The 2019 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They competed as members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference. In their third year under head coach Justin Wilcox, the Bears improved to an 8–5 record for only the second time since 2009, finishing 2nd in the Pac-12 North.
The Bears started off the season strong, achieving a No. 15 AP ranking (their highest since 2009) after a 4–0 start, including a 20–19 upset win against No. 14 ranked Washington. However, after injury to quarterback Chase Garbers during the Arizona State game, the Bears proceeded to lose the next four games.
With the return of Garbers, Cal notably defeated Stanford in the Big Game for the first time since 2009. This win clinched bowl eligibility for the Bears while making the Cardinal ineligible for the post-season for the first time in ten years. The Bears went to the Redbox Bowl, where they defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 35–20, their first bowl win since 2015.
Senior linebacker Evan Weaver was the standout player of the season after leading the nation with a school-record and Pac-12 record 182 tackles, earning him the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and becoming the first consensus All-American from Cal since 2006.
Preseason
Coaching changes On February 26, 2019, defensive line coach Tony Tuioti left the Golden Bears to become the new defensive line coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers under Scott Frost. Andrew Browning was named the Bears' new defensive line coach on February 27, 2019. Browning is the third defensive line coach in three years under Justin Wilcox after Jerry Azzinaro's departure in 2017.
Pac-12 media days
Pac-12 media poll In the 2019 Pac-12 preseason media poll, California was voted to finish in fifth place in the North Division.
Schedule Three of California first four games were non-conference games, starting on August 31 against UC Davis of the Big Sky Conference. The Golden Bears then played their conference opener against Washington. Rounding out the non-conference slate was a home game against North Texas of Conference USA and a road game against Ole Miss of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In conference, Cal did not play Arizona or Colorado.
Game summaries * Home games are in dark blue
UC Davis
At Washington
The game started at 7:30 pm, but was paused at the end of first quarter due to a lightning storm; the pause lasted for approximately two and a half hours. By the time of the restart - 10 pm, there was only approximately 16,000 of the original approximately 60,000 fans left at the venue. Relying on rushing of running backs Christopher Brown (80 yards), and Marcel Dancy (72 yards, 2 touchdowns) and quarterback Chase Garbers (42 yards), Cal won on a last minute field goal by Greg Thomas. This was the Golden Bears second straight win against the Huskies. In the 2018 home game Cal upset No. 15 Washington 12 to 10.
North Texas
At Ole Miss
Arizona State
In the final drive of the first half, quarterback Chase Garbers was injured, breaking his right collarbone. Gabrers would not be cleared to play again until he started against USC.
At Oregon
Oregon State
At Utah
This defeat was the first shutout of a California team since a 1999 defeat to No. 5 Nebraska. Starting quarterback Chase Garbers and backup Devon Modster were injured for the game.
Washington State
USC
At Stanford
With this victory, Cal ended Stanford's nine-year win streak in the Big Game. The win also ensured the Bears' qualification to a bowl game for the second consecutive year, the first time this has happened in ten years. Likewise, the loss put Stanford at 4–7 for the season, ending its hopes of making its tenth consecutive bowl game.
At UCLA
Vs. Illinois (Redbox Bowl)
Personnel
Coaching staff Name Position Seasons at Cal Before Cal Justin Wilcox Head coach 3rd as head coach (LB coach, 2003–2005) Wisconsin – Defensive coordinator (2016) Beau Baldwin Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach 3rd year Eastern Washington – Head coach (2008–16) Tim DeRuyter Defensive coordinator / outside linebackers coach 3rd year Fresno State – Head coach (2012–16) Gerald Alexander Defensive backs coach 3rd year Montana State – Defensive backs coach (2016) Andrew Browning Defensive line coach 2nd year UTEP – Defensive line coach (2013–17) Nicholas Edwards Wide receivers coach 3rd year Eastern Washington – Wide receivers coach (2014–16) Steve Greatwood Offensive line coach 3rd year Oregon – Offensive line / defensive line coach (2000–16) Erik Meyer Quality Control, Offensive 3rd year La Mirada HS (CA) – Quarterbacks coach (2008–16) Charlie Ragle Special teams coordinator 3rd year Arizona – Special teams coordinator (2013–17) Peter Sirmon Co-defensive coordinator / associate head coach / inside linebackers 2nd year Louisville – Defensive coordinator / outside linebackers coach (2017) Burl Toler III Wide receivers coach 2nd as Asst. Coach (WR, 2001–2004) UC Davis – Wide receivers coach (2016) Marques Tuiasosopo Tight ends coach 3rd year UCLA – Quarterbacks coach / passing game coordinator (2016)Reference:
