De Jesus Ready to Start Next Phase of His Life at Cal

After losing a pair of contributing wide receivers through the portal in the last month, the Bears held to the old adage of If you can’t beat them, join them, adding LA Bowl Offensive MVP Jacob De Jesus‍ through the transfer portal this weekend.

The 5-7/175 De Jesus ran circles around the Bears in UNLV’s LA Bowl win last month, hauling in two catches for 38 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown, three punt returns for 75 yards, including a 38-yarder that led to a score and a kick return for 25 yards to help lead the Rebels to the win. For the season, DeJesus had 36 catces for 512 yards (14.2 ypc) and 3 TDs. He was also named All-Conference as a punt returner and to the All-Mountain West Academic Team.

Before transferring to UNLV, DeJesus starred for local Modesto JC, As a freshman, he totaled 1,243 all-purpose yards and was named All-Conference and his league's All-Purpose Player of the Year.
As a sophomore, De Jesus added 64 catches for 914 yards and 5 TDs while rushing 26 times for 117 yards and another score. 

The newest Bear hadn’t been recruited by Cal out of high school or during his initial stint at Modesto JC so the relationship is recent - as are his new position coach and offensive coordinator at Cal - in wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo and OC Bryan Harsin.

"It's been really good," De Jesus said of his recent interactions with his new coaches. "Coach Cef and Coach Harsin have really been talking to me a lot like, making me feel like I'm special over there so I'm excited about it, Coach Harsin and Coach Cef have coached at some good programs. I'm really excited to play for Coach Cef because he's coached like four All-Americans in the past five years (Arkansas State WRs Omar Bayless in 2019 and Jonathan Adams Jr. in 2020 and Utah State's Deven Thompkins and Jalen Royals). I'm just trying to learn from him and up my game.”

“They see me fitting into the offense well there. A lot of speed in the passing game. It sounds like they're gonna be in a lot of 11-personnel and things like that. So, like they were just telling me they like me in the slot, in the screen game, even down the field passing game."

De Jesus and his 4-year-old daughter Amelia and his fiance Kirsten were prominently featured in the bowl game broadcast, something that made the future Bear beam with pride.

Bear Insider

De Jesus with fiance Kirsten and daughter Mimi

“Yeah, definitely,” De Jesus said. “I liked it when they showed my family and everything like that while I was playing. That's my whole life. My daughter and football. Just seeing those things put together is awesome."

De Jesus noted that they hoped to be married soon, potentially in the bay area and are in the process of looking for a new home to raise their little girl in as soon as possible while getting ready to attend class at Cal and participate in spring ball in the coming months.

De Jesus will join new incoming portal receiver Dazmin James‍ (Arkansas) and prep receiver Meyer Swinney‍ as part of the newest additions for the Cal wide receiver room. All will participate in spring ball.

Related:

Bears Pick up 4 Star Navy All-American OL Justin Hasenhuetl

Bears Flip Michigan State TE Commit Mason Mini