By Jonathan Okanes
Cal received a big boost to its inexperienced 2009 offensive line Wednesday when tackle Mike Tepper was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Tepper was projected to be the Bears' starting left tackle last season but never fully recovered from pectoral muscle surgery and sat out the entire year. It was the second time he's missed a season because of injury. In 2005, Tepper sat out the year with a broken leg he suffered when he got hit by a car trying to protect a female companion. "Personally, this is a chance to end my Cal career the right way, both academically and athletically," Tepper said. "This opportunity means a lot to me, and I'm happy to play with these guys one last time."
It is unclear if Tepper will play left tackle next season. Mitchell Schwartz replaced him this past season and acquitted himself nicely. The Bears may keep Schwartz on the left side and move Tepper back to right tackle, where Chet Teofilo and Donovan Edwards shared the duties in 2008. Tepper started at right tackle in 2007. The addition of Tepper will infuse some experience into a line that figures to have three players coming off their first year as starters and another who spent 2008 as a backup. Tepper, who has played in 26 games for Cal, was projected as a late-round NFL draft pick heading into this past season. Tepper withdrew from school last fall while rehabbing from surgery and is scheduled to finish up his bachelor's degree.
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