ACC Kickoff: Cal QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele
CHARLOTTE, NC - Frosh QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele has had a whirlwind last 12 months of his young life, going from a slightly under the radar QB from Campbell High School in Hawaii to getting invited to the prestigious Elite 11 camp and earning some of the highest reviews there to turning in a stellar, record-breaking senior season where he broke the state record for career passing yards while tossing an amazing 46 TDs with just 3 interceptions, to graduating early and committing to Cal only to flip to Oregon and suiting up on the sidelines of the Rose Bowl to back to Cal a week weeks later through the transfer portal. And after completing his first semester at Cal after graduating high school early and participating in spring ball, the talented signal caller now finds himself at the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte.
"It’s been fun out here for sure. I've grown a lot since I've came in," the frosh QB said. "You know, my body's changed a lot and I've learned so much about defenses and just about our offense in general. But there's also a lot of things I need to work on just to get on that field. I'm for sure putting the extra time in the film room. It's just gonna be the little things that help me get on the field. And I just think if I just continue to keep working and just keep being my best in every aspect of what we're doing, I think I have a good chance of seeing the field."
The talented frosh shined during much of spring ball while also occasionally showing some rawness in his reads on the field.
"Things have slowed down tremendously for me," Sagapolutele said. "It's way faster, of course, than high school football, but you know, just going through spring, just getting a feel of how the speed is, and just growing my knowledge of the defenses and just the offense in general, it really helped things slow down for me. And now coming into PRPs, I really see it way better than I did at first."
The new QB was asked about some of the newest wide receiver additions over the summer including Wisconsin transfer Mark Hamper and speedy South Dakota transfer Quaron Adams and he got a big smile on his face when he responded.
"Hamper, he's a great addition for us, and Quaron, so fast. Just great to have speed all around,” he said. “I just can't talk highly enough about them, like they're just great people overall, great people to be around and even better players on the field. It's just amazing."
Sagapolutele arrived at the same time as new OC Bryan Harsin and senior offensive assistant Nick Rolovich so they’re all learning on the job together and so far, he’s liked what he’s seen in his new coaches and offense.
"I just love that we're able to showcase each one of the QBs talents, what their strengths are, and it fits all of us," he said. “And you know, I feel like we're gonna be exciting this year, and I think you can expect great things from us."
As for Harsin’s coaching style, count Sagapolutele a fan.
"I'd say his style is very strong and he's very direct, for sure, and I really like that," Sagapolutele said. "He really gets to the point, and he really makes sure you understand everything. That's been very helpful to me because if he wasn't very direct with me, then I don't think I would have grown as much as I have."
As for Rolovich, the new Cal QB’s known the offensive guru for years with his strong ties to Hawaii.
"Coach Rolo? They have their same similarities, but they also have their big differences, because Rolo came from the run and shoot, something I'm used to, and he's also learning the offense along with me,” he said. “So I'm just happy that Rolo is there to help me as well along the journey. There's a lot I could take away from his advice and he just always tells me to be me, I don't have to change myself for anyone else. Just doing that, it's been really helpful."
Stay tuned for more one on one interviews this week from the 2025 ACC Media Kickoff.
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