The 2024 vs 2025 Program Overview - The Wide Receivers
This is the fifth in a series of articles that will cover every aspect of the program including the coaching staff. A review of 2024, the roster comings and goings and the projection of the unit going into the Spring.
The Wide Receiver group are the Quarterback’s best friends, the primary drivers of explosive plays and the crucial blockers on any long run from a tailback.
2024 Recap:
This group entered Fall Camp looking to be a strength of the team. With a slew of injuries, that turned out not to be the case. Some of the challenges fell on the porous pass protection for Fernando Mendoza and some on this unit’s inability to create chunk plays and effectively block on running plays. Tobias Merriweather and Kyion Grayes were the two top wideouts through the first part of camp before Grayes went down with an injury, followed late in camp by Merriweather going down. Neither ended up being a real factor in Cal’s 2024 offense. Promising freshman Josiah
Martin also got hurt after he showed that he was the most dynamic weapon for the Bears in the slot. Instead, Nyziah Hunter took advantage of the playing time opportunity and led Cal in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Trond Grizzell rebounded from a slow start to be the team leader in yards per reception, Mikey Mathews, when healthy, was also a key contributor as was Jonathan Brady. Injuries derailed Mason Starling yet again, leaving the Bears with a WR room that was short on playmakers.
2025 Departures
Nyziah Hunter: Transfered to Nebraska
Josiah Martin: Transfered to Oklahoma
Mikey Mathews: Transfered to UCLA
2025 Returners: (heights and weights are from Fall of 2024)
Trond Grizzell: RS Senior; 6’4, 205, 27 catches, 401 yards and 1 TD in 2024
Jonathan Brady: Senior; 5’10, 180, 36 receptions, 386 yards and 3 TDs in 2024
Tobias Merriweather: Junior; 6’5, 195; 11 catches, 125 yards and 1 TD in 2024
Mavin Anderson: Senior; 6’, 200; 14 receptions, 99 yards in 2024
Mason Starling: RS Senior; 6’4, 200; 9 catches 121 yards
Kyion Grayes: RS Sophomore; 6’, 190, 2 catches for 22 yards in 2024
Trevor Rogers: RS Freshman; 6’3, 195, 1 catch for 17 yards
Javian Plummer: RS Junior; 6’3, 200
Jordan King: RS Junior; 6’2, 210, 4 catches for 50 yards (assuming he gets a scholarship)
2025 Additions (Transfer Portal)
Jacob De Jesus: RS Senior; 5’7, 175, 36 catches for 512 yards and 3 TDs
Dazmin James: RS Sophomore; 6’2, 196, 3 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD
2025 Additions (High School)
Meyer Swinney: 6’3, 210
Projections
It starts with the loss of arguably the teams two most productive receivers in Hunter and Mathews and the most promising youngster in Martin. Hunter and Martin in particular were big hits. They have very bright futures. Health becomes the key word in describing the 2025 prospects as only Brady and Grizzell have proven themselves to be resilient and available throughout their careers though neither are WR1 or WR2 on a top notch passing offense. Grayes and Merriweather are clearly very talented players but will need to prove they are durable. Rogers looked like a potential playmaker in camp and practice and he’ll get every opportunity to earn a role. If Anderson can bounce back and cash in on the promise he showed as a freshman, that would be a big boost to the unit. DeJesus almost certainly steps in to take the starting role in the slot. He’s a proven, highly productive player, albeit with a limited ceiling. James is just the opposite. Can he stay healthy and show he’s more than a tall, fast athlete? Swinney’s being slept on. He was hugely productive in high school and has the frame and athleticism to provide the Bears with the type of big target they haven’t had in many seasons. There are a lot of bodies here with plenty of size and speed throughout the room. The addition of new WR coach Kyle Cefalo raises expectations as he’s had outstanding results as an OC and WR coach at Utah State who has coached 4 All-Americans. In short, this unit is high on potential and questionable on proven production.
Previous Articles in this series: