The University of California-Berkeley has the privilege of serving as a stepping stone for many talented individuals who go on to succeed across a variety of careers, only one of which is professional athletics. Fortunately, for those who are quick with their minds and feet alike, the Golden Bears storied football program has a proud history of placing successful football players in the NFL. Taking a look across today’s football landscape, former Bears players are impacting the league at an unprecedented level, with these key contributors perhaps the best of their generation to don Yale Blue and California Gold.
- Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers After laying in waiting behind Brett Favre during his first three years in Green Bay, Rodgers has become the new face of the franchise while establishing himself as one of the best young quarterbacks in the game of football. Rodgers posted an impressive 103.2 quarterback rating in 2009, throwing 30 touchdown passes for the first time in his career compared to only 7 interceptions, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in the process. Rodgers has managed to top the 4,000 yard plateau in both his seasons as the Packers’ starter.
- Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders While his name may be a mouthful for announcers, Asomugha’s coverage skills prove to be quite the handful for opposing receivers. Often forgotten in the Oakland shuffle, the Raiders’ cornerback is among the elite defensive players in the game, one of only a handful of true shut-down corners in the NFL, not to mention the highest paid DB in the league. Continue Reading »
It may seem too early to take a gander over to the hardwood, what with the Golden Bear football squad only 2 weeks into their regular season, but as the dog days of August are now securely in the rear view mirror, the tip-off of the college basketball season will be upon the Cal campus sooner the later. Entering his 3rd year as the Golden Bears basketball coach, Mike Montgomery will face his most daunting coaching challenge thus far in his short stay in Berkeley. After taking the team to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first 2 seasons, Montgomery will try to make a gourmet meal out of mostly leftovers, with all four of 2009-10′s top scorers no longer on the roster. The team does boast the luxury of top billed incoming talent, via the high school recruiting ranks. Guards Allen Crabbe and Gary Franklin, both rising freshmen, will have to make an immediate impression and play key roles for the Bears to rival the success of seasons past. Continue Reading »
Shane Vereen Named as a preseason Maxwell Award contender, given annually to the top collegiate player in the nation, Vereen enters the year with a big target on his back. This should be a change of pace for Vereen, who was used more as a change of pace back himself cemented behind the more heralded Jahvid Best on the Bears depth chart. Vereen obviously made enough of an impression after Best went down with injury to warrant nationwide acclaim as he enters his junior season. The year 2009 saw Vereen rush for 12 touchdown, falling just short of 1,000 yards (952), on 183 carries. With a full workload, the sky is the limit for the Bears uncontested starter, as he should receive well over 200 carries throughout the 2010 season.Marvin Jones Jones opens play as a candidate for one of the nation’s top honors, named to the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list. As a sophomore, Jones tallied 43 receptions for 651 yards and 6 touchdowns, coming on strong late in the season after a relatively modest start. Entering the 6th game of the season with only 1 score in 5 contests, Jones proceeded to haul in 5 TD catches over the course of the final 7 regular season games, topping 100 yards for the first time in his career in the regular season finale against Washington. Continue Reading »
After 3 scintillating years scooting across the California Memorial Stadium hash-marks like a greased pig hell bent on finding pay-dirt, Jahvid Best could soon burst onto the national scene with a big play ability and natural NFL aptitude rivaling that of fellow former Bear DeSean Jackson. Both players have similar upside actually. While undersized for their respective positions, Jackson at wide out and Best in the backfield, they make up for small stature with top end speed and uncanny elusiveness. Best can only hope he continues to follow Jackson’s professional trajectory, already the number 1 receiving option for the pass happy Eagles, and a Pro-Bowl selection in his second year in the league. Based on early returns, similar success seems forthcoming for Best, who quickly ascended the Lions’ depth chart this preseason, aided by incumbent starter Kevin Smith’s extended absence resulting from ACL surgery. Continue Reading »
In what will hopefully soon be a familiar sight for the Cal Bear faithful, the Colorado Buffaloes were greeted with quite the rude introduction by their soon-to-be conference mates, taking a lopsided 52-7 loss in their first matchup against a Pac 10 team since agreeing to leave the Big 12 and head west this summer. While the Buffaloes are not likely to officially begin Pac 10 play until the 2012 season, at this point they can only be looking forward to realignment with tempered expectations. The Bears gave the Buffs a beating they won’t soon forget, stretching their lead to 31-0 before Tyler Hanson found the end zone on a 4 yard run to end the clean sheet. While perhaps the Bears could’ve shown a little mercy towards the unsuspecting Colorado squad, the Buffs didn’t do themselves any favors, losing 2 fumbles and 3 interceptions while mustering 0 takeaways in their own right. When the Bears D got the ball, the aggressive unit made the most of it, with Michael Mohamed returning a pick 6 for 41 yards just before half. Defensive back Darian Hagan Jr. followed suit taking back a recovered fumble 82 yards with under a minute left in the game, an unnecessary score that could breed bad blood between the two schools going forward. Continue Reading »
