Spring Preview With Cal HC Justin Wilcox, TE Jack Endries and MLB Cade Uluave

With spring practice set to kick off on Wednesday, Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, tight end Jack Endries and middle linebacker Cade Uluave addressed the media this morning, talking about all the changes in staff and personnel and about expectations this spring.

"The transition has been really, really smooth," Wilcox said. "We have obviously, a number of new faces on offense, and with the rules like they are, you actually get some time with your players in the winter, up to two hours. So we got a significant amount of time working with the players. But the staff itself on offense has been great. A ton of energy, some really great football minds in there. Brian obviously has a long history in coordinating offense and having him here, you know, and then the other guys in the room, (WR coach) Kyle Cefalo, (OL) Coach (Famika) Anai, (Sr. Offensive Assistant Nick Rolovich) Rolo, (TE Coach) Mike Saffell and (RB Coach) Julian Griffin, who just joined us, has been really, really impressive.

“So it's been a lot of fun being in there with those guys. A lot of great football and a lot of great teaching going on. And our players, both sides are involved, especially offense. You see the energy coming up into the building. I think the guys on offense, those players have been up there more on their own, just voluntary office hours and spending time on their own watching tape. And it's been, it's been a lot of fun to watch."

With new offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin on board, Wilcox was hesitant to put a label on the brand of offense Cal fans should expect to see this season but offered a bit of a look at what they might see.

"I would say there's going to be a lot of variety," Wilcox noted. "You're going to see multiple personnel groupings. There's going to be different paces. Have the ability to run plays from the line of scrimmage, out of no huddle. There's huddle offense. You're going to see different formations and motions, very deliberate. It's like a wide open pro with the ability to go fast and also slow it down and get in the huddle and do some real specific game plan things."

Wilcox was asked about why there were so many coaching changes in the offseason, particularly on offense.

"Well, we were going to make some changes on offense and supplement some things," Wilcox exclaimed. "And there were some guys that had the opportunity to stay, who chose different opportunities elsewhere. We wish those guys, nothing but the best. So it ended up being basically everybody being new. Ultimately, we've got to be better, all of us, and we have to score on offense, we've got to execute in special teams, and we've got to stop people on defense. And that's the difference between us winning and losing games. And this is the environment we're in. There's a lot of new people and new faces. There's movement every year, and sometimes there's more than others. And this year we hadquite a bit of movement on on our coaching staff. So we're excited about the guys that are here, and it's an opportunity for all of us to get better."

With most of the offensive staff departing and only TE coach Mike Saffell returning, Wilcox was asked about what precipitated the moves.

"Well, we were going to make some changes on offense and supplement some things," Wilcox exclaimed. "And there were some guys that had the opportunity to stay, who chose different opportunities elsewhere. We wish those guys, nothing but the best. So it ended up being basically everybody being new. Ultimately, we've got to be better, all of us, and we have to score on offense, we've got to execute in special teams, and we've got to stop people on defense. And that's the difference between us winning and losing games. And this is the environment we're in. There's a lot of new people and new faces. There's movement every year, and sometimes there's more than others. And this year we hadquite a bit of movement on on our coaching staff. So we're excited about the guys that are here, and it's an opportunity for all of us to get better."

The offensive line room will be a big focal point this season with five portal additions and three more prep offensive linemen coming in.

"Well, we're looking for improvement at every position, and we need to get better at O-line, and from all those guys, we just want to see competition," Wilcox noted. "And I think the competition in that room will make everybody better. There have been some guys have kind of been banged up and in and out, and that's part of the game, but we brought in a number of guys to make that room more and more competitive so we can play at a higher level."

The only coaching position that remains unfilled is defensive coordinatory after DC Peter Sirmon departed to take a position coach spot with the New Orleans Saints. Wilcox was asked about their approach this spring filling the void.

"There's guys that have been here a while who are prepared for larger roles and more responsibility," Wilcox noted. "We'll make some announcements when it's appropriate. So we're not going to be changing language midstream. We're not installing a new system from top to bottom. You know, anybody that comes in here, we're always trying to get better so any new idea or nuance and something we can improve upon, we'll always look to do that, but we're not going to revamp the language or the structure of the defense, and those guys who've been on our staff for a number of years are ready for more responsibility. There will be some adjustments in titles and who's doing what, but I'll wait to announce that you know, at a later date."

With his experience as a defensive coordinator, might Wilcox take a bigger role with the D?

"We'll see," Wilcox said. "I don't know that it'll go that far. We've got some really, I keep saying this, we've got really good coaches on that side of the ball. They're going to have increased responsibility and exactly who's doing what I'll report at a later date, but we're in a really good position right now, and anybody that comes in here will supplement that room."

