The Bears hosted their first in-season group of unofficial visitors in their home-opening 35-3 victory over Texas Southern.
Tyree Sams - 5-8/175 WR, Clovis North. As a junior, the blazing fast WR with 10.4 100 speed had 44 catches for 534 yards and 7 TDs and 1,000 all-purpose yards.
“It was great!” Sams said. “The atmosphere was amazing and the energy was good. Being on the field was electric. The coaches are real cool and personable and the fans and players all seem to have positive energy. The facilities are clean and memorable. I don’t know...everything about Berkeley feels good.
“I sat behind Jaron’s family and they were so nice and shared food with me. I thought that was cool. The Berkeley staff always make sure I’m comfortable and my family is taken care of. They do a good job at that kind of stuff. The seat view was good and comfortable.
“I can’t wait to play there! I’m ready now! I want to play on this team with these coaches in front of these fans and I can’t wait to catch balls from #3. He is iconic. The weather was great and my family loves the atmosphere. Feels like where I am suppose to be.
“As I looked across the stadium at the student section I was like whoa!!!! The whole school is here! I also know some kids that were in that section. A few kids I went to school with attend Cal and were in that section. They said it was lit in the student section!”
Broncs Baker - 6-1/215 LB, Stansbury HS (Tooele, UT). The 1st team all-state 3 star LB also holds offers from Kansas State and ASU.
“Cal was amazing, my family loved everything about it,” Baker said. “Things that stood out: the defensive unit! It was fun to watch them fly around, especially those linebackers. After the game we were able to talk with coach Bruno and discuss the play of the LBs. The California weather was also unbelievable and the whole vibe was just awesome.
“That student section was bringing energy. It would be fun to play in front of that passion and chaos. Sign me up!”
Hunter Eligon - 6-3/250 DL, Los Alamitos. The 2027 3 star DL also holds an early offer from Hawaii.
“I was thankful for the opportunity to visit Cal Berkeley and attend the game yesterday,” Eligon said. “The campus was beautiful and I really appreciated how welcoming and engaging everyone was, from the coaching staff to the current players and fellow recruits. The football players’ lounge was especially impressive and gave a great glimpse into the team culture.
“What stood out to me the most was Coach Browning’s decision to spend time with us recruits right after a big win. Instead of celebrating with his players, he made it a priority to connect with us and ask how we felt about the game, the school, and the overall experience. That meant a lot to me.
“I’ve always had a strong interest in Cal, especially since they recruited my older brother. Even though the coaching staff has changed, it was great to see that Coach Benji and Coach Marshall still remembered my parents and were genuinely engaging with us throughout the visit. Cal is a top-tier academic institution, and I really like the direction the football program is heading—especially on the defensive side. Even after a victory, hearing Coach Browning say, “We have to play better,” showed me the high standards and commitment to growth that define the team.
Giovanni Hodge - 6-4/250 DE/edge, Grant Union/Sacramento. The 2027 4 star edge also holds offers from ASU, Arizona, SDSU and more.
“My visit to cal was good,” Hodge said. “Some things that stood to me were the way they warmed up together and the defense played really well together. The students were cool and the student section looked full and with lots of energy.”
Justin Coach - 6-2/205 LB, St. John Bosco. The 2027 3 star LB currently holds offers from Cal, UCLA, Washington, ASU and more.
"One of the things that stood out to me on my trip to Cal were the atmosphere of the stadium. I loved the campus and the linebackers played great! The students there were very friendly and the student section is always lit."
Amaari Harris - 6-0/160 2026 Lathrop DB
“My visit to cal felt like home,” Harris said. “I loved meeting the coaches and players. The stadium stood out to me especially the tunnel where the players came out. The love from the players definitely brought the trip to a new level as well.”
The Bears will next face off against 2-0 Big Ten foe Minnesota at 7:30 pm in Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Stay tuned for an update on this weekend’s visitors.
