It’s hard to bet against Keenan Allen and Marvin Jones.
Both are preseason candidates for the Biletnikoff and Paul Warfield Awards, the top two honors given to college wide receivers. Jones, a senior, will look to finish off a productive career that boasts 94 receptions, 1,424 receiving yards and 10 touchdown grabs — one of them being the acrobatic snag against UCLA pictured here.
Allen, one of the most hyped recruits in Cal football history, will look to live up to the buzz and improve upon a freshman campaign that landed him on Phil Steele’s fourth-team Freshman All-American squad. The tandem comprise what could the most talented receiving duo in the Pac-12.
Unfortunately, the players throwing them the ball make for a different story.
Stifled by erratic quarterback play during the 2010 campaign, Cal’s situation under center doesn’t look much brighter for 2011. The starter (Zach Maynard) has yet to face Pac-12 competition; one back-up has been unimpressive (Brock Mansion) and the other has never taken a college snap (Allan Bridgford).
Jolene Henderson and Valerie Arioto, as pitchers, have much more control over their ability to dominate — and both can generate wins on their own. Henderson was practically untouchable as a sophomore this past spring, boasting a 40-10 record (including 18 shutouts) alongside an astonishing 0.99 ERA.
Arioto, who helped the U.S. National Team to gold at the World Cup of Softball this summer, had to take an injury redshirt in the spring. Still, she was impressive in 2010; splitting time between pitcher and first base, the Pleasanton, Calif., native went 21-9 with a 1.43 ERA.
As if dominance from the circle isn’t enough, both girls can also provide their own run support. In 2010, Arioto led the Bears with 19 homers and 60 runs while sporting a .819 slugging percentage — good for second in the Pac-10 and 11th in the country. Henderson, in only 92 at bats, was third on the team in home runs in 2011 with six.
If both Henderson and Arioto stay healthy in 2012, Cal should be considered one of the title favorites. Alllen and Jones will be exciting to watch, but until the football team gets some more consistency at quarterback — and from its offensive line, for that matter — the most dominant duo on campus can be
seen at Levine-Fricke Field.
Image Source: Lara Brucker and Matthew Miller/Daily Californian
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