QB Battle As Spring Practice Begins Today

Mar. 28, 2005

QB battle a focal point at Cal spring practice

By Jay Heater

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

BERKELEY - The battle to become Cal's starting quarterback begins today as Jeff Tedford's Golden Bears open spring football practice at Memorial Stadium.

Although quarterback Kyle Reed, a McClymonds High School star who was the East Bay's premier recruit, won't arrive until the fall semester, it's likely that the battle for No. 1 comes down to redshirt freshman Nathan Longshore, the former Parade All-American who has had a year to learn the system, and San Francisco City College transfer Joe Ayoob, a junior college All American.

Tedford will begin studying those two on the field today. "I'm anxious to get on the field with Joe and Nate," said Tedford, who has taken the Bears to consecutive bowl games. "I haven't been able to learn much about Joe yet, only that he's a hard worker and very eager."

Now in his fourth season, Tedford has had only one quarterback battle in his first three years. Kyle Boller was the solid No. 1 in Tedford's first season of 2002 and Aaron Rodgers, who is projected as a high first-round NFL draft pick in April, was the incumbent going into the 2004 season.

In 2003, it took Rodgers four games to beat out Reggie Robertson, who had seen very limited action behind Boller. Like Ayoob, Rodgers was a junior college transfer.

However, that's about the only similarity between the two situations. Rodgers played only one season of junior college football, while Ayoob played two. Robertson, although a career backup, was a well-established leader who excelled in his few opportunities. Longshore has yet to play a snap.

Both Ayoob and Longshore will be challenged in the spring because three of Cal's veteran offensive linemen, right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, right guard Aaron Merz and left tackle Andrew Cameron, will sit out spring ball due to minor surgeries.

Last spring, Tedford had a hard time drilling his offense because four of his five offensive linemen sat out due to surgery. "But we have a lot better numbers this season because of the quality freshmen we added last year," Tedford said. "Guys like Alex Mack and John Gibson will help us. I think we have the numbers to run a normal spring practice."

Besides having three starters out on the offensive line, Tedford noted that a lot of work has to be accomplished in building his wide receivers corps.

Former starters Geoff McArthur (Cal's all-time leading receiver in catches and yardage), Jonathan Makonnen and Burl Toler all finished their eligibility last season, and Chase Lyman still awaits word on his petition to the NCAA for a sixth year. Lyman said he expected to get a decision last week, so it could be announced any day. It is unlikely Lyman's request will be granted because he was injured in the Bears' fourth game last season and rules stipulate to be eligible for a hardship season that he needed to play in three games or less.

Cal's premier recruit, Poly-Long Beach wide receiver DeSean Jackson, isn't due until summer camp along with San Francisco City College transfer Lavell Hawkins.

While Tedford has to patch holes at quarterback and wide receiver, Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory, will be undertaking a major rebuilding project. The Bears lost their top six tacklers from 2004, including All America defensive end Ryan Riddle. And among the returning starters, rover Donnie McCleskey (shoulder) and cornerback Tim Mixon (hernia) won't participate in full contact drills.

Note: Cal redshirt freshman defensive back Bernard Hicks will sit out spring ball as he rehabs from knee surgery. However, Hicks is no longer suspended due to his arrest in Berkeley on Feb. 27. The initial charge of possessing marijuana for sale was reduced to a misdemeanor. Tedford said further punishment will be announced at a later date.