The linebacker and DB rooms took a big hit with graduation and an NFL future likely for several of the 2024 defensive departures. WIlcox was asked how they plan to fill that void.

"The defensive back room is going to look a lot different," Wilcox noted. "Lost some really good players back there, guys that have been with us a long time, and not only those guys at the combine, but some of those other players that had been veterans. You know, I'm thinking like Miles Williams, so I'm really interested to watch that defensive back room this spring and see who does what. There's some good players in there. But you know, when you lose Noel Williams - All-American and Craig Woodson, who was a six year player - All-ACC - he's going to get drafted. Marcus (Harris) did a good job for us. I wish Marcus would have had one more year with us, but Marcus did a good job.

“There's some veterans back there. So the DB room's got to be reloaded and I'm excited to see who does what. The linebacker room, obviously, with Cade coming back, we feel really good about him, as everybody does but the other linebacker positions are going to be very interesting to see who does what there, because Teddye (Buchanan) is a excellent football player. Again, going to be a draft pick. Performed really well, and all the reports out of the combine was how impressed they people were with those guys, obviously physically, but also just their football IQ and their demeanors. They're very, very polished pro candidates. So yeah, a lot's going to change on defense and those new faces which means new opportunities and it's exciting for us. But you know, really at every level of the defense, there's going to be a lot of competition so spring is going to be really, really important."

Senior running back Jaydn Ott is back after being limited much of last season by injury and he’ll be pushed by fellow 2024 starter Jaivian Thomas and potentially others in the running back room.

"Jaydn's doing well, healthy," Wilcox said. "Looks good out there. It's great having Jaden and Jet. Those are two starting running backs. Jet's a starting caliber running back. Obviously, we know what Jaydn is. After that, the depth in the running back room. In spring, it is going to be really exciting to watch who does what. It's going to be very, very competitive. So we'll see. Those guys are going to get plenty of opportunities, and then it's up to them to make the most of those opportunities."

With outside linebackers Xavier Carlton and David Reese graduating and hoping for NFL careers, the Bears will lean on rising junior OLB Ryan McCulloch as well as towards some of their new arrivals to help fill the void on the edge.

"We feel really, really good about Ryan McCullough," Wilcox said. "I think he's poised for a big spring and a big year. Very, very hard working, passionate football player. He's got a lot of tools. So really excited about Ryan. Other than that, it's going to be very, very competitive. I mean, we will see. And that's the beauty of when you do lose a number of players, there's a bit of the who's going to do what, but it's also really exciting, because you're going to see who steps up when they get an opportunity. And there's been productive offseason workouts, and we've done strength training, and we've done meetings and walkthroughs and all that's great, but at the end of the day, what matters most is football and what we do out on the field, so I'm eager to see that thing shake out too."

With so many debilitating injuries in recent years, with a new strength and conditioning program led by new S&C head coach Jason Novak, the Bears are working to find new ways to keep players health in 2025.

"Yeah, you're always looking to reduce those," Wilcox noted. "I don't know if anybody's ever succeeded in eliminating injuries, but we're trying to reduce those. It's been a very aggressive seven weeks in the weight room and on the field. I think the players will probably have some great insight for you on that. But certain measurements in lifting and running,  our conditioning and some of the conditioning testing that we're doing, flexibility, explosiveness, all those things, has been a lot of fun to to record those and publish those. So guys are seeing them every day when they walk in. I mean, they're all over the TVs in the locker rooms.

“So it's very competitive, because anytime you publish something or post it, people naturally are going to compete. So we've got a lot of that going on. The conditioning aspect of it has been noticeable so I'm excited for those guys to be able to take what they've done in the weight room and on the field and strength and conditioning and apply it to football. But we've seen significant gains and Coach Novak and his staff, he's got a great staff. They've done a phenomenal job."

Wilcox was asked how they hope and expect the strength and conditioning work they put in during the offseason will translate to the field this season.

"He (Novak) talks about finding strain. There's going to be taking strain, taking strain in the in the weight room, finding work, adding value, all those things apply to football, and they hear that each and every day in the weight room, how they push each other, how they push themselves first, and how they push each other, the communication that goes on from player to player in the weight room or on the field during conditioning. What happens when it gets hard, the onus on improvement, taking accountability for improving week to week. And that could be your body weight. It could be your accountability in the weight room. It could also be lifts and and timed drills that we're doing, and it's very competitive.

“We chart things in their team runs, which we've had on Tuesday and Thursday for the last two months. AndI think all of that applies to football. So it's great not only to prepare your body, but to prepare your mind, the teamwork aspect of it, the communication, how you talk to your teammates, what you expect and demand of yourself and your teammates. All of that carries over to football."

Spring ball will open this Wednesday morning at 9:30 and will be open to the public.