Bear Insider Video: Cal WR Jonathan Brady

Cal senior wide reciever Jonathan Brady transferred to Cal from New Mexico State last season through the transfer portal and recorded 36 catch for 386 yards and 3 TDs on the season for the Bears.

Now after a season in Berkeley under his belt, The 5-10/185 Brady is settling in and looking to build on last season’s solid performance. So far, he’s flashed several times in spring practice.

"It's been going really well, man," Brady said. "I can say just for me and the guys, you can tell like, we're a little more comfortable with the system, comfortable with the coaching staff and just the environment. I can say, last year wasn't really playing nervous, but I was a little timid. And then this year, I think playing into my role and just knowing everybody and knowing the system, it's been going very well."

After playing slot the prior three seasons, Brady is also getting some work on the outside - something that will allow two speedy, playmaking receivers to be on the field at the same time on occasion if Brady’s out wide and new portal transfer receiver Jacob De Jesus‍ is in the slot.

"I've been moving around," Brady said. "I might be out at the 1 and inside, too, for some plays. So it's been exciting. It's just getting the opportunity to make plays, you know, and it gives every, everyone in the room the opportunity, just to fill different positions and see what we're good at and what we're not good at and just to make plays and catch the ball and go score."

Now Brady and the wide receiver corps are working with a new face this spring with the arrival of new receivers coach Kyle Cefalo, who’s already seen great success in his young career, coaching four All-American receivers.

"Coach Cef, he's a great coach," Brady said. "What you see is what you're going to get. In the film room, he's going to coach us hard and explain everything and just teach us football, and then on the field, he's gonna make sure that we know what we're doing, that we're very detailed, very technical. And at the end of the day, he wants to have fun and make plays.

"He's just teaching us ball, just teaching us how do we want to win on certain situations and what certain techniques we want to use just to win in different situations."

As for his playing style, Brady highlighted his versatility and playmaking ability.

"I feel like I'm dynamic," Brady note. "I can play outside, I can play slot. You can put me wherever you want. My biggest thing is just to help the offense score and just make plays when my number's called."

Brady saw some time as a punt returner last season on eight punts but only had the chance to return one for 8 yard. This season he could potentially see time as both a punt and kick returner.

"Oh yeah, I'll be doing both of those," Brady said. "So I've been getting reps at those and I've been getting better with my technique. That's a day to day thing."

One of the biggest elements lacking in the receiving corps for several seasons is the lack of physicality and effectiveness as blockers downfield - something the Bears hope to remedy under Cefalo this season going forward.

"For sure. No block, no rock," Brady said with a smile. "So we've been taking that with every practice, trying to win on the perimeter and give our bubble guys and our backs an opportunity just to go make a play and stretch the field. 

"Everyone in the room has heart. It's really like a one to two second block. The guys drop the anchor and just make sure our man doesn't make the play. So when you have that mindset and you got heart, anything is possible."

The senior receiver was asked how he’d describe his wide receiver room.

"I don't know. It's different," Brady soid. "Everyone brings different flavors. Different flavors, different tangibles to the game and off the field, everyone, we're cool. We hang out. Everyone's funny in their own way. I really don't think you could describe us, but I love this group. We're super tight, man. And you could tell when we're on the field and you could tell when we're off the field. I love them group of guys."

Asked about tough covers on the defensive side, Brady spread the praise around.

“That one is tough because you’ve got the guys that came back, like Ja’ir, Zay Crosby, but then you’ve got new guys like Drew (Polidore) and Zeke (Masses) and everyone, man, that whole back end, they've been working. It's very different. But, you know, they're guys too. So they come out here and they show it, and iron versus iron, and we sharpen each other's skills. And it's been real work.”

With regard to fan expectations, the confident receiver tells Cal fans they’ll see improvement in the win column in 2025.

"Expect a lot of wins," Brady said. "Expect explosives from the offense, and expect shutdown from the defense. I know it's early, but right now, we've been clicking on all cylinders so it's been real fun just seeing, not even just scrimmage days, but just team periods, bro, we bring so much fire and so much excitement and energy in the team periods, and everyone is competing, everyone is trying to make a play, whether it's offense, defense, good on good. You might not win every rep, but it's been really exciting to see, just competing.”

For several seasons, the Bears have been a play or two a game away from several more games in the win column. Brady was asked what it’s going to take to change that equation.

"Really, just trusting each other, just going all in," Brady noted. That's our biggest thing right now, is all in. So you'll see something different this year and I'm very excited about this year."