RB Tre Watson to Grad Transfer

Cal running back Tre Watson announced his intent to graduate and transfer this evening, after the senior running back missed what would have been his final collegiate season after suffering a torn ACL in the Bears' second game against Weber State. Watson will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Watson, who made both the Doak Walker and Hornung Award watchlists before the 2017 season, came in to the season as Cal's starter at running back, looking to take a step forward in his true senior year. Instead, Watson finished his 2017 season at Cal with 17 rushes for 83 yards along with 5 receptions for 31 yards. Over 37 games played at Cal, Watson amassed 1390 yards rushing on 274 attempts and 8 touchdowns, along with 37 receptions for 379 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Going into 2018, Cal looked to have a returning Watson alongside 2017 breakout star Patrick Laird, who finished the year with 1127 yards on 191 carries with 8 touchdowns, alongside 45 receptions for 322 yards and a TD. Now, the Bears have five scholarship running backs on the roster, with Laird, redshirt sophomore Derrick Clark,redshirt freshman Biaggio Ali-Walsh, and incoming true freshman Johnny Adams and Chris Brown.

Only Laird and Clark have game experience for the Bears, and new RB coach Burl Toler will have to manage that going forward, though the newer members of the running back room will have ample opportunity to earn reps.