Bears Add More Speed to WR Room With NMS WR Jonathan Brady

The Bears picked up another wide receiver target today with the commitment of New Mexico State sophomore receiver Jonathan Brady‍ days after his official visit to Cal.

“I’m very excited to get up there,” Brady said after his commitment. “The visit went better than I expected. I have a longtime friend there in Jaydn Ott so I was with him a lot. Just how the coaches welcomed me and my dad was big. It really wasn’t so much the facilities and the football part. It was the whole idea of family. We went to dinner and I didn’t know anyone but Jaydn but they just welcomed me in like I was already a Bear. Coach Toler, Coach Joc (offensive QC Joc Upton), Coach AT (RB coach Aristotle Thompson), Coach Wilcox - all those guys really put an emphasis on family and that meant a lot to me. Going to a school, you look for certain things and that felt like home to me. 

“All the coaches' kids were there and were sitting and interacting with players like Jaydn and the coaches, just sitting with whoever they want so that told me everyone is just so comfortable with each other. I felt an instant connection talking with Coach Toler, too. While getting coached hard, I still want to feel like part of a family. That was the biggest thing for me. That was the dealbreaker.

“Ultimately, I’m leaving my family to be a part of another family and when I see my dad really taking it all in and how Coach Toler got to him, that was crazy because my dad doesn’t just go for anything. It has to be real to him. I was like, ‘Wow, he got Dad.”

The versatile receiver did it all for the Aggies, also rushing the ball, handling returns and playing gunner on punt returns in addition to playing receiver. As a frosh at NMS, Brady played in 13 games with 9 starts in 2022. He finished second on the team in receiving with 23 catches for 310 yards and 3 TDs and led the team in kick returns with 200 yards. He also added 101 rushing yards. As a soph last season, Brady helped New Mexico State to a solid 10-5 season that included a definitive 31-10 win over Auburn and a bowl game appearance against Fresno State. He added 38 catches for 624 yards (16.44 ypc) and 4 TDs in 2023.

Brady is excited to reunite with his former Bishop Gorman teammate Ott after building a good friendship in high school.

“It’s crazy, it’s a full-circle moment,” Brady said of being reunited with Ott. “I’m from Cali, too, like Jaydn. I moved to Vegas to play at Gorman, just like him. I always told him, ‘Man, I don’t know when I’ll see you again but I’ll see you again real soon’ and it’s crazy to be playing again with him at Cal. It was fun on the field.”

As for what he brings to the field, Brady described himself as a dynamic slot receiver who’s very explosive, with speed and an ability to take the top off defenses with big play potential both as a receiver and a returner.

“I really just want to help the team so whatever they need me to do, I’ll be happy to do,” Brady said. “I even had a couple reps on punts as a gunner. I just want to see us win and ultimately see us win the ACC.

“I’m an electric, dynamic player. I like to think of it as having juice. I bring a lot of juice. I already know my guy JOtt brings a lot of juice and I’m coming in to match his energy and compete.

“I think we’re building something really special in Berkeley and I’m excited to get out there.”

Brady also took visits to Cincinnati and Fresno State and canceled more trips with his commitment to Cal. He’ll enroll this spring and have 3 years to play 2 seasons at Cal.

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Scouting Report - WR Jonathan Brady

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