Cal football recruiting: Bears celebrate their best class in a decade

BERKELEY — Cal added two more players Wednesday to what is shaping up as the Golden Bears’ best recruiting class since coach Jeff Tedford was roaming the sidelines.

On the first day of the traditional February signing period, Cal received signatures from four-star defensive back Raymond Woodie III and three-star linebacker Ieremia Moore. Woodie is a sophomore who transferred from Florida State. Moore comes from St. John Bosco in Bellflower.

Justin Wilcox has added 21 players in this 2021 recruiting class, but the numbers that might matter most are these:

— Cal is No. 28 in 247sport.com’s team rankings, the highest since Cal was No. 15 in 2011. Only sixth-ranked Oregon and No. 8 USC among Pac-12 schools finished ahead of the Bears.

— There are six four-stars in the incoming class, the most since Tedford signed seven in 2012.

— Eight of the newcomers are from Northern California. The Bears signed nine players from their backyard three years ago, but the quality of those players does not match this year’s group, at least in terms of upside.

Wilcox did not hold a press conference Wednesday since there were only two new additions. But he and his coaching staff surely had to be celebrating the job they did, even if it was on Zoom.

Four of the Northern California signees were ranked in 247sports.com’s top 50 California recruits, headed by Jermaine Terry, a tight end of Kennedy-Richmond. Three others made the top 100.

The Bears did their best work in the East Bay, getting Terry, defensive end Akili Calhoun from Liberty, defensive end Kaleb Elarms-Orr from Moreau Catholic, offensive tackle Ryan Lange from Pittsburg and De La Salle cornerback Lu-Magia Hearns.

Cal also secured three players from the Sacramento area: cornerback Kaleb Higgins of Folsom, outside linebacker Moses Oladejo from Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove and tight end Keleki Latu from Jesuit Carmichael.

Moore, the three-star linebacker who signed Wednesday, is a native of New Zealand who hasn’t yet played in a game for St. John Bosco. He played rugby and club football in New Zealand.

“He is new to the game of football and an interesting prospect who has special physical tools that are difficult to find,” Wilcox said in a statement.

Woodie, who measures 6-0, 195, played in 19 games at Florida State and made two starts. He will have three years of eligibility left because all fall sports athletes have been granted an extra year due to COVID-19, which shortened or canceled many seasons.

Cal’s signees from Wednesday

Ieremia Moore, LB, St. John Bosco HS, Bellflower, 6-3, 265

Raymond Woodie III, DB, transfer from Florida State, 6-0, 195, So.

Here are Cal’s early signees:

Mavin Anderson, WR, Mission Viejo HS, Mission Viejo, 6-0, 195

Hunter Barth, S, Queen Creek HS, Queen Creek, AZ, 6-2, 205

Akili Calhoun, DE, Liberty Union HS, Brentwood, 6-4, 265

Lu-Magia Hearns, CB, De La Salle HS, Concord, 5-10, 165

Kaleb Higgins, CB, Folsom HS, Folsom, 6-2, 173

Patrick Hisatake, OLB, Westview HS, Clackamas, OR, 6-5, 250

Fatuvalu Iosefa, S, Mililani, HS, Mililani, HI, 6-0, 185

Dylan Jemtegaard, OG, Yelm HS, Yelm, WA, 6-4, 305

Ryan Lange, OT, Pittsburg HS, Pittburg, 6-6, 330

Keleki Latu, TE, Jesuit HS, Carmichael, 6-6, 210

Kai Millner, QB, Higley HS, Gilbert, AZ, 6-2, 195

Moses Oladejo, LB, Cosumnes Oaks HS, Elk Grove, 6-3, 235

Nate Rutchena, LB, Monte Vista HS, Danville, 6-3, 225

J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Marcus HS, Flower Mound, TX, 6-3, 185

Bastian Swinney, OG, Edina HS, Edina, MN, 6-6, 290

Jermaine Terry, TE, Kennedy HS, Richmond, 6-4, 255

Derek Wilkins, DE, Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Rancho Santa Margarita, 6-5, 270

Myles Williams, DE, Bishop Alemany HS, Woodland Hills, 6-3, 250