Many say he keeps to himself. Others believe he simply doesn't have a lot to say.

But Mike Mohamed Jr., sees things much differently.

For him, communication comes easily. But even when doing something as mundane as sustaining a conversation, Mohamed would rather let someone else have the spotlight.

"I'm a little bit shy," he says. "I don't know where it comes from. I like listening more than I do talking, and a lot of times people are having a conversation, I'll just sit there and listen."

When Cal's football season began, however, Mohamed knew he would have to finally start speaking up. The departures of Zack Follett, Worrell Williams and Anthony Felder meant someone else would have to step up as a leader. It's a responsibility that Mike Jr., took on without any sort of hesitation.

"He started to speak out a little more towards the beginning of the season, but you always knew he was going to be one of the leaders of our team," says linebacker D.J. Holt.

As vocal as he has been, Mohamed has still led mostly by example. Currently, he leads the Pac-10 in tackles with 81 and was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week for his effort in the Bears' 23-21 road win over Arizona State. Even last season, when he started just two games, Mike Jr., was tied for second on the team in tackles and was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 choice.

And despite all his accomplishments thus far, Mohamed would still rather give credit to others for his success.

"Coach (Kenwick) Thompson does a good job of teaching me the techniques, and that really helps," he says.

Looking at his background, the humility is almost ironic. The only male child in his household, Mohamed was pampered by his five sisters.

"He's king of the castle," says Mike Sr. "His sisters love him, and he likewise. They will do just about anything for him."

Whenever he needed food, someone was there for him. Asking for a back rub was never out of line. In other words, Mohamed lived the high life.

"It's crazy," says Mike Sr. "I don't even get treated that well."

But all the coddling didn't make Mike Jr. any less humble. In his eyes, being the only boy didn't make him special. However, being the oldest of the six did mean he had to accept more responsibility than the others. He was the "second man of the house." Whenever his sisters needed him, he was always there for them.

More importantly, he also knew when to keep his distance.

"I was a little protective," says Mike Jr. "I tried to give them a little space though, because usually I'd end up getting ganged up on. If I tried stepping into something for one of them, I'd have four other ones right there on me."

They'd spend time playing in the yard. Often times, Mike Sr. would just pull up a lawn chair, turn on the hose, and let the kids have at it.

Still, Mike Jr. needed someone to turn to for advice. Someone to spend time with while his sisters did "girl stuff."

Who better than his own father? Naturally, Mike Sr. spent more time with his son than his other children. Uninterested in "going shopping and painting their nails," the two would go off to watch sports. Their autumns would be spent making use of their season tickets for the San Diego Chargers.

His dad had played football himself before a knee injury sidelined him for good, but Mike Jr. never felt the pressure from his father to play the sport. Instead, his father just reinforced the values he had already instilled in him.

"He always just said, 'If you want to play a sport, go ahead, we'll support you, but once you sign up, you're not quitting,'" says Mike Jr.

Influenced by his cousin, Mike Jr. joined Pop Warner when he was in fourth grade. Playing in the small town of Brawley, Calif., made it hard for him to get recognition, but his game tape somehow made its way to Cal's recruiters.

It was a difficult process, but Mohamed eventually began his future at what he considered one of the top academic institutions in the nation.

To Mike Sr. and his wife, Molly, it was no surprise their son found a way. They had raised all their kids to one day become successful.

Be smart, work hard, be talented and don't rest on your laurels. They were simple life lessons, but Mike Jr., especially, took them all to heart. He thrived in school and is currently a business administration major at the Haas School of Business, one of the top undergraduate business programs in the entire nation. Teammates say that Mohamed can always be found around campus reading a book or doing his homework. Add in the stresses of being a scholar-athlete, and there's little time for Mike Jr. to sit around if he even wanted to.

Fortunately for him, he learned to multi-task when he was a child. He played multiple sports up until high school. It also helped that academics came easy for Mike Jr. For him, it was a matter of learning how to see the world in a form of an outline. Choose the most important topics and focus on those. That's been the key for the junior.

"It's rigorous, so the only thing I can say is I've learned to be very time-efficient," says Mohamed. "Just got good at picking things up the first or second time I read them. I don't have the time to go over things and fully learn everything."

Perhaps that's why he's been able to play every position in the linebacking unit. Mike Jr. started as a weakside linebacker when he was a redshirt freshman. Since then, he has moved around but has found a way to make plays no matter what scheme the defense is running.

Fellow linebacker Mychal Kendricks attributed Mohamed's play to his brains.

"He's smart, without a doubt," says Kendricks. "He's fast and strong too, but when you're smart on top of that, it makes for a good combination."

Mohamed refuses to let any of it get to his head. His father told him at a young age, "People know you're good at what you're doing. You don't have to tell them."

And through almost four years with the program, he's shown everyone just how good he really is. Off the field, he's also made a lasting impression on everyone from coaches to fellow players.

"He is the coolest guy," says Holt. "He is so chill, never talks bad about anybody, someone you can trust. He's a great guy overall. We always have great conversations outside of football." The praises from Kendricks are almost identical. "He's smart, wise, a true friend," he says. "Gives good advice. He's always positive, and that's always a good attribute to have as a friend."

As good a friend as he may be, he's an even better brother and son.

When asked what in this world makes him happiest, he answers immediately.

"Just being with my family," says Mohamed. "They're the ones who have been there for me, and they always will. Just somebody you can be your total self with. Not have to worry about anything. I have fun just sitting there and relaxing with them."

But for someone like Mike Jr., who always does his best to please everyone, even going home can become hectic. Whether it's going over to someone's house just to pay a visit, or signing an autograph, he always obliges.

"Anytime he's asked to give his time, he never says 'no,'" says Mike Sr. "He's always willing to help and do things for other people. Sometimes I'm in awe of it, because it's hard for a young man to do sometimes."

He can't help it though. All his life, he has put others ahead of him. All his life, it has been more important for Mike Jr. to give rather than to receive.

"I hate having regrets," he says. "I don't have any huge ones, but little things like when there's an opportunity where I could have helped somebody out and I didn't. Little things like that I hate having to think back upon it."

He's a model brother to five sisters. A model student at a top university. A model teammate to dozens of players. A model son to two loving parents. But to Michael Patrick Mohamed Jr., or "Mikey Mo," as they all call him, he's just trying his best to be "an overall good person."

Tags: MIKE MOHAMED, CAL, CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS, CAL FOOTBALL