The Senior Class, 2017
Cal's senior class this year has had a rocky road. Some, like Darius Allensworth, spent their redshirt year watching a 1-11 squad that oftentimes proved Murphy's Law. Others, like Vic Enwere, came in to a better situation, as Jared Goff came into his own and led the team to a bowl in 2015. And others, like Jordan Veasy, came in from junior college in 2016, and witnessed the coaches that had just brought them in leave under sour circumstances. All in all, the senior class is a group that has been through turmoil in one way or another, and we're here to look at their accomplishments, starting with Devante Downs.
(Not included, Tre Watson and Ray Hudson, as Watson will likely be getting a fifth year, and Hudson is fighting for a 6th year of eligibility)
#1, ILB Devante Downs
Career Stats: 212 tackles (108 solo), 14.5 TFLs, 8 sacks, 5 INTs, 3 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries
2017 Stats: 7 games, 65 tackles (39 solo), 5.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Thoughts: Downs was on his way to a monster year, a possibly Pac-12 defensive player of the year level season before he suffered a season ending injury against Washington State (looked to be a knee injury, but Cal says 'lower body'). Downs started to fulfill the expectations that he was seen to have at the beginning of his tenure, and won two Pac-12 defensive player of the week awards in the first three weeks this year.
His top moment in a Cal uniform may have been against Ole Miss to close the game, coming untouched through the B-gap and sacking Shea Patterson to force a turnover on downs (on Downs). According to defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, he's been like another coach on the field, and his production has been sorely missed the past two weeks.
#2, CB Darius Allensworth
Career Stats: 103 tackles (68 solo), 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 22 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
2017 Stats: 18 tackles (12 solos), 1 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
READ: Allensworth Battles Way Back into Starting Lineup to face Best Friend Morrow
Thoughts: Allensworth, who had to battle his way back to being a starter this year, had been the veteran corner over the past couple years, becoming a full-time starter in 2015 and starting all 13 games that year. His 2016 was cut short due to a hamstring issue, but the former four-star out of Heritage in Menifee has often been a steady hand in the secondary over the past four years
He's had two top plays in my opinion, the first being the fumble recovery TD that got the Bears on the board against Washington with a nice move to evade a tackle. The other is one of his two career INTs, coming against Arizona State in 2016. Allensworth baited the out route, jumped it, and made the play. It was a veteran move that solidified how much he meant to the secondary, and how much they struggled when he was out last year.
#8 S Luke Rubenzer
Career Stats: 110 tackles (68 solo), 2.5 TFLs, 4 INTs, 4 PBUs, 3 fumble recoveries; 12-21 passing for 166 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 52 carries, 207 yards, 3 TDs
2017 Stats: 8 tackles (6 solo), 2 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery
Thoughts: Rubenzer, who came in and was Jared Goff's backup in 2014 at QB, moved over to safety and had an interesting career. From causing Pat Fitzgerald to say this:
"Unbelievable job by their bloggers and beat writers — lesson learned — not reporting that throughout all of camp because they did a great job with the element of surprise."
to making a game changing interception and 45 yard return near the end of the first half against Texas in 2016, Rubenzer has played multiple roles over his career. Right now, he's a backup safety, mainly playing on special teams as he was injured midseason as Ashtyn Davis has made a meteoric rise up the depth chart. Rubenzer will be remembered for helping to win the Northwestern game, to having multiple TDs called back in the 2014 Big Game, to making the jump to defense and being productive there.
#9, K Matt Anderson
Career Stats: 51-63 on field goals, long of 52, 131-134 on PATs
2017 Stats: 11-16 on field goals, long of 52, 30-31 on PATs
Thoughts: Anderson has rebounded after a somewhat rough start to 2017, and is four points away from tying Doug Brien for the Cal points scored record of 288. Anderson has been one of the best academically on this Cal team, as one of Cal's two players in grad school (Steven Coutts is the other). Also he's a semi-finalist for the Campbell Trophy (the academic Heisman)
Anderson's top moment, according to him, was sealing the 2015 comeback against ASU with a 29 yard field goal to win it. His clutch 52 yarder to tie it against Arizona also impressed.
#9, DL James Looney
Career Stats: 123 tackles (53 solo), 18.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries
2017 Stats: 34 tackles (16 solo), 7.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries.
Thoughts: One of the best quotes on the team, without a doubt the best hair on the team, and has made the move to 3-4 DE without much of a hitch. Looney is statistically having his most productive year, and despite being a bit of a tweener size-wise, he's been strong over his three years in Berkeley after transferring from Wake Forest.
His crowning moment would be the goal line stop against Utah in 2016, preserving the 28-23 win. Looney has been captain for the past two years, and he's earned his teammates' respect with the motor he plays with. Probably the biggest loss that the defense will suffer going from year to year.
#11, OLB Hamilton Anoa'i
Career Stats: 32 tackles (15 solo), 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 1 blocked kick
2017 Stats: 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack
Thoughts: The backup linebacker from San Mateo has moved from inside linebacker to outside linebacker to add depth, and he made the shift without complaint. Anoa'i's lone sack of the year came against Ole Miss.
He hasn't been as productive as you'd hope, but Anoa'i has had a couple of key moments in his Cal career, tipping a pass against Marcus Mariota in 2014 that resulted in the latter's first interception in a hyper efficient year. He also blocked a kick against Oregon in 2015.
#15, WR Jordan Veasy
Career Stats: 52 receptions, 653 yards, 7 TDs
2017 Stats: 27 receptions, 347 yards, 4 TDs
Thoughts: Veasy has gone through a lot, starting at NAIA school Faulkner, moving on to Golden West College, coming to Cal, playing inside receiver his first year before being moved outside for his senior year. He led the team in yards against Colorado, and caught the first Cal touchdown of 2017 against North Carolina.
