Thursday, May 17, 2012

Phil Steele Releases 2012 Preseason All-American and Pac-12 Teams

Matt Summers-Gavin (far left) and Brian Schwenke (far right) are two of only
seven Golden Bears  that were named to Phil Steele's  preseason
All-Pac-12 team Thursday.
Phil Steele released his 2012 preseason All-American list Thursday and Cal didn't fare to well. The only Golden Bear honored by Steele was wide receiver Keenan Allen, who was named a third team All-American.

Steele seems to be a fan of Pac-12 wide receivers though: USC's Robert Woods and Washington State's Marquess Wilson were both named preseason first team All-Americans.

Steele also released his preseason All-Pac-12 team, here's the Bears on that list:

First Team
WR Keenan Allen
OG Matt Summers-Gavin
DT Aaron Tipoti -- and yes, Tipoti is listed as a first team All-Pac-12 member even though he's not even first on Cal's depth chart. Tipoti is currently listed behind Kendrick Payne.

Second Team
C Brian Schwenke

Third Team
RB Isi Sofele
CB Marc Anthony

Fourth Team
LB Cecil Whiteside

(H/T Seattle Times)



Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Cal RB Trajuan Briggs Looking to Transfer

Cal's backfield is a little too crowded for Trajuan Briggs. 

Cal's crowded backfield -- there are eight tailbacks on the roster -- might be slightly less crowded come August.

Bear running back Trajuan Briggs announced on Twitter Monday that he's looking to transfer, although right now, it looks like Briggs is unsure of where he might be headed.  "No ideas, just living on a chance and plenty of prayers right now," Briggs tweeted when asked where he'll transfer.



The move makes sense, Briggs is currently buried on a depth chart that includes Isi Sofele, C.J. Anderson, Brendan Bigelow, Daniel Lasco, Darren Ervin and Dasarte Yarnway. Briggs is so low on the depth chart that he wasn't even invited to camp last August. 

Briggs' time at Cal has been filled with ups and downs, but mostly downs. In his 28 months in Berkeley -- Briggs enrolled in January 2010 -- Briggs has suffered a myriad of injuries, including; a herniated disc, a torn MCL and an elbow injury that required surgery.

Briggs, who originally committed to USC, was a nationally ranked prospect coming out of high school. Tom Lemming had the Pacoima, Calif., native ranked as the No. 14 overall running back in the class of 2010. Briggs was ranked the 35th best running back in the nation by Rivals and the 78th best by ESPN.com.

It looks like the Cal coaching staff is on board with Briggs' transfer. Briggs has a  highlight tape on Youtube that utilizes Cal practice footage. And as most Cal fans know, all Cal practice footage is held in a closely guarded underground vault at Fort Knox. You have a better chance of getting to second base with Scarlett Johansson than you do of getting your hands on Cal practice footage.

Expect an update when Briggs announces his transfer destintation.





***5/31 Update: Briggs is transferring to New Mexico. The Lobos, who compete in the Mountain West Conference, went 1-11 in 2011***