The 2017 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears were led by first-year head coach Justin Wilcox and played their home games at California Memorial Stadium. The Bears went 5–7, including non-conference wins over North Carolina and Ole Miss, and three losses by three points or fewer. The season highlight was the Bears' 37–3 defeat of then-No. 8 Washington State, which marked the first time Cal had beaten a top ten opponent since its defeat of No. 3 USC in 2003.
Recruiting
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Recruits
The Golden Bears signed a total of 14 recruits.
Personnel
Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Cal Before Cal Justin Wilcox Head coach 1st as head coach (LB coach, 2003–2005) Wisconsin – Defensive coordinator (2016) Beau Baldwin Assistant head coach / offensive coordinator / running backs coach 1st year Eastern Washington – Head coach (2008–16) Tim DeRuyter Defensive coordinator / inside linebackers coach 1st year Fresno State – Head coach (2012–16) Gerald Alexander Defensive backs coach 1st year Montana State – Defensive backs coach (2016) Jerry Azzinaro Defensive line coach 1st year San Francisco 49ers – Defensive line coach (2016) Steve Greatwood Offensive line coach 1st year Oregon – Offensive line / defensive line coach (2000–16) Marques Tuiasosopo Quarterbacks coach / Passing Game Coordinator / recruiting coordinator 1st year UCLA – Quarterbacks coach / passing game coordinator (2016) Nicholas Edwards Wide receivers coach 1st year Eastern Washington – Wide receivers coach (2014–16) Charlie Ragle Special teams coordinator / tight ends coach 1st year Arizona – Special teams coordinator (2013–17) Tony Tuioti Outside linebackers coach 1st year Cleveland Browns – Quality Control, Defense (2014–15) Desmond Bishop Quality Control, Defense 1st as asst. coach (LB, 2005–2006) Washington Redskins – Linebacker (2016) Erik Meyer Quality Control, Offensive 1st year La Mirada HS (CA) – Quarterbacks coach (2008–16)Reference:
Roster 2017 California Golden Bears FootballQuarterback 3 Ross Bowers – sophomore (6'2, 190) 7 Chase Garbers – freshman (6'2, 210) 11 Brandon McIlwain – sophomore (6'1, 195) 14 Chase Forrest – junior (6'2, 205)
Running back 4 Zion Echols – freshman (5'8, 180) 5 Tre Watson – senior (5'11, 205) 22 Derrick Clark – freshman (5'10, 210) 23 Vic Enwere – senior (6'0, 245) 26 Biaggo Ali Walsh – freshman (5'10, 190) 28 Patrick Laird – junior (6'0, 200) 30 Billy McCrary III – junior (5'11, 210) 34 Fabiano Hale – senior (6'0, 225)
Wide receiver 1 Melquise Stovall – sophomore (5'9, 185) 2 Jordan Duncan – sophomore (6'1, 210) 6 Jeremiah Hawkins – freshman (5'8, 170) 8 Demetris Robertson – sophomore (6'0, 185) 9 Kanawai Noa – sophomore (6'0, 180) 13 Grayson Bankhead – freshman (6'0, 170) 15 Jordan Veasy – senior (6'3, 225) 17 Vic Wharton III – junior (5'11, 210) 19 Brandon Singleton – sophomore (6'0, 170) 24 Matt Rockett – sophomore (5'9, 195) 31 Chas Peterson – senior (5'11, 185) 38 Alex Netherda – sophomore (6'0, 205) 88 Taariq Johnson – freshman (6'2, 220)
Tight end 11 Raymond Hudson – senior (6'3, 245) 16 Collin Moore – freshman (6'4, 225) 80 Jake Ashton – junior (6'3, 235) 83 Ben Moos – freshman (6'4, 235) 84 Gavin Reinwald – freshman (6'3, 215) 87 Kyle Wells – junior (6'3, 245) 89 Matt Laris – freshman (6'3, 235) 99 Malik McMorris – junior (5'11, 300) (+FB)
Punter 37 Steven Coutts – junior (6'4, 210) 42 Dylan Klumph – junior (6'2, 235) Offensive lineman 53 Michael Saffell – freshman (6'2, 295) 54 Gentle Williams – freshman (6'3, 295) 57 Addison Ooms – junior (6'4, 300) 58 Semisi Uluave – junior (6'5, 345) 60 Daniel Juarez – freshman (6'5, 290) 61 Valentino Daltoso – freshman (6'4, 310) 65 Tanner Prenovost – freshman (6'0, 265) 70 Poutasi Poutasi – freshman (6'4, 305) 71 Jake Curhan – freshman (6'6, 325) 72 Kamryn Bennett – junior (6'3, 310) 74 Ryan Gibson – sophomore (6'2, 285) 76 Henry Bazakas – sophomore (6'6, 300) 77 J.D. Hinnant – senior (6'4, 300) 79 Patrick Mekari – junior (6'4, 300)
Defensive end 9 James Looney – senior (6'3, 280) 44 Zeandae Johnson – sophomore (6'4, 280) 90 Rusty Becker – senior (6'4, 280) 91 Chinedu Udeogu – freshman (6'4, 250) 92 Gabe Cherry – freshman (6'5, 260) 96 Tevin Paul – freshman (6'4, 270)
Nose guard 50 Hunter Abel – sophomore (6'0, 275) 93 Luc Bequette – sophomore (6'2, 290) 97 Tony Mekari – senior (6'1, 295) 98 Chris Palmer – junior (6'2, 320)
Outside Linebacker 13 Russell Ude – sophomore (6'3, 245) 19 Cameron Goode – freshman (6'3, 225) 33 Noah Westerfield – senior (6'3, 250) 36 Alex Funches – junior (6'2, 230) 46 Drew Bryant – junior (6'2, 220) 51 Cameron Saffle – junior (6'3, 250) 89 Evan Weaver – sophomore (6'3, 250) 94 Trevor Howard – sophomore (6'3, 250)