The most notable moment for Veasy was catching Davis Webb's first TD pass against Texas, making a tough catch on a well placed ball to start off the 50-43 shootout.
#18, CB Marloshawn Franklin
Career Stats: 59 tackles (45 solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 9 PBUs
2017 Stats: 13 tackles (11 solo) 2 PBUs
Franklin has been on and off for the Bears at corner after transferring from Mesa Community College in 2016. He's had moments where he shines, like deflecting a pass in tight coverage on a slant to force an interception against Ole Miss, and other low moments, where he committed a number of pass interference penalties in 2016.
Franklin has been a solid tackler on his own, making a number of solo tackles, and his growth in spring ball and fall camp was impressive.
#23, RB Vic Enwere
Career Stats: 293 carries, 1365 yards, 16 TDs, long of 54, 18 receptions for 96 yards, long of 19
2017 Stats: 92 carries, 331 yards, 4 TDs, long of 26, 5 receptions, 37 yards, long of 19.
Enwere hasn't been at the level a lot of people thought this year, but he's had a number of flashes this year and in previous years, missing half of 2016 with a broken foot. Enwere, the "Spearmint Rhino" as the writers of this site have called him, had one of the most impressive TD runs of the year against Washington State, getting hit at the 3 yard line, then pushing the defender back into the endzone. At times, Enwere has been similar to the bruising back he was initially was compared with in Marshawn Lynch. At others, he's tried to dance too much in the backfield, getting stopped early. He's been called on a lot on 3rd and 4th down and short this year, and has been reliable in those situations.
At his most impressive, he made one of the most memorable plays in recent Cal history, with the "highly improbable" 41 yard gain on 3rd and 36 during the Washington State game in 2015.
(fast forward to 2:28 for Enwere's run)
#31, OLB Raymond Davison
Career Stats: 162 tackles (92 solo), 8 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 7 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
2017 Stats: 51 tackles (36 solo), 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles
Thoughts: Even with the position shift midseason to give more depth at one OLB spot and to give Evan Weaver more reps at one ILB spot, Davison has been his most productive. A smart player, good in pass coverage, and another great quote, Davison has been an all-around player, making solid fundamental plays, like his forced fumbles against Weber State.
Davison's best individual moment may have come against Oregon State in 2016, returning an interception for a touchdown that kept the Bears in it after a disastrous first half.
#31, WR Chas Peterson
Peterson doesn't have any stats, transferring in from Washington after not playing football for the Huskies, playing as a true freshman at Cal Lutheran in 2013. Peterson has been a member of the scout team, earning Cal's scout team player of the week award earlier this year.
#32, S Jacob Anderson
Career Stats: 31 tackles (17 solo), .5 TFL, 1 PBU
2017 Stats: 2 tackles (both solo)
Thoughts: Anderson came out of the woodwork last year to earn playing time in a depleted safety group, making plays during fall camp to impress onlookers and playing a role in games against Arizona State and Washington State in 2016. He earned a scholarship over the summer quietly and has played mainly on special teams.
#33, OLB Noah Westerfield
Career Stats: 34 tackles (14 solo), 1 TFL
Thoughts: Westerfield has recorded a stat in 2017 (playing in the North Carolina game), and has dealt with injuries in the past. The senior from Frisco, Texas started his first game at Northwestern in 2014, then hasn't made much of an impact since then.
#34, S De'Zhon Grace
Career Stats: 12 tackles (5 solo)
2017 Stats: 3 tackles (2 solo)
Thoughts: The former Bishop O'Dowd product and transfer from Willamette earned a scholarship over the summer and has played mainly on special teams on the year. He did provide a tip in the final interception against Washington State on the year. Grace has worked a ton to get on the field, getting there when the defensive backfield was depleted the past two years.
#34, FB Fabiano Hale
Career Stats: 5 carries for 24 yards, 1 tackle
Hale, whose career at Cal was marked by an off-field incident as a true freshman, rebounded to earning a scholarship over the summer. Hale has been a special teams player for the most part, spending his time on the kick and punt return teams and has spent this week as the scout team's Ryan Nall. It takes a tough person to come back and finish his career at the same place where an incident like the one he went through happened, and that's extraordinarily commendable.
#46, LS Garrett Frum
The long snapper transfer from Utah State and Moorpark College, who played his high school ball along the departed Chad Hansen, hasn't had the opportunity to snap in a game at Cal, but has been a part of a usually jovial special teams unit (at least when they walk from their practice field back into memorial).
#77, OL JD Hinnant
Career Stats: 15 games played, all off the bench
Hinnant has been a career backup for the Bears, not getting to the level that he'd been projected to, after getting in a major car accident before his final high school football game. He did have one of the best plays of 2016, a two point conversion with him wearing a tight end number, ending up wide open on the throwback and tying the game at 42 against Oregon.
#90, DE Rusty Becker
Career Stats (all 2017 stats): 4 tackles (2 solo)
Becker, who transferred in from Minnesota State Community and Technical College, has mostly added depth on the defensive line, rotating with Tevin Paul, and Chinedu Udeogu in providing that depth. He's been capable of producing, a step up from a year ago and has improved under Jerry Azzinaro.
#97, NG Tony Mekari
Career Stats: 83 tackles (28 solo), 8.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 1 fumble recovery
2017 Stats: 17 tackles (10 solo) 2 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery
Thoughts: A mainstay on the defensive line, if a bit undersized for the nose guard spot. One of the most engaging players on the team to talk to, as his family has an incredible story of immigrating to the United States. Made a couple key stops in the win against Utah last season, including a big one on a fourth down.