By Matt Kawahara
Gone are the days of watching DeSean Jackson, Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins streaking down the sidelines of Memorial Stadium. With Jordan and Hawkins graduating, and Jackson bolting early for the NFL, the Cal football team managed to address its biggest need on National Signing Day, inking five wide receivers to headline a 21-player signing class ranked No. 35 in the nation by Rivals.com. With the Bears attempting to fill the void left at wideout, it could help that all five receiver recruits-led by high school All-American Marvin Jones-fill out bigger frames than their predecessors.
"These guys are all 6-foot-2, 6-foot-3," coach Jeff Tedford said. "They're going to be in the range of 215 pounds, and they're going to be able to block, catch the ball over the middle, go up and get balls over the top of people. We really went for a little more height and size in the receiving corps this year." Thirteen signees, including the wideouts and All-American offensive lineman Tyler Rigsbee, hail from California. But Cal also reached out across the nation and fielded an impressive group from out of state. The Bears signed high school All-Americans from Arizona, Washington and Missouri, as well as defensive back Josh Hill and defensive tackle Kendrick Payne from Klein Forest High in Houston, Texas.
Payne, who actually graduated in January and is now attending Cal in order to participate in offseason training and spring ball, drew comparisons from Tedford to former Bears defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. "I know those are big shoes to fill," Tedford said. "But when you watch (Payne), just looking at him, his body type, you watch him get off the ball and he's very quick, very powerful inside just like Brandon was." Running back Covaughn Deboskie from Chandler, Ariz., also graduated a semester early to join the Bears this winter. With Jahvid Best out for the spring while recovering from a hip injury, and James Montgomery coming off minor knee surgery, Tedford said that Deboskie will see repetitions in the spring.
Another Chandler native, cornerback Marc Anthony from Chandler High, headlines a group of four incoming defensive backs. The Bears also signed two linebackers in California natives J.P. Hurrell and Mychal Kendricks, a pair of tight ends in Anthony Miller and Spencer Ladner, and longsnapper Matt Rios from North Canyon High in Phoenix, Ariz.-the alma mater of current Bears longsnapper Nick Sundberg. Although the receivers will have the best chance at making an immediate impact upon arrival, Tedford made it clear that each recruit will have an equal shot at playing time in summer camp. "Each player brings different attributes to the table," Tedford said. "Whichever ones are ready-mentally, physically, emotionally-to take that next step, that's what we'll figure out in camp and we'll take it from there."
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