Placekicker 9 Matt Anderson – senior (6'0, 195) 41 Gabe Siemieniec – freshman (6'1, 220) 49 Matt Abramo – sophomore (6'3, 190) Inside Linebacker 1 Devante Downs – senior (6'3, 245) 11 Hamilton Anoa'i – senior (6'2, 255) 31 Raymond Davison – senior (6'2, 235) 40 David Ortega Jr. – junior (5'9, 210) 41 Gerran Brown – sophomore (6'2, 220) 43 Kyle Harmon – freshman (6'1, 240) (+OLB) 55 Aisea Tongilava – junior (6'1, 220) 59 Jordan Kunaszyk – junior (6'3, 235)
Cornerback 2 Darius Allensworth – senior (5'11, 195) 3 Elijah Hicks – freshman (5'11, 180) 8 Nygel Edmonds – freshman (5'11, 190) 16 Chibuzo Nwokocha – junior (6'1, 185) 18 Marloshawn Franklin Jr. – senior (5'11, 190) 20 Joshua Drayden – sophomore (5'9, 185) 22 Traveon Beck – sophomore (5'9, 160) 24 Camryn Bynum – freshman (6'0, 180) 27 Ashtyn Davis – sophomore (6'1, 195)
Defensive back 10 Daniel Scott – freshman (6'2, 200) 45 Branden Smith – freshman (5'10, 170)
Safety 4 Derron Brown – junior (6'1, 210) 5 Trey Turner – junior (6'1, 190) 6 Jaylinn Hawkins – sophomore (6'2, 200) 17 Luke Rubenzer – senior (5'11, 200) 21 Evan Rambo – sophomore (6'4, 210) 23 Malik Psalms – sophomore (6'1, 185) 28 Quentin Tartabull – junior (5'11, 205) 29 Bryce Turner – freshman (5'10, 175) 32 Jacob Anderson – senior (5'11, 195) 34 De'Zhon Grace – senior (5'9, 180) 39 Ricky Walker III – freshman (5'11, 200)
Long snapper 45 Grant Gluhaich – sophomore (5'11, 200) 46 Garrett Frum – senior (6'1, 230) 47 Alonso Vera – junior (5'11, 225)
Fullback 40 Justin Norbeck – junior (6'0, 235)Source and player details:
Schedule
Game summaries
at North Carolina
Weber State
Ole Miss
USC
at Oregon
at Washington
Washington State
The game marked Cal's first win against a top ten opponent since 2003. The three points allowed by the Bears defense are the fewest since holding UC Davis to three points in 2010. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Ross Bowers executed a flip into the end zone to put the Bears up 27-3.
Arizona
at Colorado
Oregon State
The game was the sixth time in program history that Cal had zero punts in a game. It was the first time that Cal had zero punts in a game since playing USC in 2004. Matt Anderson broke the Cal record for career scoring, reaching 297 points after kicking three field goals and four extra points in the game. He broke the previous record of 288 points held by Doug Brien since 1993. Anderson would finish the season with an all-time record of 316 points. Patrick Laird's 214 yards rushing ranks tenth in program history for rushing yards in a single game.
at Stanford
at UCLA
Matt Anderson broke the Cal record for career field goals, reaching 60 after kicking four field goals in the game. He broke the previous record of 56 field goals held by Doug Brien since 1993. Ross Bowers reached 3,000 passing yards for the season and became the seventh player in Cal history to reach the milestone. Patrick Laird reached 1,000 rushing yards for the season and became the sixteenth player in Cal history to reach the milestone.
Awards and honors
Coaches Tim DeRuyter (Defensive Coordinator) Athlon Sports' National Defensive Coordinator of the Week, vs. Washington State
Offense Ross Bowers (QB) Manning Award Stars of the Week, vs. North Carolina Patrick Laird (RB) Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist First-team Pac-12 All-Academic All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention CoSIDA Academic All-District Team Malik McMorris (FB) SB Nation Piesman Trophy finalist Kanawai Noa (WR) Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watchlist Vic Wharton III (WR) Biletnikoff Award watchlist Jake Curhan (OL) Second-team Pac-12 All-Academic Patrick Mekari (OL) All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention Tony Mekari (G) Second-team Pac-12 All-Academic
Defense James Looney (DL) All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention Devante Downs (LB) Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist Lott IMPACT Trophy watchlist All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, at North Carolina Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week(2), vs. Ole Miss College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Ole Miss College Sports Madness Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Ole Miss Jordan Kunaszyk (LB) Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State Rose Bowl: Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State College Sports Madness Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, vs. Washington State Luke Rubenzer (S) First-team Pac-12 All-Academic
Special teams Matt Anderson (PK) Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year Campbell Trophy semifinalist Lou Groza Award pre-season watchlist Senior CLASS Award candidate Second-team Pac-12 All-Academic CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
References