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LB Luke Ferrelli: The redshirt freshman earned praise from Wilcox earlier this season as being perhaps the most improved player on Cal’s roster. Ferrelli’s production is certainly backing up the praise. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound inside linebacker had zero college playing experience entering 2025 but has already put up 82 tackles, five TFLs, a sack and an interception through his first 11 games and has three more seasons to keep improving.
RB Kendrick Raphael: The NC State transfer has thrived as the featured back in Cal’s offense with a career-high 742 rushing yards, 178 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns. The Bears had a big reset at this position after losing all their top backs to the portal after the 2024 season, but they ended up finding a difference-maker in Raphael. The junior ranks seventh in the ACC in yards from scrimmage and has one more season of eligibility.
OLB TJ Bush Jr.: The 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge defender was a Freshman All-American at Liberty in 2023 and has had a good first season against Power 4 competition, with nine tackles for loss and a team-high 5.5 sacks. Bush is a three-year starter with one more season of eligibility who had good options in the spring portal earlier this year and likely would again if he goes back on the market.
Three key recruits
TE Taimane Purcell, No. 13 TE-H in 2026: Purcell is the highest-ranked of four offensive prospects from Hawai’i in the Bears’ incoming class. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, he projects as a high-upside, all-around tight end with blocking ability and the tools to become a highly productive downfield target at the Power 4 level. With Wilcox out, Cal could soon face competition to hang on to Hawai’i’s No. 3 overall recruit, who held interest from top Big Ten and SEC programs when committing in June.
DE Camron Brooks, No. 49 DE in 2026: One of two four-stars left in Cal’s 2026 class, Brooks is a long, athletic edge rusher from Thomasville, Georgia. He visited Clemson, Florida State and Ohio State before committing to the Bears in April, a move that marked a significant out-of-state recruiting win for Wilcox and his staff. Brooks could now represent an exciting late addition for one of the nation’s bluebloods if he decides to reopen his recruitment.
RB Victor Santino, No. 29 running back in 2026: Santino has been committed to Cal since June and remains the program’s top-ranked in-state pledge in 2026. A powerful downfield runner, Santino also projects as a potentially elite pass catcher out of the backfield and in the slot. He picked the Bears over Boise State, Kansas, TCU and Utah in June. With top programs still scouring the running back market, Santino could be subject to fresh interest before the early signing period opens on Dec. 3. — Eli Lederman
