Issues to Resolve in Fall Camp - True Frosh

(Ready right away?)

Who Will Play Right Away?

With the exception of JC transfer WR Markish Jones (who will not be attending Cal), fall camp has allowed both coaches, players, and the media to finally see many of Cal’s highly touted recruits up close. It’s been an opportunity for the these young players to both get adjusted to playing with the “big boys” as well as the coaches to begin to evaluate whether these players might redshirt, and who might be capable of playing right away, and to what extent.

At this point, neither Tedford nor any of the coaches have verbally disclosed their thoughts on who will play right away, as it is still relatively early in fall camp process. However, when evaluating the depth chart, a specific recruit’s talent and background, as well as some tidbits on who has been getting first team reps, one might be able to make some reasonable guesses as to who might not have to wait for a redshirt season to step on the field.


The first name that comes to mind in terms of instant impact players is Isi Sofele. I wrote the following about Sofele back when Cal’s recruiting class was finalized in the spring:

“The diminutive Sofele, stands just 5’7, 170 pounds, but Sofele shows the type of game breaking talent that might make it too tempting not to have him on the field in some capacity. Sofele was an all-purpose back at Cottonwood, rushing for 1,916 yards and 30 TDs also added 19 receptions for 300 yards and four TDs, while also excelling in the return game.

In other words, the kid is a human highlight reel waiting to happen.”

Given his small size, I had some concern that Isi might not be able to hang with the team early on in his career, especially with Cal’s prized and hard-hitting defense. Fortunately, that hasn’t been the case at all, as Sofele has quickly grabbed the attention of both teammates and coaches as he has nearly replicated what he has done on the high school level on the practice field.

Coach Tedford has noted Sofele’s obvious game-breaking talents:

"You see a lot of explosion, a lot of quickness. He's very talented, can catch the ball, can run with it, can do a lot of things. He plays at a different speed."

Even Sofele has been surprised as to how many reps he has gotten with the first team. Used primarily as a receiver in specific offensive packages as well as a role in the return game, Sofele has had the opportunity to slice and dice with the best of them, in reverses, screens, a few trick plays—essentially anything to get the ball in his hands in space.

While Sofele has noted one of his biggest challenges being adapting to the mental aspect of playing collegiate football, both in terms of the rigor of attending numerous meetings and learning nearly 200 offensive plays, he might be too much of a weapon not to take the field in some form this season.

Sofele may not develop into an everydown back, but he is too compelling of an athlete to not become a big part of this offense in the next coming years. At this point, I would be very surprised if it didn’t start this season. Look for Sofele to get a few touches a game, perhaps a punt return here, a screen pass there, a reverse handoff, etc. I for one am pumped.

Another player that I’ve been hearing some murmur on is highly regarded RB Dasarte Yarnway.

Again, back in February, I wrote about Yarnway:
“The Bears finally have the big back the team has been lacking since Marshawn Lynch left early for the NFL at the end of the 2006 season. Yarnway will easily be the Bears’ biggest runningback next fall, standing at 6’0, 215 pounds. Dasarte isn’t a slouch in the speed department either, running a 4.5 forty, which he looks to improve in coming years. And his name is badass.

Yarnway was a productive back for Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, carving up more 2,180 yards on the ground for 22 TDs, and led his team to the first playoff appearance in 40 years. Even more impressive than his numbers though, is Yarnway’s character and the way the young man has carried himself as a leader both on and off the field after losing his father at a young age.”

I wrote then that I would be shocked in Yarnway did not redshirt this year. This belief was shaken a little bit when I read about how many first team snaps Yarnway has taken in fall camp thus far. Tedford has noted:

“We want to get him a couple more reps with the first team. Sometimes with the third team, there are more blown blocking assignments so he doesn’t get a chance a lot of times. We put him with the 1s and 2s a little bit just to give him some holes, and he’s done a nice job. He’s got a bright future.”

It’s clear the coaching staff is very high on the Yarnway, and want to see early on what he is capable of. He brings a great deal of size and strength, as well as a surprising amount of maturity and understanding for the game at his young age.

Still, after taking a step back, I still believe that Yarnway is too valuable not to redshirt this year. I chalk up many of his first team reps to the fact that Best and Deboskie’s few absences due to injury, and wanting to see how he might perform with the first team in actual running plays and hitting the hole. I can’t imagine him jumping past Shane Vereen for the backup spot, nor can I imagine the coaching staff using a year of his eligibility so that he might be third or fourth on the depth chart. Even if he were used in specific packages (ie. Goalline), it simply doesn’t make sense in my mind. Langston Jackson might make more sense there at the current time.

No, though it might be tempting, look for Yarnway to redshirt and seriously battle Deboskie-Johnson for the backup spot next year (assuming Best declares early for the draft).

I’ve already made mention regarding linebackers Jerome Meadows, Ryan Davis, and Jarred Price. They should step onto the field at some point this year, if not possibly challenge for a starting spot.

The only other possibility is Vince D’Amato, who along with walkon David Seawright and encumbent starter Giorgio Tavecchio, is entrenched in a battle for the starting kicking spot. This should be a battle to pay attention to in the coming weeks, but if Tavecchio continues to kick well, and D’Amato doesn’t do much to clearly separate himself, D’Amato might be better served refining his skills for next year.

Locks to ‘Shirt
Pretty much everyone else...

DB Steve Williams might be the most talented recruit Cal has had at the position in some time, and has already impressed in camp, earning the nickname “Speedy Williams,” from Syd’Quan Thompson. Quite the compliment. But it would be nearly outrageous for me to think about Williams not redshirting this year, with all four starters in the secondary along with Nnabuife, Conte, Hill, Anthony, Amadi all providing solid depth at corner spots if needed.

The same goes with all of Cal’s prized recruits at both the defensive and offensive lines, barring any major injuries.

Finally, Allan Bridgford will likely follow the path of all previous Elite 11 Cal QBs and put on the shirt this year.

At this point, Cal can afford to be judicious with their shirts. While our 2009 class was very solid, the fact few of them appear ready to play right away along with the fact that this is might be the deepest talent group that Cal has had in Tedford's tenure nearly assures that most will sit this year out. With the exception of Sofele, and the JC transfers at the linebacking spots, this might be a watch and wait group.