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Can Cal Keep Jaron Sagapolutele After Coaching Shake-up?
26 Nov
Summary
- Cal fired coach Justin Wilcox after a disappointing tenure.
- Freshman QB Jaron Sagapolutele could enter the transfer portal.
- Sagapolutele leads all true freshmen with 2,787 passing yards.
Following a decisive loss to Stanford, California Golden Bears head coach Justin Wilcox was dismissed after nine seasons. This coaching change creates significant uncertainty for the program's future, particularly concerning its promising freshman quarterback, Jaron Sagapolutele.
Sagapolutele, who flipped his commitment to Cal after initially signing with Oregon, has emerged as a standout true freshman, leading the nation's freshmen with 2,787 passing yards. His decision to remain with the Golden Bears is now paramount, as other programs are expected to heavily recruit him to enter the transfer portal.
The university's general manager, Ron Rivera, emphasized the importance of finding a coach who can develop Sagapolutele and assure him of the program's commitment to his best interests, both athletically and academically. The situation is further complicated by comparisons to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has achieved national acclaim after transferring from Cal.
