Football General Manager Ron Rivera of Cal announce a 'plan' in response to losses of players through the transfer portal
Cal Football Faces Challenges as Key Players Enter Transfer Portal
California Golden Bears football is bracing for changes as several key players, including star running back Jaydn Ott, have entered the transfer portal this spring. The team, which went 6-7 last season in its first year in the ACC, losing to UNLV in the LA Bowl, is working to fill the vacancies left by these departures.
New general manager Ron Rivera, who will answer directly to Chancellor Rich Lyons instead of athletic director Jim Knowlton, is at the helm of these efforts. Rivera is working closely with coach Justin Wilcox and his staff, with the duo intent on sparking the program to make Cal football "relevant again."
Wilcox, who has a 42-50 career record and is entering his ninth season in charge of the Golden Bears, expressed concern about getting these new players into the team. The Bears haven't finished with a winning record since 2019, and haven't played in a top-tier bowl game since the 1959 Rose Bowl.
The team has anticipated some player departures and is working to fill the vacancies. Rivera mentioned that they have a plan and have identified a number of players they like to fill the spots left by the departed players. However, the team has also lost star tight end Jack Endries to Texas in the portal, leading to several big holes on offense.
The Golden Bears also saw leading rusher Jaivian Thomas enter the portal last week and reportedly three other scholarship running backs went into the portal. Ott, who led the Pac-12 with 1,315 yards rushing in 2023, left for Oklahoma earlier this month after three stellar years at Cal. Ott was expected to be a key part of the offense in 2025 after being hampered by injuries last season.
Rivera stated that the team gave Ott a great shot, but Ott left because he felt he had accomplished all he could at Cal. Rivera also acknowledged that many NCAA teams are currently experiencing similar situations with players entering the transfer portal.
The exact number of NCAA football teams currently experiencing player transfers this spring is not known, but trends and examples indicate that multiple teams across various conferences are actively involved in transfers during this period. Teams such as Iowa, Texas A&M, Miami, BYU, and South Carolina have reported notable player transfers, with Boston College acquiring a quarterback transfer from Alabama.
As the spring transfer period continues, Cal will need to navigate these changes to position itself for success in the upcoming season. Rivera consults with Chancellor Rich Lyons on every major decision, ensuring that the program moves forward with a clear vision and strategy.
The California Golden Bears football team, under new general manager Ron Rivera, is seeking to fill employment vacancies left by key players who have entered the transfer portal, including star running back Jaydn Ott. Despite the challenges, various NCAA football teams, including Cal, are experiencing similar situations with player transfers this spring, as exemplified by teams like Iowa, Texas A&M, Miami, BYU, South Carolina, and Boston College.
