Amidst all the transfer portal and college playoffs madness, the Bears hosted an Elite Junior Day over the weekend, with new head coach Tosh Lupoi jetting in after Friday’s national semifinal game to be there to oversee the day.
Reactions are still coming in but here are some of the visitors comments about their thoughts on their visit to Cal.
6-0/180 Serra High School 3 star RB Geovanni Henley:
“My visit to Cal was awesome. One thing that stood out to me was how much experience the coaches have at the highest level. Many of the coaches have coached in the NFL, and Coach Tosh has made it to the national championship multiple times.
“The environment around the school felt great. The school really impressed me with everything that’s going to happen in the future and the vision they have moving forward.”
6-0/210 Folsom High School 3 star RB/LB EJ Coleman:
“I enjoyed my time at the facility and meeting the staff. Every time I visit i learn a little more about the program and get excited about the possibility of being a contributing player on this team.”
6-5/245 Sutter Union 4 star edge Troy Bowens:
“This was the best visit I’ve ever had to Cal. My impressions were that in the short time that Tosh has been there, the vibe has changed significantly. The facilities and a school itself have always been awesome. About as good as you can get. The staff was amazing very nice. My family said that it felt right at home.”
5-9/190 Bishop O’Dowd 3 star RB/ATH Lamar Ellis:
“It was a great visit. Honestly, the vibe of the program stood out the most. Everyone was genuine and easy to talk to and the facilities were really nice. Getting to meet the coaches and see how they do things was big for me. Overall, it was a really good experience and Cal definitely left a strong impression.”
6-1/205 Folsom 3 star QB Brody Rudnicki:
“With coach Lupoi now being at Cal, it only strengthens why I would want to come to Cal. He’s been around a lot of highly talented players and coaches from when he coached in college and the NFL.
“The offensive staff is awesome with Coach McDaniels, Coach Rolovich and Coach Somerville.”
6-5?245 3 star Grant Union OL Giovanni Hodge:
“My impression of the visit to Cal was amazing and I like how big the networking there is and how coach Tosh is going to run the program now with this new defensive staff. Cal is very big in my recruitment.”
6-4/275 3 star Cardinal Newman DT Kahlio Vaetoe:
“The visit was awesome! What stood out most was just the energy around the program - the way the coaches and players interacted and how focused everything was on development. It felt really positive and organized, it was good to be back.
5-10/175 3 star Manteca RB Nikko Juarez:
"Having Coach Tosh there is definitely a big deal," Juarez said. "He’s a great coach with a strong reputation, and you can tell he brings a lot to the program. For me, it’s about the whole picture - the staff, the culture, and how I fit there- Cal is a place I’m excited about.”
"It was a great visit, I really enjoyed it. It's impressive what Coach Lupoi is doing with the program along with the whole staff. I loved the facilities and all the resources available to the athletes. Also, the business professor was excellent, I took a lot away from that meeting, and it gave me a clearer vision of how strongly I want to pursue being an entrepreneur."
6-2/190 4 star Serra safety Malakai Taufoou:
“It was great. Love the staff and I’m excited to see what they’re building in the future at Cal.”
