Kingston Lopa is having quite the week.
Cal’s redshirt sophomore safety was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, the Bednarik Award National Player of the Week and ACC Defensive Back of the Week after his unreal performance in the Golden Bears’ 21-18 win over Syracuse in Week 2 at JMA Wireless Dome.
Lopa collected three interceptions — including the game-winning 24-yard pick-six — and five tackles against the Orange, lifting the Blue and Gold to its first win of the 2026 season and of the Tosh Lupoi era.
“Really just trying to get off the field,” Lopa casually said postgame. “That was my mentality … Coming down with those was truly a blessing to me and my team.”
A Grant Union High product from Sacramento, Lopa leads the country with four interceptions through two games.
He is the first Golden Bear to record three interceptions in a single game since safety Jaylinn Hawkins did in 2018 against TCU in the Cheez-It Bowl.
“I think that’s really a show of his work over the last nine months since he’s got here,” defensive coordinator Michael Hutchings said of Lopa. “The public is starting to see it. We’re going to keep building. The work is not done at all. It’s just been a good few weeks for him to start the season.
“But there’s a lot of growth for him and just things that we can clean up and continue to (help him) become a good overall player.”
Lopa is the first Cal defensive back ever to be named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week. He is the sixth Golden Bear to receive a Walter Camp weekly honor, joining wideout DeSean Jackson (2007), running back Shane Vereen (2009), quarterback Jared Goff (2014) and linebackers Jordan Kunaszyk (2017) and Evan Weaver (2019).
Lopa is also the third Golden Bear to earn Bednarik Player of the Week, joining Weaver (2019) and edge rusher David Reese (2013).
The ACC Defensive Back of the Week nod was the first honor of Lopa’s collegiate career. He was also the only ACC player named to Pro Football Focus’ national team of the week.
Lopa didn’t have as big a role as he’d probably like over his first two years at Oregon. However, he bet on himself and Lupoi, returning to Northern California this offseason.
And barely two games in, Lopa is Berkeley royalty.
“That's my guy, love him … like a son to me,” Lupoi said in an on-field interview after the win at Syracuse. “I want four (interceptions) out of him. But he's been a leader in our defense. He's been making those plays since the day he arrived in Berkeley.”
"It's an expectation,” Lupoi added. “He's someone who does this consistently at practice. It's no surprise. … He consistently attacks the ball. … Love seeing a guy get rewarded for the work throughout the body of the week."
Cal, carrying a 1-1 record entering Week 3’s home game against Wagner on Saturday, expects Lopa to keep making plays.
Lopa’s loved ones can get used to that. His uncle, Puka Lopa, played 34 games at defensive end for Cal from 2011-15.
So, watching Kingston make plays for the Blue and Gold hits even harder for his family.
“There are some moments as a mother that words will never be able to fully explain, and this is one of them,” Kingston’s mother, Marie, told Bear Insider. “Watching my son be named National Player of the Week and receiving other awards brings tears to my eyes — because I know everything he’s had to carry just to keep going.
“I am beyond proud of you, son; love you always, and (I’m) your No. 1 fan.”
