Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele talks Heisman Candidacy, Bears' Expectations and Berkeley Legacy

BERKELEY — The southpaw himself would never say it outright.

But Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele should be deep in the Heisman Trophy conversation throughout his sophomore season.

“I like to be the best person I can be every single day. But if people believe that, I mean, it's definitely a blessing for sure,” Sagapolutele told Bear Insider of potentially being in the Heisman race this year. “A goal of mine is definitely the Heisman.

“I’m far — not far from it, but I think there's a lot of ways I've got to continue to work and keep growing.”

Sagapolutele, at minimum, is primed for a big year.

He took Berkeley by storm as a freshman after finishing with 3,454 passing yards and 18 touchdowns over 13 games, setting the tone for his collegiate career by starting 9-for-9 passing with two touchdowns in his three-score debut at Oregon State.

Back then, Sagapolutele’s options were limited, as he was primarily throwing to wideouts Jacob De Jesus — who is currently competing for a roster spot with the Kansas City Chiefs — and Trond Grizzell — who is currently away from the game, according to LinkedIn — with shaky protection up front and a one-man army in Kendrick Raphael beside him in the backfield.

Now, under the tutelage of militant head coach Tosh Lupoi and savvy offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville, Sagapolutele has several new playmakers to turn to and a presumably stronger, sounder offensive line to protect his blind spots, most of whom appear to be upgrades, making the Hawaii native bound for upticks in production.

“I know Jaron is a Heisman candidate,” said cornerback Ricky Fletcher, who spends much of his days trying to break up Sagapolutele’s passes at practice. “Seeing how he approaches every day, with his leadership, how he commands the offense and how he can make every throw; I mean, Jaron is amazing. But you guys already know that.”

“I think he’s going to be an even better quarterback this year and will get the ball wherever you need it,” added returning tight end Mason Mini, who caught Sagapolutele’s first-ever touchdown pass and four total on the 2025 season.

Fresh in mind among Sagapolutele’s new weapons are running backs Adam Mohammed (Washington) and Carter Vargas (UC Davis), wideouts Ian Strong (Rutgers), Chase Hendricks (Ohio) and Cooper Perry (Oregon) and tight ends Dorian Thomas (New Mexico) and Taimane Purcell (Kamehameha Kapalama).

“Working with him is pretty cool,” Mohammed said of Sagapolutele. “He’s laid back. Pretty chill. Just a guy you want to be around on and off the field.”

Offensive tackle Jimothy Lewis (Mississippi State) has looked the part, too, as one of Sagapolutele’s new protectors on what should be a more cohesive line led by position coach Famika Anae.

“I really think everyone,” Sagapolutele said of which new teammates excite him most. “I couldn’t give you a certain person. All of them bring something valuable to this team. It’s just been great to work with everyone.”

“For forever and a day — run the football [and] good defense. That's what's going to help the quarterback,” added Somerville about how the Bears can empower Sagapolutele. “Get that around our guy; I know it's going to up his game. And two, I think it's going to relieve some stress; you don't have to feel like you got to go out and be Superman.”

Sagapolutele, a four-time ACC Rookie of the Week and a Maxwell Award Watch Listee, has embraced the hype going into his second season in Berkeley, knowing it comes with stardom and the chance to play for a promising program.

However, he doesn’t get lost in it.

“[I’m] definitely focused on Cal [and] focused on these guys — just winning each week day by day and each day one by one,” Sagapolutele said, later adding, “The sky is the limit for us. We can go as far as we want to take it, whether that's the national championship … win the ACC … go to the playoffs. We can be with the best of the best. That's really how good our team is.”

The genuine team-first approach is what many, including teammates, coaches and fans, love most about Sagapolutele. It’s what might not be recognized in the national media but makes a world of difference in the locker room.

“Jaron's been rolling here,” Lupoi said. “Very thankful to have him here. He’s an incredible part of our future … He's a driving force in our culture.”

A driving force indeed.

Sagapolutele takes pride in representing Cal as the football program ushers in a new era of athletics at the world’s top public university. 

That fact means more in the Blue and Gold community when considering Sagapolutele could’ve taken his talents virtually anywhere had he entered the portal after his inaugural campaign.

“It’s dope, being able to go to a school where the quarterback legacy is deep,” Sagapolutele said of Cal. “The goal is the NFL. And I want to be an alum of here one day.”

He is far closer to following that plan than not.

And whether Sagapolutele becomes a Heisman winner this season or the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NFL Draft two years out, despite how steep or unrealistic those nods are, the lefty ultimately won’t lose any sleep.

Instead, Sagapolutele is wide awake, eager to show — or tell — the whole damn world what Cal can do this upcoming season.

“I definitely feel it,” Sagapolutele said of the Bears knowing they’re good rather than hoping. “Especially from the spring — a lot of newness — [to] now being familiar with everything we've done … really now just putting it together. I mean, I'm so excited.

“And, you know, we are good."