Three Cal footballers to change positions
Intent on shoring up depth issues heading into Spring Ball, GoldenBearReport.com has learned that Cal will make three position changes: defensive back Jeffrey Coprich will move to running back, outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett will move to defensive end, and Joel Willis from defensive back to wide receiver.
Coprich played running back in high school, rushing for 1,277 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior at West Ranch. He broke the single-game rushing record at the Stevenson Ranch, Calif. high school with 235 yards on the ground in the first game of his senior season.
Prior to transferring to West Ranch, Coprich broke both the single-season (1,273 yards) and single-game (230 yards) rushing records at Golden Valley High as a junior, adding seven rushing touchdowns.
With running backs Brendan Bigelow (knee) and Daniel Lasco (shoulder) likely missing all of spring ball per running backs coach Pierre Ingram, Coprich will get plenty of reps in the backfield.
Scarlett will be the first of potentially several linebackers transitioning to defensive end, according to defensive coordinator Andy Buh. The 6-4, 255-pound Portland, Ore. product had 40 tackles (six for loss), 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles as a sophomore.
Rivals' 53rd-ranked athlete coming out of Pacifica High in Garden Grove, Willis had 40 catches for 905 yards as a prep senior, plus 345 rushing yards and five TDs. Willis has a hand-timed 40-yard dash of 4.37 seconds. He had seven tackles for Cal last season as a redshirt freshmen.
With Willis and Coprich both moving out of the defensive backfield, the Bears will have five safeties and (with the addition of 2013 signees Darius Allensworth and Cameron Walker) six cornerbacks heading into Fall camp.