The Bears got on the board with their first offensive line commitment of the 2027 class with the addition of 6-6/335 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, CA) High School 3 star OT Josh Bunni.
The Bears made a big impression on the big Aussie right off the bat, starting with his visit to Cal for Premier Junior Day in early February and continuing from there.
“You know, Coach V (OL coach Viane Talamaivao), Coach Anae - the line coaches there - they're amazing,” Bunni said. “They've shown a lot of love to me and it's amazing to see some coaches believe in me. So I've been there about three times visiting and I think it's an amazing school."
The native of Melbourne, Australia grew up playing Aussie Rules football and has never played American football but you’d never know it by the way he dominated the competition at last month’s San Francisco Rivals Elite Camp where he physically dominated and rag-dolled a variety of defensive linemen in 1-on-1 drills, showing extraordinary strength, leverage and great feet. He’s rated a high 3 star with Rivals/On3 because of his standout performance that their Elite Camp in San Francisco but is yet to be rated by 247 and ESPN with his new arrival to football.
Even though Bunni has not even played a snap of football, he holds offers not only from Cal but also from BYU, Arizona State, Utah, Washington, Washington State and more - all on the projection that his frame and skill set will develop into Power-4 caliber play.
It’s a good bet.
“I’ve never played a season,” Bunni noted. “I’ve never played a down of football.”
How’d he learn so fast?
“Oh man, just working with my coaches, watching video, practicing every day, just to get better.”
The 3 star O-lineman noted that though the sports are different, the physicality in both is somewhat similar and helped prepare him for his transition to American football.
“I love football, man,” he said. “The transition has been amazing and smooth so I love it.”
Bunni becomes the 15th commitment to Cal in the 2027 class, joining recent 4 star QB commit Dane Weber, WRs Charles Davis III (Westlake) and Blake Gunter (Southlake, TX), TE Rahzario Edwards (Grant Union), RBs Jaxsen Stokes (Sierra Canyon) and Antwon Sanders (CE King/Houston), DLs Troy Bowens (Sutter) and Miles Schirmer (Corona Centennial) edges Giovanni Hodge (Grant Union) and Elyjah Staples (Marquez-Huntington Beach), LB Gunnar Perry (Notre Dame Prep/Scottsdale, AZ), CB Duvay Williams (Junipero Serra) and safety Myles Baker (Sierra Canyon) and kicker Zach Brien (IMG Academy).
