin Wilcox got a two year pass in my book for Covid. Unlike so many other coaches, Berkeley's covid rules really hampered athletics through tje 2021 season.
That was two years ago now, so his pass is ending. This past season really hurt as we had elite offensive skill players for the first time in a long time. It's a shame our O line couldn't give the QB any time.
Hopefully, a new offensive staff will change things around. I will still go into the season hopeful, but every year I'm a little less hopeful than the last.
I gave Wilcox a one-year-and-one-game COVID pass (the one game being that 2021 Arizona debacle). The rest of 2021 was on him. And if we were dead set on keeping him after he "turned down Oregon... twice", okay fine (probably our best option at that point), but we could've done it stretching his contract out four years, but definitely not six. Or at least with a more favorable buyout clause.
Still, I'm rooting for our coach to succeed big-time and I'm cautiously optimistic that he's finally figuring things out.
I think it's hard to compare current college sports coaching results year over year with another coach from 10+ years ago. The transfer portal has changed the game and teams lose and gain considerable talent year over year.
Justin Wilcox got a two year pass in my book for Covid. Unlike so many other coaches, Berkeley's covid rules really hampered athletics through tje 2021 season.
That was two years ago now, so his pass is ending. This past season really hurt as we had elite offensive skill players for the first time in a long time. It's a shame our O line couldn't give the QB any time.
Hopefully, a new offensive staff will change things around. I will still go into the season hopeful, but every year I'm a little less hopeful than the last.
I gave Wilcox a one-year-and-one-game COVID pass (the one game being that 2021 Arizona debacle). The rest of 2021 was on him. And if we were dead set on keeping him after he "turned down Oregon... twice", okay fine (probably our best option at that point), but we could've done it stretching his contract out four years, but definitely not six. Or at least with a more favorable buyout clause.
Still, I'm rooting for our coach to succeed big-time and I'm cautiously optimistic that he's finally figuring things out.
There was absolutely no need to extend him for interviewing with Oregon after 2021, we could have at least waited to see how 2022 went, if he didn't take the Oregon job he wasn't going anywhere. Musgrave should have been canned at that point though. That said, having extended him out 6 (now 5) years, we really need him to succeed and I am more optimistic now than at any time since 2017.
He gets a C+ for his press conferences. He is not a huge personality, he is clearly introverted and private. However, he is earnest, positive and he never throws his players or staff under the bus. He does not make excuses. Actually, I will increase his grade to B, because getting that right is so important (Fox gets a D, but if he dropped to an F and blew up maybe we could fire him).
Press conferences are just not that important. Wilcox misses making them a positive but at least they are not a negative. As for his personal life, again, he is clearly an introverted and private person. Also, he is single so there is less of the stock "coach at home BBqing with his wife and kids in Blackhawk" photo ops and stories. We really don't need to know if he is dating and who he is dating and he does not need that extra drama.
I did think it was interesting that he takes BART to practices. I don't know if there was a story on that but it would be fun to have a camera crew follow him on BART and his walk to and through campus. Cal could do more and still respect his privacy.
"Coach, you were able to recruit a promising OL, WR, and the #1 rated longsnapper in the country. That's strong. Do you think with this recruiting class that you are now positioned to earn a winning conference record this year?"
Weak question. Even if he privately didn't think so, who would answer "no"?
Cal Strong would like to see how he answers when asked about the expectations. He no seem to understand that fans and donors want to see that now.
This far more important question than footwork, NIL, or staff camaraderie.
I gotta' agree with ConcernedParent, a hardball question will receive a bull**** and sunshine answer.
Honestly, it's really clear that JW hates pressers. We lose, his answers are predictable. We win, well, success has a thousand fathers.
I feel he might do his job better, if he had a press representative or, better yet, a dummy to stand up and answer questions that obviously distract him and waste his time. I do not need him to be Cicero, rather Andy Smith or Pappy Waldorf.
Just win, baby, don't worry about the press.
I actually don't think Coach Wilcox hates pressers. He hates losing and isn't good at hiding his frustration or disappointment during the pressers. The reason that we may think he hates pressers is that team has been losing more than expected.
I'm actually impressed with his professionalism with the press. He clearly understands that it is part of his job and does his best to listen and provide the best answers that he can even when he feels like the question is flawed or that it is constructed in a way to lead him to say something that he doesn't think is true or is uncomfortable saying in public. He almost never quips back a reporter sarcastically like I see other coaches or athletes who truly hate dealing with the press.
For better or for worse, Coach Wilcox is terrible at faking or hiding how he really feels. Most people would call this authentic and would regard it as a good quality. Where it may limit him at least in the short term is, when he doesn't feel enthusiasm for something, he won't fake it and if he can't assure a recruit of something, he won't. Truthful perhaps to a fault even to the point of lacking the basic skills of exaggeration that a good salesman will often employ without being regarded as unethical. This is the aspect of his personality that has limited his ability in recruiting and why we need to have better on-field results to significantly improve recruiting.
"Coach, you were able to recruit a promising OL, WR, and the #1 rated longsnapper in the country. That's strong. Do you think with this recruiting class that you are now positioned to earn a winning conference record this year?"
Weak question. Even if he privately didn't think so, who would answer "no"?
Cal Strong would like to see how he answers when asked about the expectations. He no seem to understand that fans and donors want to see that now.
This far more important question than footwork, NIL, or staff camaraderie.
I gotta' agree with ConcernedParent, a hardball question will receive a bull**** and sunshine answer.
Honestly, it's really clear that JW hates pressers. We lose, his answers are predictable. We win, well, success has a thousand fathers.
I feel he might do his job better, if he had a press representative or, better yet, a dummy to stand up and answer questions that obviously distract him and waste his time. I do not need him to be Cicero, rather Andy Smith or Pappy Waldorf.
Just win, baby, don't worry about the press.
I actually don't think Coach Wilcox hates pressers. He hates losing and isn't good at hiding his frustration or disappointment during the pressers. The reason that we may think he hates pressers is that team has been losing more than expected.
I'm actually impressed with his professionalism with the press. He clearly understands that it is part of his job and does his best to listen and provide the best answers that he can even when he feels like the question is flawed or that it is constructed in a way to lead him to say something that he doesn't think is true or is uncomfortable saying in public. He almost never quips back a reporter sarcastically like I see other coaches or athletes who truly hate dealing with the press.
For better or for worse, Coach Wilcox is terrible at faking or hiding how he really feels. Most people would call this authentic and would regard it as a good quality. Where it may limit him at least in the short term is, when he doesn't feel enthusiasm for something, he won't fake it and if he can't assure a recruit of something, he won't. Truthful perhaps to a fault even to the point of lacking the basic skills of exaggeration that a good salesman will often employ without being regarded as unethical. This is the aspect of his personality that has limited his ability in recruiting and why we need to have better on-field results to significantly improve recruiting.
Well said. I agree, he's painfully honest and transparent and that conveys an ethos of integrity. Unfortunately, hype sells. Let's see how many happy pressers he gives next season. Maybe that will solve the problematic pressers.
