Hampton, Jones return punts for TDs in final spring scrimmage
By Jonathan Okanes
BERKELEY — If spring practice taught Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory one thing, it's that the cupboard isn't bare in the program's efforts to replace All-American cornerback Daymeion Hughes. It's just a matter of organizing the cupboard the right way. While Hughes has been busy preparing for the NFL draft, the Bears have been busy taking a look at his potential replacements. In freshman Darian Hagan and Charles Amadi and senior Brandon Hampton, Cal feels as if it's prepared to move on without last season's Pacific-10 Conference defensive player of the year. "We're young and inexperienced, but I feel like we have a lot of depth," Gregory said. "They have a lot of ability, but they are still learning. They just need to continue to work out and stay into it, and then you'll see them continue to make those improvements."
The Bears held their final spring practice Saturday, one that consisted mostly of scrimmaging in different game situations. While sophomore Syd'Quan Thompson is a lock at one corner after starting every game last season, the position that Hughes left vacant was one of Cal's biggest issues when spring practice began March 12. Hagan played with the first unit Saturday, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be the starter when Cal opens the season against Tennessee on Sept. 1. The Bears didn't get much of a look at Amadi because he suffered a groin injury during the first week of practice. And although Hampton is a senior, he is making the switch from rover, where he was a starter last season. "It's still up in the air," Gregory said. "It's different if they were defensive tackles, and they give up a first down if they make a mistake. If (a defensive back makes mistakes), I'm out of a job, and you're talking to someone else next year."
The offensive line, moving on without the departed Andrew Cameron and Erik Robertson, was one of Cal's other major question marks. Center Alex Mack, tackle Mike Gibson and guard Noris Malele should be starters (Gibson and Malele missed spring practice with injuries). Junior Mike Tepper started Saturday at left tackle and is a good bet to remain with the first unit. And head coach Jeff Tedford singled out the strong spring by guard Brian De La Puente. Some of the highlights of Saturday's practice, which was open to the public and drew a couple of thousand fans, included back-to-back punt returns for touchdowns by Hampton and Brandon Jones. Receiver Lavelle Hawkins lined up at tailback for a few plays late in the practice and somersaulted into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run. "You know that was just for looks," Hawkins said. "I've always wanted to try that. I'm always in (Tedford's) ear about running back, quarterback. I'll play guard if I can." So does that mean Hawkins actually may see time at tailback during the season?
"That was just to pacify Lavelle," Tedford said. Tedford said that he was disappointed with Saturday's performance by Cal's experienced and explosive offense but that the unit played well "on and off" during the spring. The Bears didn't run the ball particularly well Saturday, but quarterback Nate Longshore was 9-for-13 for 130 yards and three touchdowns. The Bears now will shift into offseason workout mode before fall camp begins in early August. With many of their key players returning from a team that shared the Pac-10 title last season and finished ranked No.14 in the nation by the Associated Press, expectations will be high when the season begins. "I wish we could start fall camp tomorrow," Hawkins said. "We have so many athletes on our team; we should never have lost last year."
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