2025 ACC Football Kickoff: Cal MLB Cade Uluave

CHARLOTTE, NC - Less than two years before Cal junior middle linebacker Cade Uluave took the stage in Charlotte at the ACC Football Kickoff this week, an undersized and somewhat underrecruited true freshman middle linebacker Cade Ulave too the world be storm, going from a backup linebacker, to an emergency backup running back and back to middle linebacker - all in the first six games of his freshmans season in 2023.

"I kind of started playing football ever since I could walk, really," Uluave said, talking about his it all began for him at media day. "I think I've just always loved it. My dad played football. He played football in high school and played football at Southern Utah University, and he's always been an example to me. My dad had a rule that that I couldn't play tackle football until I was 12. That was just the rule. So I played flag football until I was 12, and I begged him every year, ‘Dad, let me just play. Let me just play tackle.’ 

“So then I remember when I finally turned 12 and I go to my first tryout, and I'm just like, ‘This is awesome!’ Ever since that moment, I was like, I want to do this, and I was able to play and start as a freshman in high school and work through that. I remember my freshman year I went to a brand new high school, brand new first year it was open, so it split off of another high school. So you can imagine all those players that are on their team wanted to stay, obviously. So, you know, we kind of got all the JV guys.

“We went 0-11, didn't win a single game my freshman year, and quite honestly, I was like, this sucks but I really like football. And, you know, I stuck with it. Was able to play. Had great sophomore, junior years and ended up getting hurt my senior year, so didn't play much. And then I came to Cal and I was able to get in early and play, and it's just just blown up since then."

After linebacker injuries forced Uluave back to his original middle linebacker position, the true frosh got thrown into the game after even more injuries midseason.

"It was Oregon State," Uluave said of his debut. "A few weeks before that, I was switched to running back because of injuries and whatnot and because of more injuries at linebacker, I got switched back to linebacker. They installed a whole new package for Oregon State so I was kind of late to the game, and I remember one of guys goes down and I'm chilling on the sideline and I hear, 'Cade, get ready to play!' So I grab helmet, I run in there and once I got in there, took me a few plays to kind of get settled in, but then I was like, 'This is fun, like, this is what I want to do. So it's worked out and it's been great, but I was thrown in the fire. But, I mean, I guess that's the best way to learn. Like best way to swim is get thrown in the river, you know?

"It was crazy and it happened all so fast so for me, I was just kind of shook. I was like, wow, this is all really happening. And for me, I was just out there playing football, that's really what it was at the end of the day. And I'm grateful for all the things that have fallen into place. It's been a hell of a ride, and I'm living through it and it's been great."

When Uluave got his shot and stood out right away, he was playing alongside veteran standout middle linebacker Jackson Sirmon, who was in the middle of a stellar season himself yet the green but eager freshman matched him nearly tackle for tackle once he got his shot, earning Freshman All-American honors as well as Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

"I think he was kind of surprised, too, at first," Uluave said. "Early on, I'd watch film with him, and he talked to me, and I'm like, I have no idea. I have no idea what I'm looking at. So for him, for him to see me kind of make plays, he was probably,like, ‘What's happening here?’ But then, you know, as I started learning the game more, he actually turned into, honestly, like my own personal coach. Like this dude helped me watch film together. He basically had a headset just for me on the sideline after he got hurt and I couldn't do without him. So he was great."

Now Uluave is preparing to play alongside his third difference MLB starting partner after fellow MLB Teddye Buchanan was drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens after a strong senior season in 2024.

Prime candidates include standout BYU transfer Harrison Taggart‍ and 100-tackle Colorado State transfer Buom Jock‍ as well as athletic redshirt frosh Luke Ferrelli.

 "I think they're both super talented players and I think they play the linebacker position in very different ways, but both play very effectively,” Uluave said of the portal transfer duo. “Buom has a much bigger frame. And then we got Harrison from BYU and he's kind of my similar style, kind of a little shorter, little stockier, but fast and explosive. So I'm excited to see how it pans out. I think they're going to battle, and whoever's the better linebackers will play. And Luke's in the mix too. Luke's a baller, too. Super athletic. So all three of those guys are fighting for the job, and I'm excited to see how all pans out. And you know, I've been in the middle of it trying to help all of them out and  I'm really excited." 

The next topic of conversation in our one-on-one conversation turned toward the myriad of close losses in 2024 and the role that inadequate strength and conditioning may have played in the late game struggles.

"The new strength staff has been tremendous, just tremendous, like it's been a night and day and I think that all starts with the strength and conditioning, right?" the junior MLB said. "Because most of the year, you're with them. I mean, all winter workouts, all summer workouts, you're with them, and they're doing everything. So the team that coach Wilcox brought in, they've instilled a great culture, a great team mentality, which is smart and tough, that's been instilled in all of us, and just just the emphasis they bring, it has been great."

WIth the arrival of head strength and conditioning coach Justin Novak and his team, Uluave has seen a distinct difference in the effort and mentality he’s seen around him.

"I think we have the most competitive team we've had,” the junior MLB noted. “We have the most football hungry team we've ever had, and we just want guys that just want to win. And I think that starts with a strong strength staff and I think they've done a great job."

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