In todays College Football, it's all about passing and that means there's no position more important on defense than those that cover wide receivers, confuse QBs and have to make tackles in space. Cal lost its entire starting unit from 2024, what will 2025 bring?

Cal may play only two of them on the field at a time, yet this group has been the beating heart of the Bears defense for 8 years now. They lose an NFL draft choice and gain a potential another one to compliment the return of star Cade Uluave.

In Cal's 3-4 or even 2-4-5 defensive configuration, these are your edge rushers, your outside run containers and the occasional droppers into pass coverage. Almost the entire unit has been turned over - what's to be expected

Cal will have a lot of new faces in the back eight of the defense, with the big boys up front sporting more familiar faces. As a result, this is a group that will be asked to be the unquestioned leaders of the 2025 Defense.

Nothing stirs up the latent energy of the college football fan than off season discussions about signal callers. Given Cal lost its Big Game hero in Fernando Mendoza only to add former five star HS recruits, this topic is particularly spicy as the team heads into Summer workouts

Like many areas of the Bears offense, the Tight End room got a fulsome remodel in the offseason with plenty of players coming and going. With Bryan Harsin looking to play a more physical brand of football, the play of the TEs could be a swing factor in the offense's performance

While most of the roster additions were done in the Winter portal, Cal did have some movement in the OL room this Spring with the depth chart remaining relatively murky following Spring ball

The Bears see seven contributors from 2024 leave via the portal only to have five new players choose to matriculate to Berkeley. There will be new mighty mites in the slot, some high ceilinged outside receivers and one key returner in the room.

Cal saw five of its top six backs leave following Spring practice leading to the staff adding three transfers via the portal. With five scholarship tailbacks now on the roster, we take a look at what can be expected from the group in 2025

Bears get deeper with experienced OL with portal signing

New Bears GM announces crowdfunding challenge with matching funds up to 500k to help boost grassroots fundraising efforts for Cal football

From key Football and Basketball player defections to an emerging national media narrative around the disfunction and challenges facing the Athletic Department to an encouraging statement from Ron Rivera, there's plenty to dive into and discuss

In a very unique Spring Portal window, Coach Madsen and his staff add needed shooting, defense and passing capabilities.

With only a week left in Spring Practice, let's recap what we've learned, what's still unclear and who has been showing up

It’s with a mixed sense of relief, excitement, hope as well as confusion and concern that we great the news that Cal legend and NFL playing and coaching great Ron Rivera returns to Berkeley to be the GM of the football program.

This is going to change depending on the health and performance of the team during the Spring. but right now, here's our view of what Cal will want to add when the portal opens on April 16th

Bear Insider's view of the depth chart as Cal is just over two weeks away from kicking off Spring Ball

Bear Insider's view of the depth chart as Cal is just over two weeks away from kicking off Spring Ball