Best for last?
The final position group Bear Insider will look at is special teams — arguably Cal’s shakiest area in past seasons.
Here’s what position coach Zach Tinker has in his repertoire.
Kicking
Cal will most likely roll out Chase Meyer on field goal attempts for a second consecutive year. He made 10 of 13 field goals last season, going 3-for-6 on tries from 40-49 yards, and had zero attempts from 50-plus yards.
That would leave Towns McGough, coming from his hometown school of Auburn, to back him up. He went 5-for-12 as a freshman in 2024 and is eager for a fresh start.
“If you’re constantly worried about the results of the kick instead of your process, that’s when you’re going to have uneven results,” Tinker said about the art of kicking.
McGough is also expected to handle kickoff duties. Redshirt freshman Erik Peters is the emergency option.
Punting
Cal has a certified field-flipper from the Land Down Under.
Angus Davies, a transfer from Tulsa, has been a delight to monitor all offseason for his ability to boot the ball. Over three seasons with the Golden Hurricane, he averaged 43.27 yards on 173 punts.
“I was a real estate agent for about two or three years and loved it,” Davies said of his journey. “I would love to pursue that after football. Then, I got the call from Tulsa … and made my way over to the Bay Area.”
In 2025, he had 21 punts fall within the 20-yard line — and also a career-long 80-yard boot.
The Golden Bears and their high-powered offense don’t want to punt often in 2026. But if they must, Davies is a dandy.
And Peters, again, is the emergency option — credit to him for grinding at two positions.
Snapping
David Bird, who spent his freshman and sophomore years at Cal, is back in Berkeley after a tough year with Alabama. He’s the guy.
“David, he’s definitely the leader,” Tinker said. “From an emotional standpoint, he’s been in so many big games.”
Holding
One of the punters or backup quarterbacks will man this post. Don’t expect Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in this spot unless he was triple dog dared in a blowout win.
Returning
Running back Carter Vargas, the hardest player on the team to cover according to linebacker Tristan Jernigan, will be Cal’s primary kickoff returner.
Considering he wears No. 1, maybe Vargas will have a moment against UCLA as Jaydn Ott did in the Bruins’ house back in 2023.
Wide receiver Chase Hendricks, another tough cover, will be the Golden Bears’ primary punt returner.
