Early Cal Commits

As with everything else in football, college recruiting is a year-round thing. As soon as the coaches wrap up spring football practices they are recruiting. There's no rest. It's the start of June and Cal has seven commits for their 2019 class.

Braxten Croteau, Liberty (Peoria, AZ), DE, 6-5 240
Blake Antzoulatos, Chaminade (West Hills, CA), ILB, 6-2 225
Zahran Manley, Upland (Upland, CA), CB, 6-2 176
Elijah Mojarro, Orange Lutheran (Orange, CA), TE, 6-4 225
Bradley Archer, Livermore (livermore, CA), TE, 6-4 240
Ryan Puskas, Liberty (Peoria, AZ), OLB, 6-3 210
Brett Johnson, Desert Vista (Phoenix, AZ), DT, 6-4.5 273

All California and Arizona and all defense and tight ends. It's no surprise that Cal is focusing on the tight end position. When Justin Wilcox was hired as head coach in 2017 he inherited a team in that had no tight ends. Former head coach Sonny Dykes had no use for the position. He had no use for defense either but Wilcox improved that problem immediately with decent coaching. Cal recruited a tight end in each of the past two recruiting classes, converted some big receivers, and will add two (for now) in 2019. The Golden Bears are now approaching a more appropriate number of tight ends for the offense.

For those that are interested in that sort of thing, all seven commits are rated as three-star recruits.

Cal already has a commit for the 2020 class in rising junior tackle Everett Johnson out of Turlock High in the fine town of Turlock, California.

While a total of seven commits at the start of June might be a fine showing for Cal it's lagging compared to some of college football's giants.

Alabama: 14
South Carolina: 14
Texas A&M: 13
Miami: 13
Clemson: 12
Mississippi: 12
Oklahoma: 11
Michigan: 11
Notre Dame: 11
LSU: 11
Mississippi State: 11
TCU: 11

The current national commit leader doesn't belong to any of the above. Or Florida State, Florida, Oregon, or Texas. The current national commit leader is itty bitty Miami of Ohio with 17. One of those commits is Blaine Gabbert's little brother Brett Gabbert.

It's only June. And none of these commits are final until they are.