Shaq Thompson
Sacramento, Calif. (Grant)
The journey of Shaq Thompson’s recruitment was a long, winding road that came full circle at Cal this month — then broke off again yesterday.
Thompson, who verbally committed to Cal in March, backed off his commitment, and began looking at Washington, Oregon, Notre Dame and USC. When Cal quarterback Zach Maynard struggled midseason, the five-star recruit expressed more doubts about the Bears.
After he finally committed, defensive line coach and top recruiter Tosh Lupoi left, putting his plans in doubt again.
As the top-ranked safety at both Rivals.com and Scout.com, Thompson is arguably the most gifted athlete in this year’s class. Thompson naturally draws comparisons to his brother and former Cal cornerback Syd’Quan, who now plays for the Denver Broncos — with the comparison being that Shaq is bigger and better.
If Cal fans are lucky, they’ll see Thompson will hold to his verbal commitment and make a memorable impact.
— Seung Y. Lee
Zach Kline
Danville, Calif. (San Ramon Valley)
Since becoming Cal’s first commitment, Zach Kline has been one of the most vocal recruiters for the Bears. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-2 quaterback has steadily risen up recruiting boards with an impressive senior season.
Simply put, Kline is the most hyped quarterback to come to Cal since Kyle Boller in 1999. The excitement has continued to grow after a sterling week of practice leading up to the Under Armour All-American Bowl. All week, the four-star recruit showed off his impressive arm strength, which might be the best in the country. He has a quick, clean release and excels at throwing deep.
Kline does have a tendency to put too much on short throws and has struggled with his touch. He’ll also need to work on his pocket presence before he’s ready to lead — he was sacked five times while sharing playing time at the Bowl.
An early enrollee, Kline will participate in spring practice for the Bears and will have plenty of time to work out those kinks before the 2012 season.
— Connor Byrne
Jordan Payton
Westlake Village, Calif. (Oaks Christian)
Announcing his commitment to come to Cal at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Jordan Payton became the Bears’ sixth wide receiver in the class of 2012. Payton originally committed to USC but began to explore other options after the Trojans lost their NCAA appeal and had scholarships restricted.
Ranked as the 120th overall prospect by Rivals.com and the 20th receiver, the four-star recruit could see significant minutes as a true freshman, especially given the lack of depth at receiver for the Bears.
At 6-foot-2, Payton is a big target who excels at making catches in traffic, using his hands to make catches away from his body and up and away from smaller defenders. He may not have blazing speed, but he’s a smart, fundamental route-runner who plays to his strengths.
With great hands, a solid ability to adjust to the ball and a sturdy build, Payton is a prime candidate to play in the slot and could be an immediate force over the middle.
As long as recruiter Tosh Lupoi’s absence doesn’t have him looking elsewhere.
— Connor Byrne
Bryce Treggs
Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)
Of the six wide receivers coming to Cal next fall, Bryce Treggs was the first one to commit to the program. The son of Brian Treggs, who played at Cal from 1988-91, didn’t hesistate to follow his father’s footsteps back in July.
The No. 11-rated receiver on Rivals.com, Treggs finished his senior season with 1377 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. The four-star wideout doesn’t have much size at 5-foot-11, but his hands, route-running and speed make him the most well-rounded of the new Cal receiving corps. With experience running the routes alongside incoming quarterback Zach Kline in training camps, Treggs may become the cornerstone of a potent passing attack in the upcoming years.
— Seung Y. Lee
Freddie Tagaloa
Richmond, Calif. (Salesian)
With the departure of left tackle Mitchell Schwartz, the already-shaky Cal offensive line looked even thinner this off-season.
Enter Freddie Tagaloa. In size, the four-star Tagaloa is man among boys, his 6-foot-8, 300-plus pound body helping form an intimidating wall in the offensive line.
But his blend of strength and technicality is the thing that separates Tagaloa from the other offensive linemen, showing the footwork he has learned from his time on the Salesian High basketball team.
A top-30 recruit in California, Tagaloa is a prototypical left tackle. Cal didn’t just find a someone to fill Schwartz’s big boots; they made have found one even bigger and better.
— Seung Y. Lee
Darius Powe
Lakewood, Calif. (Lakewood)
With the attention of new wide receivers going to more flashy players like Bryce Treggs, Cedric Dozier and Jordan Payton, Darius Powe has been in some ways the forgotten man in this incredibly deep class.
But Powe is anything but silent on the field — Powe is a physical receiver that utilizes his 6-foot-2 frame to the full extent. After showing glimpses of potential at the Under Armour All-American Bowl, Powe in time can be a talent that makes all the noise down the field.
After Tosh Lupoi left for Washington on Monday, Powe was one four-star recruit who reaffirmed his commitment to Cal. He, with Treggs, makes up part of the Bears’ most recent SoCal haul.
— Seung Y. Lee
Cedric Dozier
Lakewood, Wash. (Lakes)
Playing as a dual-threat quarterback at Lakes High School, Cedric Dozier has been recruited as a running back, wide receiver and a corner back, and has the speed and athleticism to excel at all three positions.
Listed as an “athlete,” what position Dozier will end up playing wasn’t a clear consensus. So Cal stole the four-star recruit out of Washington’s backyard by courting him as a wide receiver — his position of choice — and he could make an immediate impact for the Bears. While some still believe Dozier’s size and quickness would be best served on defense, his explosiveness and playmaking ability should have him competing for playing time as a freshman.
— Connor Byrne
Michael Barton
Concord, Calif. (De La Salle)
What do you get when you combine a Bear and a Spartan?
A Barton — specifically Michael Barton. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound outside linebacker out of De La Salle is considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, and the No. 39 prospect in California.
Barton is a quick and lengthy linebacker whose size projects him well as an outside linebacker at the next level.
He’ll definitely need to add some bulk to his wiry frame, but his combination of speed and upper body strength makes him a major run-stopper. Another player who reaffirmed his verbal after Lupoi’s departure, Barton could see significant playing time early in his career.
— Connor Byrne
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