After spending more than a half hour talking with Cal football coach Justin Wilcox a couple weeks ago, Golden Bear Report has broken that interview into a two-part Q+A covering an expansive range of topics.
If you missed Part 1, dealing with the transfer portal, recruiting, the QB competition and the offense, catch up here.
In Part 2 below, we cover the players who impressed the coaching staff most during the spring, the next level for running back Jaydn Ott, the health of defensive lineman Brett Johnson, Cal's NIL fundraising, the future of the Pac-12 and how Wilcox has grown or changed over the course of his tenure.
When you all met as a staff to break down the spring, were there a few players you felt made the most of those practices and took the biggest strides?
Wilcox: "That's a good question. If you went through the position groups ... yeah, there were guys that played well that we expected to play well in spring, and then there were some guys that we felt like really kind of took a leap. If you look on defense, I would say Myles Jernigan at outside linebacker was a guy that was noticeable. The defensive backfield, the guys that stood out -- Craig Woodson and Nohl Williams, I thought had really strong spring balls.
"Offensively, the tight end group was new for the most part and all those guys did something to show they're going to help us in the fall. I thought Monroe Young at receiver had a really good spring. It's pretty cool that a sixth-year senior is one of the most improved guys on the team because a lot of times that big jump happens in their first or second year, but man, I thought Monroe had a heck of a spring, which was really satisfying to watch a guy whose put in so much time make that big of an improvement."
Monroe Young came on late last year too. What sparked with him to suddenly make him a key contributor this late in his college career?
Wilcox: "I just think he's a grinder and he's tough. He made his way initially on special teams, and then he became kind of a role guy going to block people and flat-back them. He's just persevered. I think that's who he's become and I think it shows up in his play. The guys on the team respect it. He's got a voice, and he's earned the right to have that voice. I'm just really proud of him. He's a really mature guy and he's doing good things. As I mentioned, to be one of the most improved guys on the team in spring kind of says a lot about a guy who's been here six years.
"T.J. Session was an O-lineman I thought took a big jump in spring, so there's a handful of guys for you. With T.J., you could see the confidence growing -- I think he did a heck of a job in spring."