Roster 2019 California Golden Bears FootballQuarterback 6 Devon Modster – junior (6'2, 210) 7 Chase Garbers – sophomore (6'2, 205) 13 Spencer Brasch – freshman (6'4, 180) 15 Robbie Rowell – freshman (6'2, 220)
Running back 9 Alex Netherda – senior (6'0, 215) 23 Marcel Dancy – junior (5'10, 195) 25 DeCarlos Brooks – freshman (5'9, 190) 26 DeShawn Collins – junior (5'10, 195) 34 Christopher Brown – sophomore (6'1, 230)
Wide receiver 2 Jordan Duncan – senior (6'1, 205) 4 Nikko Remigio – sophomore (5'10, 185) 10 Jeremiah Hawkins – junior (5'8, 180) 11 Kekoa Crawford – junior (6'1, 190) 14 Monroe Young – freshman (6'0, 200) 17 Makai Polk – freshman (6'3, 185) 21 Ricky Walker III – sophomore (5'11, 190) 39 Evan King – sophomore (6'3, 205) 41 Ben Skinner – freshman (6'2, 185) 80 Trevon Clark – junior (6'4, 180) 83 Chris Rogers – freshman (6'3, 175) 86 Jared Staub – freshman (6'0, 180) 87 Lucas Allen – freshman (6'2, 205) 88 Ryan Regan – freshman (6'0, 185)
Tight end 16 Collin Moore – sophomore (6'4, 250) 49 Nick Alftin – freshman (6'5, 235) 81 Elijah Mojarro – freshman (6'5, 245) 82 McCallan Castles – freshman (6'4, 235) 84 Gavin Reinwald – sophomore (6'3, 235) 85 Jake Tonges – sophomore (6'5, 230)
Placekicker 36 Nick Lopez – freshman (6'1, 190) 39 Greg Thomas – senior (5'9, 165)
Punter 30 Dario Longhetto – freshman (6'0, 170) 37 Steven Coutts – senior (6'4, 215) Offensive lineman 53 Michael Saffell – junior (6'2, 300) 56 Jack Beeman – sophomore (6'4, 290) 60 Brian Driscoll – freshman (6'4, 295) 61 Valentino Daltoso – junior (6'4, 300) 62 Ben Coleman – freshman (6'4, 315) 63 Brayden Rohme – freshman (6'6, 260) 64 Gentle Williams – junior (6'3, 290) 66 Cal Frank – freshman (6'7, 270) 68 Erick Nisich – freshman (6'4, 290) 70 Poutasi Poutasi – sophomore (6'4, 340) 71 Jake Curhan – junior (6'6, 335) 72 McKade Mettauer – freshman (6'4, 285) 73 Matthew Cindric – freshman (6'4, 295) 74 Will Craig – sophomore (6'5, 290) 76 Henry Bazakas – senior (6'6, 315) 78 Brandon Mello – freshman (6'6, 295)
Defensive end 44 Zeandae Johnson – senior (6'4, 290) 47 JH Tevis – freshman (6'4, 275) 55 Lone Toailoa – senior (6'2, 290) 92 Gabriel Cherry – sophomore (6'5, 280)
Nose guard 90 Brett Johnson – freshman (6'5, 285) 94 Gunnar Rask – freshman (6'2, 275) 95 Miles Owens – freshman (6'6, 350) 97 Aaron Maldonado – sophomore (6'3, 285) 99 Siulagisipai Fuimaono – sophomore (6'4, 320)
Outside linebacker 15 Ben Moos – sophomore (6'4, 230) 19 Cameron Goode – junior (6'3, 235) 33 Myles Jernigan – freshman (6'3, 220) 38 Matt Horwitz – sophomore (6'4, 235) 40 Parker Bosche – freshman (6'4, 225) 41 Curley Young Jr. – freshman (6'1, 220) 48 Orin Patu – freshman (6'4, 220) 52 Braxten Croteau – freshman (6'5, 240) 91 Chinedu Udeogu – junior (6'4, 270) 96 Tevin Paul – junior (6'4, 260) 98 Ben Hawk Schrider – senior (6'3, 240) Inside linebacker 8 Kuony Deng – junior (6'6, 220) 42 Colt Doughty – senior (6'1, 230) 50 Kyle Smith – freshman (6'3, 215) 51 Blake Antzoulatos – freshman (6'2, 220) 53 Tommy Vanis – freshman (6'1, 215) 54 Evan Tattersall – freshman (6'2, 235) 56 Sam Walker – freshman (6'3, 225) 57 Nick Henderson – freshman (6'2, 210) 58 Zach Angelillo – freshman (6'2, 220) 59 Ryan Puskas – freshman (6'3, 210) 60 Alex Murray – freshman (6'2, 205) 89 Evan Weaver – senior (6'3, 235)
Cornerback 3 Elijah Hicks – junior (5'11, 195) 7 Chigozie Anusiem – freshman (6'1, 190) 18 Branden Smith – sophomore (5'10, 170) 20 Josh Drayden – senior (5'10, 180) 24 Camryn Bynum – junior (6'0, 195) 25 Erik Harutyunyan – freshman (6'2, 205) 28 Miles Williams – freshman (6'0, 180) 30 Jaylen Martin – freshman (6'2, 165) 34 Tarik Glenn Jr. – freshman (5'10, 175) 36 D'Shawn Hopkins – junior (5'11, 205)
Defensive line 93 Luc Bequette – junior (6'0, 195)
Safety 2 Isaiah Humphries – freshman (5'11, 190) 5 Trey Turner III – senior (6'1, 185) 6 Jaylinn Hawkins – senior (6'2, 210) 26 Craig Woodson – freshman (6'0, 190) 27 Ashtyn Davis – senior (6'1, 200) 31 Steve Mcintosh – freshman (5'11, 185) 32 Daniel Scott – sophomore (6'2, 195)
Long snapper 32 JJ Lindsay – freshman (6'1, 185) 45 Slater Zellers – freshman (6'1, 235) 48 Daniel Etter – sophomore (5'10, 225)
Nickelback 22 Traveon Beck – senior (5'9, 165)Source and player details:
Rankings
Media affiliates
Radio KGO 810 AM - Joe Starkey, Mike Pawlawski, Todd McKim, Hal Ramey KALX 90.7 FM
TV Pac-12 Network FSN/ESPN
Players drafted into the NFL
3 68 Ashtyn Davis S New York Jets 4 134 Jaylinn Hawkins S Atlanta Falcons 6 202 Evan Weaver LB Arizona Cardinals
References