New Bears in Town: Maryland Grad Transfer TE Corey Dyches
6-2/220 redshirt senior TE Corey Dyches committed to the Bears as a grad transfer over the spring. An honorable mention All-Big Ten player as a soph, Dyches will bring elite tight end pass catching skills to complement returning starter Jack Endries and provide another solid target for Cal QBs Fernando Mendoza and Chandler Rogers.
Dyches starred for nearby Potomac High School in Oxen Hill, Maryland as a prep, choosing the Terps over North Carolina, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College and more in 2020 after hauling 51 catches for 1126 yards (24.8 ypc) and 19 TDs as a senior.
The number four nationally-ranked tight end in catches in 2023, Dyches totaled 49 catches for 491 yards and 2 TDs as a junior, good for eighth in overall receptions in the Big Ten last season and the most for conference tight ends.
The new tight end addition talked about what motivated him to make the cross-coastal transition to Cal.
"Honestly, school," Dyches said. "Football is one thing, but the area's nice. It's a great place to be for my last year I feel like. My thing coming to school here was just I'm able to focus a lot better than I would be at home with a bunch of different distractions."
Another big selling point was the nearly-perfect weather he’s experienced since being in Berkeley the last month.
'It's amazing," Dyches said with a smile. “It's like 20 degrees lighter. No humidity. So I'm just loving that adjustment."
The athletic new addition to the tight end room noted what he brings to the field for the Bears.
"Definitely my quickness, using my quickness to get blocks on early or just running routes," Dyches noted. “So quickness, I'd probably say that's my advantage."
Dyches will be playing under first-year tight end coach Mike Saffell, a prospect he’s looking forward to.
"He's a great guy," Dyches said of Saffell. "He played the game not too long ago here about four or five years ago. So I mean, just being able to play for a guy who actually played in the program, knows about the programs when he was (playing at Cal), it's a great opportunity."
The senior’s transition to Cal has been smooth so far, particularly with his new teammates.
"A lot of great guys, and everybody's cool," Dyches said. "Since I've been here. I haven't gotten any bad vibes. It's been great."
Having obtained his undergraduate degree at Maryland, Dyches is enrolled in one of Cal’s certificate programs this summer and for the 2024-25 school year.
"I will be getting my business certificate this fall," the senior TE noted. "I probably won't be here long enough to get my masters but I'll definitely come back in the long run if I'm able to."
It’s only been a few weeks but the new Bears’ tight end has already seen results.
"They've been great," Dyches said of the workouts. "It's a little different with the weather so it's a lot less on the body. I feel like it's nice, it's great work. Coach B has been nothing but great so I've just continued to grow, continue to build."
As for what he’s looking forward to this season, Dyches keeps it simple.
"Just winning as a team, having a great season all together," Dyches said. "I mean, we win as a team, it brings attention to everybody. And that's what goes unnoticed. Like when you win games, it increases everybody's chances of just making it the next level. Just play well and show that we're capable of being a great team."
Related:
Bears Add Maryland Portal Tight End Corey Dyches
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