Cal has named freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele its beginning quarterback forward of this system’s season-opener towards Oregon State, the college introduced on Monday. Sagapolutele, the previous No. 65 general recruit within the 2025 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, gained the beginning job over Ohio State switch Devin Brown.
“We felt like he earned it,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox stated. “We additionally really feel like Devin is a extremely good soccer participant. Devin, his potential to be a successful starter at this stage, however Jaron earned it.”
Brown spent the final two seasons as a backup at Ohio State and transferred to Cal to compete for the beginning job. Brown acquired an NIL bundle from Cal within the higher six-figure vary, sources advised CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz. With Sagapolutele tabbed because the starter heading into the season, Brown is anticipated to be the backup.
“Jaron is happy clearly,” Wilcox stated. “I am certain Devin is disenchanted, which is what you’ll count on. At that place, when you decide, it is not like a lof of persons are swapping quarterbacks each play. … I believe Devin is an efficient soccer participant. He does plenty of issues nicely. He is extraordinarily good and he is been an amazing chief. I am certain he is disenchanted.”
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Sagapolutele’s street to Cal has been a rollercoaster. After initially committing to Cal final summer season, Sagapolutele de-committed on Nationwide Signing Day and flipped his dedication to Oregon earlier than getting into the switch portal in early January. He signed with Cal days later.
He was the No. 5 switch portal quarterback out there solely behind Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), Carson Beck (Miami), John Mateer (Oklahoma) and Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), who spent the earlier two seasons with the Golden Bears.
Sagapolutele was thought-about one of many largest risers in his respective recruiting class. He ranked because the No. 393 general prospect within the 2025 recruiting class final June and skyrocketed to a high 100 recruit by the tip of the cycle. After he dedicated to Cal final July, he acquired a suggestion and took an official go to to Georgia months later.
“His accuracy down the sphere,” Wilcox stated about what Sagapolutele does greatest. “He retains his eyes down the sphere nicely. He is very coachable. Learns rapidly… the accuracy and the power to make throws down the sphere, which we felt he did a pleasant job of. He feels the pocket very well.”
Cal completed 6-7 for the second consecutive 12 months underneath Wilcox final season. This system reached a bowl recreation for the fourth time in Wilcox’s tenure, which started in 2017. Cal (+12500) has the third-longest odds behind Wake Forest and Stanford to win the ACC, per FanDuel.
