Pre-Season Preview with College Football Zealots

As we begin to tick off the days until the 2012 season kicks off, I was happy to answer some questions for College Football Zealots to help preview the Cal season.

Here's a preview to one of the questions:

CFBZ: Five of Cal's top six tacklers were seniors last season. Who needs to step up to replace that production?

The biggest "step-up" unit will be the linebacking corps, where the Bears will need to find answers to replace both starting inside linebackers, including Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and second round draft pick Mychal Kendricks and departed senior DJ Holt.

The duo combined for a hefty 187 combined tackles last year. Cal features a host of unproven but talented prospects to fill their shoes, including highly-touted, but oft-injured redshirt sophomore Nick Forbes. Sophomore Dave Wilkerson returns to his more natural position of inside linebacker, as does redshirt freshman Jason Gibson who played outside in high school but flourished in spring ball when moved inside.

Each player was a four-star prospect and certainly has the talent to start on day one. Though, the Bears may need upperclassmen JP Hurrell or Robert Mullins to direct the defense and help fill the void left by Kendricks and Holt.

You can read the full preview here.