New Bears

National Signing Day came and went on Wednesday. With the January overhaul of the coaching staff, Cal didn't have a lot of time to recruit. New head coach Justin Wilcox has only been on the job for about three weeks and he had to spend a lot of that time hiring his assistants. It's always tough for a new head coach in a new place to scramble together that first recruiting class. This class looks like a nice start for Wilcox and the new Cal Bears.

Gabe Cherry, DL, Centennial High School (Bakersfield)
6'5" 265lbs

Taariq Johnson, WR, Buena Park High School
6'2" 215lbs

Jeremiah Hawkins, WR, Buena Park High School
5'8" 170lbs

Chase Garbers, QB, Corona Del Mar High School (Newport Beach)
6'2" 210lbs

Alex Funches, DE, Trinity Valley CC
6'3" 225lbs

Biaggio Ali-Walsh. RB, Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas)
5'10" 190lbs

Michael Saffell, C, Edison High School (Edison, CA)
6'2" 295lbs

Elijah Hicks, CB, La Mirada High School
6' 185lbs

Poutasi Poutasi, G, Desert Pines High School (Las Vegas)
6'4" 305lbs

Gavin Reinwald, TE, Elk Grove High School
6'3" 215lbs

Daniel Scott, S, St. Francis High School (La Canada, CA)
6'2" 200lbs

Kyle Harmon, LB, Freedon High School (Oakley, CA)
6'1" 230lbs

Branden Smith, DB, Paraclete High School (Lancaster, CA)
5'10" 170lbs

Ben Moos, TE, Pullman High School (Pullman, WA)
6'4" 235lbs

Chris Landgrebe, K, Madeira High School (Cincinnati, OH)
6'2" 195lbs

Cal needs all sorts of help on the defensive side of the ball. The defense was a disaster during the four years that Sonny Dykes ran the team. That's what happens when you value offense over all else. Wilcox is switching Cal's defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. They were a little short at linebacker before. They are really short at linebacker now. Even if incoming junior college defensive end Alex Funches switches to linebacker, Cal only brought in two new players at the position (Kyle Harmon and Funches). This is where the coaching and teaching come into play. Cal has to get the middle of their defense ready if the whole defense is to improve. Linebacker coach is one of the few position spots yet to be filled. It's an important one.

The defensive backfield will receive a nice boost in talent from Elijah Hicks, Branden Smith, and Daniel Scott. Hicks might already be penciled in as one of the starting corners. Secondary coach Gerald Alexander inherited some nice, young talent. The three new Bears will improve the competition and the talent.

The most talented position on the roster is receiver. By far. As a freshman last season Demetris Robertson showed the potential to become one of the best at the position to ever play at Cal. That's a group that includes recent Bears like DeSean Jackson, Marvin Jones, and Keenan Allen. Melquise Stovall also shined as a freshman. With Vic Wharton III, Jordan Veasy, Brandon Singleton, Jordan Duncan Cal has a variety of talented playmakers. Taariq Johnson and Jeremiah Hawkins join that group. Cal has one of the most skilled receiver groups in the nation.

Cal even added a kicker, Chris Langrebe, on Thursday!

The star ratings that are all the rage in college recruiting are a rough stab at best. Here's what Scout.com thought of Cal's 2017 recruiting class.

4-stars
Taariq Johnson
Elijah Hicks

3-stars
Gabe Cherry
Jeremiah Hawkins
Chase Garbers
Biaggio Ali-Walsh
Michael Saffell
Poutasi Poutasi
Daniel Scott
Kyle Harmon
Branden Smith
Ben Moos

2-stars
Alex Funches
Gavin Reinwald