SI: Cal is BCS bound

CNNSI is predicting that Cal will face Texas in the Fiesta Bowl this postseason in their 2006 NCAA Football Preview. It also projects USC and Michigan in the Rose Bowl (meaning they think USC will win the Pac-10 while Cal will receive an at-large bid). This is in addition to their #8 preseason ranking for Cal and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane making their All-American list. Thanks Chris B.

Jackson returning punts, Lynch returning kickoffs

The Oakland Tribune wrote a feature article about receiver DeSean Jackson today. It also notes that Coach Jeff Tedford has decided to have Jackson returning punts (teamed with Tim Mixon) and will again have Marshawn Lynch returning kickoffs (teamed with Marcus O’Keith).

Now, we really have our most dangerous players in the open field. Hopefully, this will be an improved year on special teams.

Jackson ranked #6 preseason receiver

Rivals/Yahoo has named DeSean Jackson the #6 receiver in the nation for the preseason. They write:

6. DeSean Jackson, Cal, So., 6-0, 166
Despite missing one game due to injury, this true freshman led the Golden Bears in receptions (38), receiving yards (601) and TD receptions (seven). He also returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown. Jackson had perhaps his best game of the season in Cal’s bowl game with 130 yards and two TDs on six receptions. With a year of experience and no health problems, Jackson is poised for a breakout year.

See the article here.

More notes from fall camp

The SF Chronicle has another report from training camp. They describe the defense doing well, a mean false-alarm scare from Marshawn Lynch, and an update on punter Andrew Larson, a junior-college transfer. They also report that the offensive line is looking good.
For more information on Larson, here’s an article in the Oakland Tribune about the new transfer and how he got to Cal.

In other news, freshman defensive tackle Mike Constanzo suffered a sprained right knee and will be out for four to six weeks. Due to this setback, he’s most likely redshirting his first year. Unfortunately, the defensive line is looking thinner than what we expected.

To avoid ending on bad news, the SF Chronicle ran an article yesterday about offensive lineman Scott Smith, detailing his success as an athlete, student, and outstanding member of the community. Take a look.

Training camp update: offense/defense shine

The team is making some good progress in fall camp. Yesterday, the fifth day of camp, both the offense and defense were making big plays. The quarterbacks (especially Nate Longshore and Joe Ayoob) were connecting with their receivers (especially DeSean Jackson). Meanwhile, the defense also shined. See Cal’s report here. They also have some quotes here.

These practices are closed to the public, but there will be an open one on August 26.

Lynch/Forsett top RB tandem in nation

ESPN‘s Todd McShay has ranked Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett as the nation’s top running back duo. He writes:

1. California Golden Bears
Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett

Lynch rushed for 1,246 yards despite missing two games with injuries and sharing time with Forsett last season. While Lynch is unquestionably the more explosive back, Forsett averaged 1.2 yards more per carry as the backup. Cal has more experience in the passing game and that should help spread defenses out this year. If that’s the case, Lynch and Forsett could combine for nearly 3,000 rushing yards after notching 2,245 in 2005.

Cal is ranked in front of Auburn, Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, TCU, Georgia, Florida State, Penn State, and Boston College.

Shane Vereen (4-star RB) commits

Out of Valencia down in SoCal, Shane Vereen has committed to Cal’s 2007 recruiting class, turning down offers from USC, Oregeon, UCLA, Stanford and others. Vereen is listed as a 4-star recruit by both Scout.com and Rivals.com at 5’10”, 180 pounds, and 4.4 forty. Rivals also ranks him #2 of all-purpose backs, #20 of prospects of California, and he also makes the cut in their Rivals250 list (nation’s overall top recruits).

Vereen is a star running back and cornerback at Valencia High School, and is deadly both on the ground and in the passing game. He also has a 3.8 GPA and is very successful in track.

EDIT 8/12: Here’s an article about Vereen in the LA Daily News outlining some of his accomplishments. Another one from the Santa Clarita Valley Signal also talks about his commit. A great quote from the article highlighting the draw of Cal’s academics:

Vereen said it was tough to turn down every offer and treated them equally, whether it was USC or the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from which he received a late offer.

“I take it more as an honor that they offered me a scholarship,” Vereen said. “But it’s a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision.”

Vereen said academics played a big part in making up his mind.

Rivals names 10 Cal players on All-Pac 10 Team

Rivals.com has named its pre-season all-conference team for the Pac-10. While USC has 6 selections on the first-team, Cal has the most overall with 10 players.

On the first-team offense is Marshawn Lynch (RB), while the first-team defense includes Brandon Mebane (DT), Desmond Bishop (LB), and Daymeion Hughes (CB). DeSean Jackson (WR) is a second-team offense selection while Nu’u Tafisi (DE), Matt Malele (DT), Anthony Felder (LB), and Tim Mixon (CB) rounded out the defense. Mixon was also selected as the second-team punt-returner.

That’s seven defensive players on the list, some of whom are not guaranteed to start, giving you an idea how dominating the defense should be.

ESPN: Cal “could surprise” in 2006

ESPN‘s Mark Schlabach has written an article called “Flying under the radar” describing seven underappreciated teams that “could make some noise”. He writes:

California Golden Bears
The Bears’ spotty play at quarterback last season was an aberration. It won’t happen again under coach Jeff Tedford, one of the best teachers of the passing game in the country. Quarterback Nate Longshore takes over after missing nearly all of 2005 with a broken ankle. Tailback Marshawn Lynch could explode if he stays healthy — he ran for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2005 despite being plagued by a hand injury. Cal goes to Tennessee for its Sept. 2 opener and could crush the Vols’ rebound hopes. Cal gets Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA at home, but goes to Southern California on Nov. 18.

The article is linked here.

Cal named “title contender” by SI

SI.com‘s Stewart Mandel has put up an article, “Anybody’s ball game: With no clear-cut favorites, title race is wide open”, analyzing 16 teams with hopes for the national title. Mandel lists Cal as one of his selections, calling the Bears “dangerous” if Coach Jeff Tedford develops a quarterback. He also suggests that Cal “may have the best offense and defense in the Pac-10″, but emphasizes that the quarterback and offensive line must live up to their potential. Take a look at his analysis here.