Cal Frosh LB Cade Uluave Sweeps Pac-12 Frosh and Defensive Player of the Week Awards

Cal true frosh middle linebacker Cade Uluave pulled an impressive double play this week, winning back Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman Player of the Week, just weeks after moving into the starting lineup after 1^st Team All-Conference MLB Jackson Sirmon was lost for the season with a torn bicep.

DEFENSE & FRESHMAN:  Cade Uluave, Jr., Fr., ILB, California (South Jordan, Utah)

Freshman All-American candidate had an interception at Cal's 3-yard line on the game's final play to secure a 42-39 win over Washington State

Added 2 fumble recoveries, including one that he stripped and returned 51 yards for a touchdown and the game's first score.  Had another on the Cougars' 19-yard line that led to a Cal touchdown

Had 9 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss (-4 yards)

45 tackles on the season with at least 9 in each of the last 4 contests, as well as a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss (-37 yards), 1.0 sack (-23 yards), 1 interception that he returned 4 yards, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries that he has returned 51 yards and 2 forced fumbles

Has played in all 10 games and started each of the last 3, while all of his stats other than participation have come over the last 5 contests

First Cal player to win either award this season and first Golden Bear to win both in the same week since the Freshman award was created prior to the 2019 season.  Uluave is the first Cal player to win Defensive Player of the Week since LB Kuony Deng in December 2020.  First Cal player to earn Freshman of the Week since RB Jaydn Ott won it 3 times last year and only the 2nd Cal defensive player to win (CB Lu-Magia Hearns III in November 2021)

Also nominated for Defense: Evan Williams, DB, Oregon; Kitan Oladapo, DB, Oregon State; Dashaun Mallory, DL, Arizona State; Sione Vaki, S/RB, Utah; Shilo Sanders, S, Colorado; Isaiah Ward, DL, Arizona

Also nominated for Freshman:  Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona; Jermod McCoy, DB, Oregon State; Teitum Tuioti, OLB, Oregon; Sean Na'a, OL, Arizona State; Mikey Matthews, WR, Utah

OFFENSIVE LINE:  Brian Driscoll, RS Jr., C, California (San Diego, Calif.)

Became the first Cal football offensive lineman to score a touchdown in the Golden Bears' recorded history dating back to at least 1996 (according to Stats, Inc.) when he recovered a fumble in the Washington State end zone in 2nd quarter of Cal's 42-39 win over the Cougars

Paved the way for running back Jaydn Ott, who rushed for 167 yards and 1 touchdown on 27 carries while becoming the first Cal player to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a single season since Patrick Laird in 2017

Started each of Cal's 10 games in 2023 as well as a team-high-tying 22 in a row overall

2nd time this season Driscoll has been honored after winning in Week 1.  Becomes just the 2nd Cal player to win this award since it was created prior to the 2019 season, joining Ben Coleman who also won it twice.  Coleman won it once in 2021 and again in 2022

Also nominated: Tanner Miller, RG, Oregon State; Steven Jones, RG, Oregon; Nate Kalepo, LG, Washington; Leif Fautanu, C, Arizona State; Jordan Morgan, LT, Arizona