Bears Make a Late Pickup with CSM OLB Deon White

With a couple extra slots available to fill, the Bears once again reached into JC powerhouse College of San Mateo to pick up versatile outside linebacker Deon White on his visit today to Cal.

The 6-3/200 White did it all for CSM, playing linebacker, in the slot and DB for the Bulldogs, with 56 tackles, an interception and several sacks and forced fumbles on the year. 

"Cal was just a great fit for me academically and with what they're doing on the field and their coaches," said White. "I can see myself really fitting in there and getting it done at Cal."

CSM has placed a significant number of players in D1 football over the years, including Cal signee and fellow Bulldog linebacker Colt Doughty, who joins White in the 2018 class after enrolling for spring in January.

"We're excited for Deon," said CSM coach Tim Tullock. "He played almost everything for us on defense, from starting at corner as a freshman, then he played pit safety, who matches up at times on the slot and he's played on the edge of the box as an edge backer. We blitzed him off the edge and did a lot of stuff with him. He's a really versatile kid. 

"He played quarterback and wideout in high school at Chavez High in Stockton so he's used to doing a lot of things.

"He played great all year and in the NorCal championship game and state championship game. This was just a good time and good place for him so he just decided to lock in.

"He's a real humble kids. He speaks really loudly with his actions and he's vocal in terms of communication. He's a guy that was a leader for us both on and off the field.

"I think he's a great fit for Cal. They look for those motivated, high-character kids that take care of business in the classroom and are big-time players. That's Deon.

"They've got Colt Doughty out there already so we've got yet a couple more guys moving on to play for Cal. I think that's six or seven guys in the last six years.

"There's a lot of kids that get missed and just need a little more development so they come to programs like our's," said Tullock. "We just had another kid commit to Alabama who was unrecruited out of high school. We'll have probably 15-16 sign D1, just like Deon.

Tullock has great respect for Cal head coach Justin Wilcox and staff and the system they've installed in Berkeley.

"A lot of times, programs just look at who's offered before they offer a guy," said Tullock. "That's what I love about our place. We truly evaluate talent and film. We had Deon rated really high out of high school. We knew he'd come in and be a big time player for us but no one else did.

"That's what I love about Cal, too. Cal does their own evaluations and are thorough. They don't just offer because someone else offers. Cal is very detailed and thorough in their evaluation process. They just don't care who else is recruiting a guy. They say, 'This kid will be a top Pac-12 player and will offer, regardless.

"That's what I love about Justin and his staff. They actually roll up their sleaves and do the work. They're not just looking at twitter or offering because someone else did. They're going to miss less and get the right kids because of that.

"With us, they're going to get kids who are going to work hard and get it done on the field, with preparation to succeed.

"Both Colt and Deon have started 24-25 games and Cal will come in and build on that."

White will arrive at Cal in June and will have three years to play two.

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