Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer
Rover Donnie McCleskey is back, a force to be reckoned with in Cal's secondary. Just like old times. Two years ago, McCleskey led the team in tackles with 102. He earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors. And even though he only was a sophomore, he was one of the team's undisputed leaders. Then last year, he just wasn't himself. He chose to play with shoulder and knee injuries that required surgeries in the offseason. He had to adjust to an easier, softer way of tackling -- and that just wasn't his style. Playing mostly as a reserve, he had 38 tackles. "It was very frustrating," McCleskey said, "but it taught me a lot more about the game, more about our defense and understanding all the different aspects. It was actually beneficial." He's playing with his old abandon at rover, a hybrid position that is part safety, part cornerback and part linebacker. He is No. 4 on the team with 23 tackles, two of them for losses. "I had no doubts," he said. "With my training over the summer, mentally and physically, I was the most prepared I've ever been in my life." "It's like night and day," said J.D Williams, defensive secondary coach, referring to a healthy McCleskey.
McCleskey probably shouldn't have played at all last year, but he had a choice, and he chose to play through the pain. "He played a real inspirational role," cornerback Tim Mixon said. This year, McCleskey is going beyond the traditional team leadership role. He is the dominant leader on defense. "If you mess up, he'll let you know," Mixon said. McCleskey's also a team spokesman, an elder statesman. "He's taken it to a new level," Mixon said. "People look to him for guidance," coach Jeff Tedford said. "He is an ambassador for the team." Williams calls McCleskey the ultimate team player, an individual who is embarrassed seeing his likeness on gigantic posters outside the stadium. "It's always non-self," Williams said. "The team, then Donnie." McCleskey is on his fourth team at Cal, and he's quick to point out that each has a distinctive personality -- including this year's team that is known for its collective youth.
"When we went to the Insight Bowl (two seasons ago), we were young then, too," he said. "It's the same thing now, but we have more of an atmosphere of people knowing we can win as long as we play together. "What's different is we all have beliefs," he added. "Everybody is hungry and all we want to do is excel." The team also has taken on a reputation for not yet nearing its potential, even though the Bears are unbeaten and ranked No. 12. "We're still rising," McCleskey said. "We're still learning new things about us. And that's the greatest part because we're not near complacent. Even though we're 4-0, we're still working like we haven't won a game this season." McCleskey was one of the more highly recruited players in Los Angeles following an all-state senior year at Bishop Amat High in La Puente (Los Angeles County). He chose Cal -- a team coming off a 1-10 year -- on faith. "It was just a feeling," he said. He was recruited by defensive coordinator Bob Gregory and Williams. Then the head man came to seal the deal. "When coach Tedford came to my house and talked to my mother and me, he said, 'We're going to win,' " McCleskey said. "And I believed him." McCleskey is aware that the winning has brought high expectations. "That's great," he said. "That's what you live for."
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